OFW Journals (OFW Stories on the News) and Some OFW Employment, Career & Business Tips

“The light was so calm, so peaceful and tempting. The hands were very inviting as if saying that everything is gonna be all right if you would just reach out my hand. I was about to reach the hand in the act of extending my arms when… …”

On March 1, 2003, I went to Perpetual Succor Hospital and Maternity Incorporated in Manila to have my second ultrasound for a BPS (biophysical scoring) as my cervix had been 2 cm dilated for two weeks. The first time I had the BPS was a week before that. Both revealed normal findings. The last ultrasound even showed a boy’s genital which finally confirmed that the baby I was about to bore was a boy which also ended my qualms regarding the result of my first ultrasound in Saudi Arabia during the fifth month of my pregnancy. After the ultrasound, I went to Dr. Patricio’s, my ob-gynecologist, clinic to show the result of the BPS. We went through the usual weight and BP monitoring and IE (internal examination). During the IE, Dr. Patricio found out that my cervix was 3 to 4 cm dilatable which means I should be in labor which also means I should be feeling labor pains. She repeated dilating the cervix but, to her surprise, I did not feel much pain. She thought that my pain threshold was strong which I think is also true. With the outcome of the IE, Dr. Patrico decided to admit me for labor and delivery. She instructed me to eat lunch and go back to the hospital after. Upon telling me that, I felt my blood pressure rise up which might have indicated FEAR. Dr. Patricio told me not to be afraid as pregnancy is just a normal physiological process and besides my baby is in cephalic position and she is confident, actually were both confident, that I would deliver normally. I was assured with her statement and just smiled and told her that this is the first ever hospitalization in my whole life.

God sent me angels this early to get through this stage in my life - - - Dang, our family friend, was the one who accompanied me at that time. She was with me to get back home to bring things to the hospital and she was with me all the way to my recovery. I do not know if you can call this a mother’s intuition: On that same day, my mother came all the way to Manila from San Pedro, Laguna (about one hour away from Manila) just to visit us without knowing that I will be admitted to the hospital that day. After lunch, Dang, Nanay Lucy (my mother) and I went back to Perpetual Succor Hospital. Nanay was even coaching me about labor and delivery, giving tips on how to make that “big push”! At 1:50 p.m., I was admitted and brought to the labor room. The nurses did the usual preparations for a normal delivery. That was during the first shift of the hospital (6-2 shift).

The next shift (2-10 shift) of nurses came in and I was endorsed to them who continued to monitor my BP and the fetal heartbeat. Dr. Patricio often would visit me from time to time to do IEs to check the progress of my labor. Seven hours later, there was still no progress. I had few moderate pains but it was not the kind of a labor pain. The cervical dilation did not progress and the nurse noted an irregular fetal heartbeat which could be dangerous for the baby. There were also signs of impending cord coiling. With these circumstances, Dr. Patricio and I agreed on undergoing Cesarean section delivery. My sister, Lorena, was called to sign the consent form. I also telephoned Zancee, my partner who is in Saudi Arabia at that time, to inform him of what I will be going through. That was the last time I have spoken with them.

At about 12:20 a.m. (March 2, 2003), I was called by the third shift nurse (10-6 shift) to go to the operating room to get ready for CS operation. Then came Dr. Ridon, the anesthetist. She informed me regarding epidural anesthesia, what to do during administration of anesthesia and what to expect after. She then started administering the anesthesia and the next thing I knew, she was instructing me to lift my legs but it was numb can’t. I suddenly dozed off a little but during the cesarean operation, I was a little awake and groggy, I can quite feel the scalpel run through my tummy but there was no pain just tickling sensation.

My little angel, Gorby was delivered at 12:37 a.m. of March 2, 2003. He weighed 7.6 pounds and a very healthy-looking boy. I lost count of the time when I was sent down to the ward for full recuperation.

In the ward, I suddenly felt very chilly. These chills were supposed to be few if it were a result of the post anesthesia BUT I continuously felt so cold to the extent that they have to shut off the aircon inside the room and cover me with all the blankets available. If they have had to shut off the aircon because I’m feeling chilly, there must be something wrong as I am a person who has little tolerance of the heat and loves the cold too much. The nurses in the ward continuously monitored my BP. They kept coming back and forth in the room without saying anything to my relatives, taking turns to do the BP monitoring. Jeff who is an Ilokano like the nurses attending to my needs sensed something wrong, so he talked to them in their dialect. One nurse answered him that the BP was too low, then she left. An old well-experienced nurse came in again, checked my BP and looked for a cause of this low BP. She was looking for causes of my very low blood pressure when she finally uncovered me and saw my whole body soaked in blood. There was profuse bleeding from my vagina. That time, my OB who was already home was called back. Resident doctors came in the room to give first aid. I was given different sorts o remedy but to no avail. The blood continued to gush from my vagina…

The chills continued. My eyes were rolling upwards. I can hear my mother chanting prayers while crying out my name. I kept on gasping for breath even though I have been hooked to an oxygen supply. It was as if my head was covered with a plastic bag to get suffocated. I felt darkness…

As soon as my OB-gynecologist arrived, I was sent back to the operating room. I remember hearing her call a couple of colleagues from St; Luke’s Medical Center (a well-known hospital in the Philippines). I can also sense a lot of people in the room. My body was so tired that the movement passively depended on the healthcare staff present at that moment. They were pushing and pulling my body for preparation, draping, anesthesia and positioning in lithotomy (the position when a person is giving birth) to get into the cause of the bleeding. Lying on the operating table, I felt numb as another anesthesia had been injected to me. All I felt then was an unending push of hands….different hands (a couple or three maybe)….through my vagina. I guess the doctors are giving me remedies to stop bleeding. While they have been busy trying to stop the bleeding, I suddenly lost consciousness. Then, felt I was flying.…..

I saw my whole life flash back, from my childhood to present. It was like watching the film of my life but it was so quick but very vivid that I have identified it was the whole of MY LIFE. There was no fear, no worries or anything, just peace and tranquility. While I was flying, I saw different people, some I know and some I don’t. Most well known to me were Nanay (my mother), Jeff (brother in law), Det (sister), Noel (my cousin) and my father’s siblings’ Kaka Oyie and Kaka Santo (both deceased). The others I cannot remember well and others I do not know BUT there were many people, hundreds or maybe thousands.

I continued to fly on the way to a very shining light. In the middle of that shining light were two open hands (hands of a man) that looked very accommodating. “The light was so calm, so peaceful and tempting. The hands were very inviting as if saying that ‘everything is gonna be all right if you would just reach out my hand’. I was about to reach the hand in the act of extending my arms when suddenly an image of a beautiful lady appeared in front of me. I know I have seen that lady before. She was beautiful in a white dress and veil. She was looking at me. Her face did not show any emotion. It was a lovely face looking at me – not angry, not sad…..just a perfect face.

After seeing that image, I felt my body being pulled down so fast and then I woke up. I heard a lady talking about ‘first time’ but I cannot discern what was it about. I knew I was somewhere but still disoriented of the exact place and situation I’m in. Then, I felt Dr. Patricio embracing me, she was telling me “Lie, tulungan mo kami, magdasal ka” (Lie help us by praying) and then I nodded. God knows how many Our Fathers I have prayed that time. There was also a nice lady who held my hand as if assuring me that everything is going to be fine. But I never had the chance to confirm if this old lady really existed. Whatever she is – human or another life form, she is still one angel who helped me get through during my crisis.

The next thing I knew, Dr. Patricio was asking me to consent for hysterectomy and said that she is going to tell my family about it as they have done everything to save my uterus but still the bleeding would not stop. My reaction was to cry, but I did not know exactly why I cried, maybe it was a cry of loss, I just cried and cried BUT Dr. Patricio told me that it would not help crying but it would just worsen the situation. I controlled my crying and closed my eyes leaving everything to God.
It was a very quick operation. After the TAH (total abdominal hysterectomy), the bleeding somehow stopped and felt the last of my blood gushed from my vagina. I then fell asleep, and woke up in the ward hearing my relatives talking and some even crying touching my face and saying how beautiful my baby was. It was about noon or late morning when I was sent back to the ward. At that time, I was not yet allowed to utter a thing. I know I have been getting phone calls from friends and relatives but cannot speak to them. I can also sense worry and fear from them. I never saw my child until his third day of life as I was put on bed rest and was too weak to visit the nursery. Rooming in (the thing where they leave your baby in your room for you to take care from the time of stabilization after birth) was not entertained by my family as they feel I was not yet capable of doing so.

Visitors flocked my room as they have heard what happened. Overseas calls continued to come in. Stories of what they were doing during my ordeal have been told. My cousin Noel (who I saw in my near-death experience), while sleeping during the time of my second operating room encounter, was suddenly awakened by the sudden opening of his bedroom door. It was very impossible for the door to be opened by merely air unless a strong force would open it. He did not know that I was in the operating room at that time. He only related this incident to my experience when they came to visit me in the hospital.

After a week of stay in the hospital, I was up and about, alive AGAIN and ready for a new stage in life….motherhood.

Life is so good to me and my family. My son is now almost two years old. We named him Yerik Jean – Yerik meaning appointed by God and Jean as John, the disciple.

*********************************************
About The Author
Ma. Lorelie Hernandez - Jammang
If you think this article is worth reading and you’d like to feature in your own website, newsletter, magazine or gazette, please ask permission from the Author via OFW Connect Administrator. Email Us at admin@ofw-connect.com
Copyright©2004 OFW Connect / Ma. Lorelie Hernandez - Jammang
******************************************