50% chance for another cardiac arrest

On Wednesday, two days ago, Papa was readmitted to Makati Medical because a strange lump on his hip caused high fever and pain on his right side. After a CT scan doctors attributed the cause to his low immunity level and overal weakness. And he already has a skin allergy. Mostly likely, he contracted it while still  in the hospital.

His doctors immediately responded with antibiotics and scheduled an orthopedic surgery. Surgery was needed. If the abcess is not be drained the bacteria will cause more damage in his body. The surgeon himself came by and said the lump, though only on the top layers of skin, was about 3 x 10 cm large. CT scan showed it was indeed a bigger bump that we thought it was. It would be a simple surgery, incision and drainage, and then the wound will be kept open, cleaned regularly, untill it closes itself.

But his cardiac doctor Dr. Ozaeta hesitated to give surgery clearance. Surgery itself and anesthesia could trigger another cardiac arrest. It was a 50% chance. We  stood outside huddled in a circle and surrendered Papa to God’s hands, whle inside Ozaeta and Dr. Ramos (head) debated.

At around 8pm they brought Papa to the OR. We called and texted everyone whose numbers we had on our phones to pray with us. I raced to find internet somewhere and emailed a whole group of people for prayer. Only 30 minutes after start of the surgery, the surgeon comes out of OR and says: “Its done, no complications.” We and my father’s brothers and their wives, and one of my mom’s sisters, sat outside OR and cried to God in gratitude.

When we left him in the ward, he was all small talk and smiles. We only hope we doesn’t make things too hard for Jing and Aunt Susan who stayed with him, by getting out of the bed by himself.