It was the last week of 2019 when we learned that mama has a condition in her heart.
It’s called myxoma — a noncancerous primary heart tumor. What causes it? The doctors said they do not know. They told me, “it just grows wherever it wants”.
To address our unbelief, we decided to have her undergo another round of tests around February 2020 hoping that we’ll receive a different result.
The second test showed that the mass was still there, and it grew by a centimeter or so.
That was the time when we decided to see heart specialists.
March 10, 2020, we went to the Philippine Heart Center and consulted with Dr. Manzo, a cardiothoracic surgeon, our third doctor. The first time we met him, I knew he’s the right doctor for us!
Upon seeing mama’s laboratory results, he said that the only way for this condition to be addressed is through open-heart surgery.
Yes. A SURGERY.
I, myself, did not ever expect nor thought of experiencing such a dreadful thing.
But here’s my mama, smiling through the camera after that consultation. She wanted to have a photo outside the hospital building since it was our first time there! Haha!
Then the pandemic happened.
Because of the lockdown and the fear of going outside, we were not able to go back to the hospital for further check-ups and for the schedule of the surgery.
We had to wait.
During the first few months of the lockdown, things were pretty easy for us. My sister and I were both working from home so my mama was extra happy. She even had a photo of her pretending to be also working from home (haha!):
In April, we were also able to celebrate mama and papa’s birthdays.
Until the waiting became sad and painful.
Around June, mama started to manifest symptoms of her worsening condition. Chest pains, shortness of breath, anxiety, and even hallucinations. There has not been a day that she did not cry too.
That time, we felt a little helpless. We were afraid to go to the hospital to continue what we have to do.
JUST TAKE THE FIRST STEP
Around September 2020 when the quarantine measures were already loosened up, we decided to go to the hospital to see our doctor again.
Mama was afraid to go. Little did we know, that was already the first step to healing.
October 5th, we went to PHC again to undergo RT–PCR test. Praise God, she tested negative, which means we can now proceed with the operation.
Two days after that, we got admitted in the hospital.. full of fears, yet still full of hope.
DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL
The first day in the hospital was pretty easy. We were settled in a nice semi-private room and we had a good time together.
Because of the strict, health and safety measures, only one companion was allowed per patient. So it was only myself who was with mama during the entire confinement.
On that first night in the hospital, several doctors and nurses attended to her and performed initial tests such as electrocardiogram, 2D Echocardiography, blood draws, etc.
All of these were done to make sure that she is stable and fully ready for the operation.
The associate doctor of the surgeon suggested that she should also undergo angiography to ensure that in case there is any other abnormality, it can also be addressed together with the myxoma excision.
But later on, lab results showed that angiogram is no longer necessary since there was nothing else aside from the myxoma. Praise God!
On the second day, a series of tests were performed again.
To prepare her lungs for the upcoming battle and for quick recovery thereafter, we also did some breathing exercises from time to time.
A day before the operation, I was wondering how she was feeling. I was expecting her to be so anxious and fearful but she showed the opposite. She was so calm and stable!
It was myself who was not able to sleep well because aside from worry, I got a cold and was coughing. It was a bad timing to have these while we’re in a hospital during a pandemic, right?
THE DAY OF THE OPERATION
We woke up at 4:30 AM.
An attendant came in as early as 5 AM to prepare her for the surgery. Moments later, she was placed in a stretcher, ready for transfer to the operating room.
Around 7:30 AM, right before the wheels moved, I received a text message from Fr. Bob saying “Be at peace. God bless, Jhonn“. That moment, I felt God’s reassurance that everything will be alright.
Then we went ahead to the operating room.
Things were moving pretty fast in hospitals, yeah, just like in movies.
WAITING TIME
8:00 AM. I felt so alone within the cold walls of the hospital.
The waiting area outside the operating room felt like a fridge for family members “twiddling thumbs” while the patients are being cut open in the other side of the walls.
Though I was all by myself, God made sure that I will not feel lonely at all. I received so many messages of well-wishes and prayers for mom that day —- from our relatives and my friends. Truly, they are God’s reassurance.
Three hours have passed and there were no news yet. I was so worried, and I kept wondering if everything’s okay inside the operating room. It made me prayed harder too!
Around 11:00 AM, the surgeon went out and looked for me. He told me that everything went well and that they’re done with the surgery already. He even showed me the lump that was taken out of mom’s heart. It was big.
It was such a relief to see that the very thing that made my mom suffer for a time is finally out of her system.
Moments later, I was advised by one of the nurses that mom has already been transferred to the ICU.
Thank God that there were no complications during and after the operation. Everything went well. Praise God!
However, during the days at the ICU, the doctors and nurses had a rough time taking care of her. She was having hallucinations and showing weird behavior.
She had a hard time recognizing me. She was fighting with the doctors and nurses. She rejected the medicines, the food, and she’s even removing the tubes connected to her body. She wants to escape! It was so weird!
Later on, we learned that it’s because of anesthetics which took around three days to wear off.
To help her adjust back to her normal consciousness, I reminded her where we are, what day it was. I even asked her questions like what her name is, where she lives.
In most times, she was responding well.
During her adjustment period, I also witnessed how she loves me and my sister. She was always thinking about us even in that not-so good psychological state.
By the way, this is the waiting area for the patients’ family members. Yup, that’s where I literally slept for three nights. It gets so cold (and a little scary) by night time.
RECOVERY
A couple of days more, things became better.
We got to go out more for some sunlight. She started watching her favorite shows on TV again, attending early daily masses, and doing some short walk exercises.
I’m just grateful. I’m thankful to God for mama’s successful surgery, quick recovery, and for the people whom He has sent and used in this journey — the doctors, nurses, donors, family, and friends.
I am writing this as my own recollection of this experience, and most importantly, as a testimony of God’s faithfulness.
If you are reading this and find yourself in the same situation, I want you to believe that everything will be alright. Have faith! ❤
That bench is my most favorite spot in MPNR. We just sat there, shared stories, watched the leaves fall from the tall trees, listened to the birds around us, and enjoyed the gentle wind. It was perfect!
The view at the top is breathtaking! We stayed there for a couple of minutes, enough to give our tired selves some rest.
JHONN ROBERT 