Of sodas and sandbags
My mother, being the friendly person that she was, had made a handful of friends while she was confined in PGH. Amidst the stench of death across the ward, a sweet scent of humanity persisted. After all, we are all social beings, despite our physical afflictions. I’ve had made an acquaintance or two during that time.
One day while I was preparing to leave for work, a voice called from behind me. I turned and saw a gaunt woman in her late 30s, seated on the bed next to us, nibbling on a pack of wafers.
“Mama mo?” she asked, looking at my mother. (Is that your mother?)
“Opo,” I answered politely. (Yes, that’s my mother.)
“Gaano na kayo katagal dito?” (How long have you been staying here?)
“Mahigit na pong dalawang buwan.” (Almost two months.)
“Anong sakit ng mama mo?” (What is your mother’s health condition?)
Back then this was difficult for me to answer. We had been in the hospital for months on end, but still there was no clear diagnosis for my mother’s condition.
“Hindi pa po namin alam eh. Ina-alam pa po ng mga doctors niya.” (We don’t know yet. Her doctors are still trying to find it out.)
She went silent for a moment until I asked her the same question.
“Kayo po?” (How about you?)
She pointed at her enlarged feet.
“Namamanas yung paa ko, kaka softdrinks ko kasi.” (My feet are enlarged. I blame it on my addiction to softdrinks.)
She had logs for feet. It looked like a pair of glossy sand bags hugging her calves.
“Mahilig kasi ako sa softdrinks. Nakakarami din ako ng bote sa isang araw. Wala kasi akong masyadong ginagawa sa bahay, kaya kain lang ako nang kain,” she added. (I drink softdrinks daily. I could finish liters of soda in one day. I don’t have much to do at home, so I eat and drink to pass the time.)
“Noong isang araw pa kami sa ER. Pahirapan talagang makahanap ng bakanteng ward. Buti nalang at naadmit ako kaninang umaga dito.” (We’ve been in the ER yesterday. It’s really difficult to chance upon a vacant ward. Luckily, a bed was made available early this morning.)
Tell me about it, I thought.
“Gusto mo?” she handed me a pack of biscuits lying beside her. (You want some?)
“Okay lang po. Kakatapos ko lang pong kumain,” I refused awkwardly. (No thanks, I just had lunch.)
“Ano po ang gagawin para magamot po yan?” (What are you taking to cure your ailment?)
“Naghihintay pa kami sa sasabihi ni doc. Kaso sabi niya baka kailanganin ko nang magpa dialysis kung patuloy pa rin akog iinom ng softdrinks.” (We’re also waiting for the doctors’ findings. I’ll follow whatever they advise, I don’t want to undergo dialysis. I might have to stop drinking softdrinks from here onward.)
She took a few more deep breaths before continuing.
“Sa ngayon iniinuman ko lang ng gamot. Titingnan nalang daw bukas kung um-okay.” (For now, I’m taking pills prescribed by my doctor. Hopefully by tomorrow we’ll see some improvement.)
“Ahhh,” I nodded.
“Baka mas gumastos pa kami pag natuloy sa dialysis. Wala pa naman kaming pera para dun.” (I can’t imagine going thru dialysis. It is so costly and we don’t have the means for it.)
“Sana nga po hanggang gamutan lang po yang paa niyo,” I told her. (I hope the medicines work.)
“Kaano-ano niyo po yung bantay niyo?” I asked. (Who’s your watcher?)
“Anak ng kapitbahay namin. May katandaan na kasi nanay ko, di ako kayang samahan.” (He’s the son of one of my neighbors. My mother can’t accompany me because of her old age.)
“Asan na po yung bantay niyo?” (Where is he now?)
“Nasa labas, kumakain ng tanghalian.” (He’s outside, eating his lunch.)
“Aalis ka din ba?” she glanced at my backpack on the bed. (Are you going out too?)
“Opo. May trabaho pa po kasi ako.” (I’m off to work now.)
“San?” (Where?)
“Sa Makati po. Medyo malapit lang po dito. Isang sakay lang ng jeep.” (In Makati. It’s not that far from here, just one jeepney ride.
Striking a conversation with a stranger in the hospital was a pleasant surprise. If I didn’t have work that afternoon, I would have stayed and continued the exchange. But as much as it was a welcomed distraction, a salaried diversion was waiting for me in the office.
“Sige po, alis na po ako. Pagaling po kayo,” I smiled at her as I left the ward. (I’m leaving now, goodbye! Take care and speedy recovery for you.)
When I returned the next day, a new patient was sleeping next to mama’s bed. I hope the medicines worked and they were sent home already.
