Deo Gratias

A few hours from now, it would officially be Thanksgiving Day in the US. But aside from the commemoration of the English Settlers and Native Indian, turkey killings, pumpkin pies, mall sales, etc - our family has a lot, an understatement, to be thankful for.

My dad, a couple of weeks ago, called in sick for work due to dizziness. He was not able to work for more than the week due to his constant headache/dizziness. I told my mom that he might be suffering from vertigo and better have him checked by the doctors. Last week my mom called to inform us, me and benedict, that my dad would undergo angiogram to check any blockage in his blood vessels. I was hopeful for positive results, thinking that my dad might just have been overworked, stressed out, etc. It came a bit of a suprise - well, yeah, me being calm and astoic about anything - that my dad would have to get operated, quad bypass operation, that is. His blockage is up to 90%, a clan record as joseph texted me, so angioplasty is not a viable option - since angioplasty works only to 70%. (yeah wiki helps - for quickie info)

I was shaken at first, but looking upon statistics and survival stories on the internet made me calm. By average, 98% of this kind of operation is successful and a mere 2% screws up. 98% looks good anytime of the day, especially that he's operated at the States and not in some hospital here, no offense really. Plus 98% success rate is better than a 50/50 heart attack rate. With the law of averages on our side, I remember kidding my dad before he was brought to the OR - "eh kasi naman yosi pa ng yosi" to which he said "anak ng... isang taon na nga akong di... mumble mumble" and which prompted my mom to get angry - "alam nang may sakit si papa sa puso eh... blah blah blah". Oh well, same old me.

The following are the emails that my uncle sends to our family's ygroup to keep other members updated about the operation - plus copy pasting it will save me time in typing.


---Email01 26nov08 852a---

Dear family,

 I purposely selected you and not sending this e-mail to the OlgadoGroup. I do not want Esar and Joy to know as yet. Joy is resting in Lipa as she has a fluctuating high blood pressure.  Hindi si Joy  mapapagkatulog since the diagnosis ki Esar. But I told Jing about Tito.

 

Tito had an angiogram today. The doctor admitted him immediately to the hospital and schedule a surgery with a Cardiac Surgeon. He has a 90% blockage, I am not sure where. Tita Vicky was mentioning "Dual Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery". Surgery will be a quadruple by-pass. The surgeon saw Tito already and scheduled the operation tomorrow - Wednesday 26th Nov. at 7:00 AM L.A. time, which is 11:00 PM Pinas time. Thursday is Thanksgiving Day here in the States. It is lucky they were able to schedule the operation so soon with the holiday next day. Vicky mentioned that the doctor said that there is 50/50 chance of a heart attack if there is no by-pass operation. Surgeon was positive that with Tito's strong heart there is only a 2% risk and 98 % positive result. Keep your prayers.

 

With Esar and Tito, we are really being tried. For all of us in the family, it goes without saying it, this should be a time to pray for our loved ones at this moments of trial. I have called Raymond already and Ictus and like you are updated on Tito.

 

I have talked to Tito and he sounded calm. Tita Vicky was crying when she called me at 3:39 PM L.A. time just after the doctor explain the diagnosis to the two of them and JL. Oye and Rene  are in the hospital now. Cely and Ka Tasya are also in Tito's room. They were able to get a room immediately and Vicky mentioned that there are many filipina nurse helping them.

 

I have booked a flight for Friday to be in L.A. by mid-day. With Thanksgiving holiday, it  is the busiest holiday in the U.S.

 

Love you all and keep praying for Tito and Esar.

 

---email02 27nov08---

Dear All,

 

Took almost six hours of operation on Tito. Dra. " Bubot " Dulce, Vicky's sister, flew from Texas to be with Vicky and Tito. THat was very nice of her. She said the day of the operation is the most critical. So she had to be there. She explained to me that all went well with the operation and the Surgeon said that Tito has a strong heart. He is asleep now but Dulce said they will wake him up after four hours. They will start weaning him from the tube attachments. The sooner he can function on his own the faster the recovery.  Oye and Rene were also with Vicky the whole day.

 

I have sent you an e-mail that I will be flying on Friday morning to L.A.  By the way, Joy and I told Esar already about the successful operation. Sabi ni Joy, bigla na lamang napa-buntong hininga si Esar after our telephone conversation. Joy mentioned that Esar is looking better after suspending the cancer medicine.

 

I had a chat with Raymond and he told me that JL and himslef were also on the YM chat. JL was ipdating him.

So take care everyone. As Raymond posted in his YM " Deo Gratias".

---email03 27nov08 1140a---

Dear All,

 

7:56 PM Los Angeles time,  Dulce and Vicky call with very positive news. Tinanggal na si Tito sa Respirator at ginising siya. Tito talked to Dulce on the phone. Dulce asked him question and he responded clearly. Very positive signs. That is 12 hours after the start of the operation and 6 hours after they finished operation. They are just giving Tito some blood transfusion.

 

It is Thanksgiving Day here in the States tomorrow, Thursday. So as a family we have much to thank for the prognosis of Tito.

 

It is now 10:30 PM here in Connecticut but I thought I will let you know. I have called Joy to tell Esar that things are progressing well with Tito.

----

As every beadle would shout in the morning in the dormitory:

Benedicamus Domino, Deo Gratias!