forever in our hearts

June 21, 2008 my mom went to her parents' house for a visit because she just got home from Saudi. Nanay (my grandma) told my mom that Tatay (my grandpa) is not feeling well and is having a difficulty in breathing. So my dad and my mom rushed Tatay to the hospital for a check-up. It was olny then that they found out that my grandpa has a serious disease. He was diagnosed with pneumonia and leukemia.

When my mom called me to inform that Tatay is in the hospital and was diagnosed with leukemia, I couldn't believe it. So I cried and prayed that he will soon get well. The next day, June 22 ( Sunday), my parents were supposed to come to Manila for a weekly bonding. I asked my mom where they were and she immediately called me to break the bad news. My grandfather died at 4 in the morning. His leukemia was acute and was really fatal. I could hardly believe what she said. I wished I was just dreaming. I hoped I didn't hear her right. But it was so clear, true and real. My grandfather who took care of me for 5 years when my parents went to abroad was now gone.

I cried my heart out. It was so painful. I really love my grandfather so much! He never scolded me or any of my cousins. He doesn't complain about what he is feeling biologically and prefers to be quiet about it. All I could remember were the blissful and fun moments me and my cousins had with him.

I believe that God has a better plan for us than we have for ourselves. Maybe, He took my grandfather because He doesn't want Tatay to suffer more. He chose not to prolong my grandpa's pain. People come and people go. It is sad but true cliche. We just have to accept the fact that in our biological life, nothing lasts forever.

I will never ever forget my grandfather and all the good things he had done for us. We will miss surely him. Even though he is not physically present, his memoirs will always be kept alive in our hearts and minds... forever.

N-CHA

As part of our requirements at the UERMMMC College of Nursing, we were assigned at the Nursery-Charity (6am-2pm shift) for our hospital duty. Our primary goal of being there is to perform or actively participate in 5 cases of cord dressing. Before the newborn baby is assessed and bathed in the nursery ward, its umbilical cord is clamped and cut in the delivery room but the umbilical cord is still long. Cord dressing is the milking, cleaning, clamping and cutting of the umbilical cord to make it shorter. Probably at least 2 inches.

Our group was not so lucky because we only had one case meaning that during our 5 day shift at the hospital, only 1 woman had given birth. More women usually labour between 10pm and 6am. Too bad for us, this indicates that we have to have on-call duties and it is usually done on Sundays! shix!

Before the first day of our duty, I didn't know what to do and what to expect in the ward since its my first time there. N-CHA is a sterile place so we were asked to wear white stockings, white scrub suit, white shoes, a cap and a mask to prevent transfer of microorganisms to the babies since their immune system is not yet well developed.

I have learned proper ways how to handle a baby properly, how to make the baby burp, how to change diaper, how to inject a vaccine and so much more. There's this one cute chubby baby girl who was there from the first day of my duty up to the last because she had fever. I took care of her for two days. When she's sleeping, she smiles and a friend of mine told me that her mom used to say that babies smile while sleeping because they dream of laughing and running with their angels and they suddenly cry because they stumbled. I find it so cute!

I should have taken a picture of myself or of the babies but i think its prohibited to do so. I miss the babies badly. I miss their loud cries which means they're hungry, they have a poop or they just wanna be carried. I wanna go back to N-CHA and I'm sure I will because i still have to accomplish 5 cases. :)

I knew my post would be so long! LOL. Anyway, I haven't blogged for days and many things had happened. So long!