Dear Survivor; Our Challenges During Pandemic In a Nutshell

DEAR SURVIVOR,

The past year was a challenge on top of the country’s challenge to fight off the pandemic we are in. It started when everything else was shut down to the point that our livelihood was mainly affected since husband is a non-essential worker. We had to stay home with no hopes of when this virus would ever end. As days go by, we get used to boredom, the uncertainty as to what our next meal will be, when we are able to go back to work, when will the children be able to go outdoors again and when do I get to see our families. Everything was a question left unanswered. 

DEATH AND FAREWELL

During the first quarter of the year, I learned bad news from my mom. My aunt who was my and my children’s pediatrician got ill and the doctors tending to her cannot agree to a final diagnosis. She had to undergo several diagnostic tests and procedures but couldn’t find what was wrong with her. The elders had to call every doctor in the family here and abroad for a conference almost every week. It was only during the few weeks of her life when they found out that it was a rare type of cancer and she finally succumbed to it. The hardest part was, we were in the middle of a pandemic and I cannot pay my proper respects to her. All I ever did was to tell her through a phone call, “Tets, I am sorry and you can go now. We love you so much and I will love and take care of our family. Please do not worry about us. Please look after us and our kids.” That was it. It has been almost a year and the pain still lingers. 

UNEXPECTED BLESSING

Our private resort

Our resthouse

I was silently asking myself as to when the kids will be able to go out again to play outdoors and to breathe fresh air, because my daughter who was diagnosed with Selective Mutism had to stop her therapy and then a bittersweet opportunity came knocking at our door. We invested in a vacation house close to our place. The whole process of acquiring the property was a long story which involved emotional turmoil but what is important is, my kids could get to enjoy our place we called our second home. Now we are managing it as a private resort and I could say that despite all that has happened, I am happy to say that my daughter is now slowly talking and interacting with other kids other than her siblings. It means that her condition is slowly getting better. That alone is a win for me.

 

BANKRUPTCY

Before the year 2020 ended, it was a pain to see how my husband mustered the courage to close down his law office for the longest time. All of his clients were also greatly affected economically by the pandemic and it was a domino effect for us. Our main bread and butter has been closed down for good.

BACK TO BEING NURSE

A day after my birthday, my husband felt ill. He had on and off fever for 5 days and it happened during the surge of Covid cases in the hospitals so I chose to treat him instead at home. I called my uncle who is an internist and he had to manage him virtually. He asked me if I could insert a venous access and give him IV antibiotics because he is also against hospital admission. My husband was diagnosed with Pneumonia with Diabetes Mellitus Type 2. I had to isolate my husband into one of the rooms in our house. For three weeks, I had to be a mom, a nurse, an errand girl, a dietician and a driver all at the same time. I had to drive to different drugstores to look for IV antibiotics, IV supplies and manage the house and the kids. I had to drive my husband to get his diagnostic procedures done. I prayed to God to give me strength everyday to fulfill my obligations and duties as a mom.

This was my third IV re-insertion. Medical supplies was hard to source during this time.

Half of the medicines I had to buy

Sad reality that we had to go through everyday. 

April 2021 was the longest month in our lives apart from the start of the pandemic last year. We prayed as a family that soon, my husband would get through this and now he is slowly recovering. 

 

REALIZATIONS

Despite the closure of my husband’s office, so many opportunities came our way as a family. I get constant projects as a freelancer and there is continuous food on our table. Life has been challenging and will continue to challenge us. What is important is that every time there are problems, we should recognize it early on and always find a solution rather than sulk in it. We should also learn from it and continue to improve ourselves to be able to continuously fight the challenges that will come our way. 

Despite the challenges, we still have food on our table.

The number of deaths in our family last year made me realize the importance of giving time to our loved ones. Being friends with them on social media is not enough. Whatever shortcomings and conflicts we may have with them, it is best to settle it because life is too short for our petty dramas. Let us make more memories with them while they are still alive.

When my husband got sick, I realized that even though you don’t tell people what you are going through, there will be an outpouring of support from our family and friends. My husband would always tell me, “always do good even though no one is watching and blessings will be a hundred fold.” The people who prayed for us for him to get better everyday was more than enough to get through our recent ordeal. 

This story is an entry to ComCo Southeast Asia’s “Write to Ignite Blogging Project Season 2: Dear Survivor”. The initiative continues to respond to the needs of our times, as every story comes a long way during this period of crises. The initiative aims to pull and collate powerful stories from the situation. The “Write to Ignite Blogging Project” Season 2 is made possible by ComCO Southeast Asia, with Eastern Communications and Jobstreet as co-presenters, and with AirAsia and Xiaomi as major sponsors.

 

@thesupermommaph

Rest in paradise Tets. We love you so much! ##surrender ##foryoupage ##fyp

♬ Surrender - Natalie Taylor

We all  have our stories and silent battles. What about you? What is your survivor story?