I just feel sad for a distant relative of ours.
He just got out of the hospital last Friday after spending a month in St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City. His bill totaled over two million pesos. That’s already net of the P300,000 the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes shouldered. Thanks God some kindhearted soul willingly put up the money in a few days notice.
He defended land owners and less fortunate individuals as a valiant lawyer. He taught law and wrote many law books in his prime. Until now, top law schools use his books as references and text books. Now, he is helpless, unable to see, move, eat. All his children are away and he is left under the care of strangers.
When I saw him in April of last year, he had already shrunk and looked like a thin weed. He must now be skin and bones. He had pneumonia because the people who are being paid to take care of him neglected him. He has bedsores and his kidneys are failing. He now relies on life-saving devices and must undergo dialysis weekly.
Running low on funds to sustain his medical care, I don’t know how his children would be able to raise funds to prolong his life, or agony.
I will try to find time to visit him within the next few days.
He’s only 70. I know a lot of people in their 70s and even 80s who are blessed with good health.
Edmund sees a lot of men way past 85 who still play golf regularly.
I see Edmund sprinting past 90. He is strong, healthy, and very active. He exercises a lot by playing golf at least twice a week. He even augments his physical activities by walking around the village with our dog, Jack. His mental alertness is oiled by solving problems in the office, lecturing at people and constantly thinking of strategies to keep the business functioning well.
I don’t want to be old and sickly. I don’t want to be a burden to my husband and children. I want to reach 70 too, 75, or even 80.
Old, wrinkly, but happy and healthy.
Hi Ms. Annie.
This story makes me sad.
But life is realy unpredictable.
My dad suffered a stroke 2 years ago and now also requires round the clock nursing care. He is now 87 years years old, a widower. Before the stroke, my Dad is a lively, fiercely independent man who liked good food, books, TV shows and he doted on his grandchildren. We love him so much na kahit hindi kami mayaman we try our best to make sure he is always clean (to avoid infection like pneumonia, UTI) and as comfortable as possible with no bedsores. Cleanliness is essential so family and friends wont be repulsed to visit. We dont want Dad to be isolated with only working nurses around. A bed-ridden patient has special needs and require vigilant care.
We thank our lucky stars for househelps who love Daddy too and understand the need for daily change/washing of bed linens, clothes & towels, proper garbage disposal because of the adult diapers and other medical discards like gloves and needles, proper handling and preparation of Dad’s meals, cleaning and sanitizing the room, etc.
But I want the family, especially his grandchildren to be able to hold, hug and kiss him (we try to take precautions though like masks and sanitizers because pneumonia and other infections are consthat threats). His speech is still slurred although for the past two months we can understand more words clearly and he is more alert and gives more coherent answers to questions now. I guess the love and constant presence of family around him made that possible. We know there is no cure, but we constantly pray for God’s grace and guidance for Daddy’s remaining days/years with us.
Thank you Marides for sharing with us your dad’s situation.
Hi Ms. Annie.
This story makes me sad.
But life is realy unpredictable.
My dad suffered a stroke 2 years ago and now also requires round the clock nursing care. He is 87 years years old, a widower. Before the stroke, my Dad is a lively, fiercely independent man who liked good food, books, TV shows and he doted on his grandchildren. He is a great father and we love him so much na kahit hindi kami mayaman we try our best to make sure he is always clean (to avoid infection like pneumonia, UTI) and as comfortable as possible with no bedsores. Cleanliness is essential so family and friends wont be repulsed to visit. We dont want Dad to be isolated with only working nurses around. A bed-ridden patient has special needs and require vigilant care.
We thank our lucky stars for househelps who love Daddy too and understand the need for daily change/washing of bed linens, clothes & towels, proper garbage disposal because of the adult diapers and other medical discards like gloves and needles, proper handling and preparation of Dad’s meals, cleaning and sanitizing the room, etc. And they also assist when the nurses and therapist need extra hands to turn Dad on his bed, move him to a wheelchair or give him a bath.
Such extra effort for good hygiene is imprtant because I want the family, especially his grandchildren to be able to hold, hug and kiss him (we try to take precautions though like masks and sanitizers because pneumonia and other infections are constant threats).His speech is still slurred although for the past two months we can understand more words clearly and he is more alert and gives more coherent answers to questions now. I guess the love and constant presence of family around him made that possible. We encourage him to talk and talk like he used to and reminded him not be mad or angry when we cant understand him right away. Clearly his journey to overcome the crippling effects of a stroke is not his alone but also the family’s. We know there is no cure, but we constantly pray for God’s grace and guidance for Daddy’s remaining days/years with us.