I finally was able to see my dentist Dra. Beth Cenidoza in Kapitolyo, Pasig.
She said my tooth is perfectly healthy except that it cracked, splitting in half. Healthy pero nag crack? She concludes that I grind my teeth and advised me to wear a mouth guard every night to preserve my remaining teeth.
She wanted to prescribe antibiotics because my gum daw is swollen, ayaw ko nga kasi last month I had very strong dosages of antibiotics for twenty days.
Beth’s one and only sibling, her kuya Eric, who is also a dentist, has been sick for a while. He’s in and out of the hospital and has been on dialysis three times a week for a year now.
The medical expenses is staggering. Beth has spent 9 million pesos so far. The heart doctor suggested that Eric undergo an open heart surgery which would cost 4.5M to 5 M. That is only for the surgery. Beth said when the doctor says 5 million, she needs to prepare twice that amount for other hospital bills, medications, continuous care, miscellaneous. What happens to the poor and average persons who couldn’t afford the expensive treatments?
Beth said “namamatay na lang sila”. Imagine, the family of his 41 year old relative who had aneurysm spent 4.5 million. I cannot understand why doctor’s fees are very high. Daan-daang libo, milyun-milyon. If I could go back in time, I would pursue my childhood dream of becoming a doctor. I will offer my services for free or cheap lang. For me it’s a vocation not a business.
She asked the doctor what will happen to Eric after the operation. The doctor couldn’t guarantee that Eric would be well and if he would even survive the open heart surgery. Eric told her sister “huwag mo na lang akong ipa-opera, ganito na lang tayo, ipa-dialysis mo na lang ako, kung kailan na lang ako abutin, at least nag-kaka-usap pa tayo”.
It breaks Beth’s heart to see her beloved brother suffering.
She told me she sold two of her inherited properties in Binangonan, an 8000 square meter farm and a 5,000 land to keep up with the staggering medical expenses. I told her not to count anymore the gastos. God is providing her with the resources. The value of her two inherited properties in Pasig continue to soar beyond her imagination. Developers are the ones knocking on doors of homeowners in the Kapitolyo area. Her clinic is in front of another Rockwell.
I brought a small prayer book for Eric. It’s a note pad with scriptures.
When all this is done, she can look back and feel at peace that she did everything she could to take care of her brother to prolong his life. She cried when I told her I am sure Eric feels her love and he is going to be another guardian angel watching her from above.
