~ Mom ~

4/13/09 This has consume my life lately, worrying about my Mom, I just received an email from my sister that is not that good. We need all your prayers for my Mom, please continue to pray for her recovery. Thank you from all her children, grandchildren – Kathy, Adam, Cecile, Chad, Charlie, Joe, Gigi….See below:

“I finally spoke to a physician last night. His name was Dr. Joico (sp); he is a Family Physician who is looking after mom’s care. He informed me that they should receive her biopsy today. However, what I didn’t know was that they had found other tumors in her liver and pancreas. They were found by way through a blood test; the x-ray according to Dr. Joico did not show a huge amount of mass, but nevertheless it came back positive. We have been praying (kids and I and everyone I could find; family, friends…etc) for mom to recover fully. The doctor said he would contact me as soon as he finds out the results because I was really concerned. It must come back benign otherwise mom will be referred to an Oncologist for further treatment. I am praying to God that it is nothing more than a cyst; like what Aunt Be said.

I understand that we are busy with our lives, but a call to mom would be a nice thing.”

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I’ve been quite lately – this is due to my Mom being hospitalized and too much going on in my life right now. I am worried about her and she has been complaining of back pain, and finally she went to the hospital in Cebu – Chong Hua Hospital – where they did an MRI and found a “tumor” the report was inclusive, as we need more test and my sister wanted her back in the US soil to have it done. In my family there is alot of “medical” people, some are nurses, doctors and we sought their opinions and all was in agreement that need to do more test. The doctor has her on a Back Brace; and the doctor is writing a letter stating that she needs to have a strong companion on her travel and will not let her go alone, here comes my cousin, who I’ve not met yet- he will travel with her if we can get his paper work sorted, but am sure there is a way since its an emergency that they can do the paperwork quickly.

In the meantime, we are scouring to find the best possible fare for both of them. Comes my sister, who is brilliant.. am sure I could do it, but I am one of many seeking employment…as I was one of the unlucky ones that lost their job.

I just want to thank all of my family, friends for adding Mom to their prayers. Thank you so much! Love you all! 🙂

UPDATE: Here is the email my sister sent to the family mailing list….4/10/09

Hello Family:

I’m sorry I wasn’t able to come here on this site to give updates, so thank you Kathy for doing it. I spoke to mom last night for the first time since her surgery. (I’ve been talking with nurses and aids before then) She sounded good and her pain level at that time was a 2; if no movement. She is being moved from lying on her side every 2 hours and given pain meds through an IV. She will stay in ICU until Monday (Sunday our time) if everything continues to progress forward according to her Cardiologist. It seems they took out a great amount of mass from her back, and she will not know the results until mid next week. I am relieved just to hear her voice and how strong she sounded.

If you could please continue to pray for her recovery; it would be very helpful because the power of prayer was indeed the miracle that mom needed. The physician or physicians that were involved in this surgery had told her that it was very slim for mom to pull through this operation. Forgive me, but that angered me…..with that said, I also understand that they wanted her to know as all physicians do the good, the bad and the ugly in all surgeries. I spoke to mom the night before her surgery and we prayed together and I gave her a pep talk as well. She was frightened and sounded a bit resigned, but when all said and done, she was much more determined to fight and to survive at all costs.

I am exhausted from all this due to having no sleep, but I believe we are on our way to better days as mom is recovering well. Your prayers have helped TREMENDOUSLY, and God willing as mom has given herself to the Will of God; she has indeed survived this surgery, and now she is moving forward in healing her wounds. I thank you all with all my heart for your continued prayers. My mom is everything to me as well as to all my other siblings. God bless and I wish you all a HAPPY EASTER!

Thank you from her children & grandchildren: Kathy, Adam, Cecile, Chad, Charlie, Jojo & Gigi

Latest News: Okay, you know that she had to have surgery ASAP – so she went into surgery Wednesday morning and I’ve been worried, praying, couldn’t sleep, slept for a bit, woke up check my phone for any text messages…did that all night last night…some of you may not be aware, but Philippines is about 12 hours ahead of EST – and when I say Wednesday morning that is Philippine time which would have made it Tuesday Evening EST…

I got a forwarded text message from my sister that Mom is talking well and she is in the intermediate critical care unit room as part of her recovery! this was sent from our cousin Dexter…Thank you lord!! Watch this space for more info…thanks to all who prayed for Mom – all the family and friends! Thank you very much and keep her in your prayers!!

UPDATE:

Received a phone call from my sister this morning, she spoke to Mom and was advised from the doctors at the hospital that she needed the surgery ASAP (she is expericing some numbness in her legs, which will lead to paralysis if she does not have this surgery now)…the doctor that will doing the surgery is the best and will be calling and asnwer any questions we may have – this will be a 3-way conference call. That’s it for now, until I hear from sister….

Here’s a letter that my sister wrote to the family mailing list as to where we are.. thanks to everyone prayers…

My mom will be having surgery in Cebu at the Chong Hua hospital scheduled for Tuesday, April 7, 2009. That would be Monday, April 6, 2009 for us due to that PI is a day ahead in time.

A few days ago, mom started to feel numbing sensations towards her legs, and according to the Orthopedic Surgeon the numbness will continue to worsen as time goes by whilst waiting in preparation for travel here. In light of this new information, surgery is inevitable and cannot be prolonged any further. Otherwise, mom will risk permanent paralysis. I am waiting to hear from the doctor today.

With that said, I want to thank you all who were quick to give us referrals for travel agents/agencies to contact. We will still be in need to contact them in the near future after mom has recuperated from her surgery. When she is well enough to be released by her physician, she will continue her therapeutic care here.

If I may, would you all please say a prayer for mom prior to and during the day of her surgery that all goes well; and that she heals from this ailment for a quick recovery. Thank you.

Mom sends well wishes to you all and her gratitude for thinking of her.

Love to all

Kathy,Cecile, Jojo, Gigi and her grandsons, Adam, Chad & Charlie