Breathe for me, Nine (Vital Signs Series)

Chapter 29

"Your father is showing some signs of dementia." the doctor said

"Dementia?" Andromeda's father asked, two eyebrows creased

Lahat kami nasa silid ni lolo ngayon. Matapos hinanap ni lolo si lola ay bigla na lang itong nagwala. Hinahanap niya ang uniporme niya, ang baril niya, ang sasakyan niya. Pinagsisigaw-sigawan niya ang lahat ng tao sa bahay pati ako. Kahit ano mang pigil ko sa kanya at kahit niyakap ko pa siya ay pinagtulakan niya lang ako. Hahanapin niya raw si lola at pupuntahan niya raw si daddy.

Kaya noong hindi na namin kaya ay tumawag na kami ng doctor. Tinurukan pa siya ng gamot para lang kumalma at para lang maipasok rito sa kwarto.

"Yes" the doctor agreed, "Dementia is a loss of cognitive functioning. It can affect your father's thinking and reasoning."

"Can he get treated po doc? Is there available drugs for dementia?" sabat ni Andromeda, she was also with us right now and holding my hand tightly as we listen to my grandfather's attending physician.

My heart is beating fast, it's not calming anymore. I kept on crying and shaking. Fear and anxiety already consume my system after what happen to lolo. Takot na takot ako ngayon.

The doctor shook his head which made Andromeda gasp, she also pinch my hand giving me a signal.

"But there are medications to improve some symptoms." he uttered, giving us hope

I swallowed hardly, wipe my tears fast before I open my mouth to speak.

"Makakalimutan niya po ba kami doc?" tanong ko

"Yes. In severe cases, people with dementia may not recognize the members of the family, they may call family members with other names, may forget relationships. . . They may get confuse." as he explain

My tears fell again as I try to sink everything inside my brain. Ibig sabihin ay dadating talaga ang panahon na hindi na ako kilala ni lolo. Ibig sabihin makakalimutan na niya ang lahat.

"As for now, I would recommend to let General Reyes undergo brain scan. . . So, that we can confirm if it's really a dementia."

We all nodded, agreeing to his suggestion.

Nang makaalis na ang doctor ay hindi ako lumabas ng kwarto. Nagpa iwan kami ni Andromeda sa loob. . . Ako nakaupo sa tabi ni lolo habang inaayos ko ang kumot nito. Si Andromeda naman ay nakaupo lang sa couch at nakatingin sa akin.

"Can you please stop crying. Lolo isn't dying cous." she said, she was eyeing me like I did something wrong

I look at her then nodded. Sa totoo lang hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin ko ngayon. Hindi pa rin ako kumakalma kahit pinipilit 'kong maging maayos.

Kakasabi lang ng doctor tungkol sa kalagayan ni lolo kahit na may binanggit siyang gamot ay hindi pa rin mawala-wala sa isip ko ang nangyayari sa kanya. The medications can only improve my lolo's condition but it can never cure him.

I love my grandfather so much and I can't lose him. Wala na akong magulang, siya na lang ang meron ako. Siya na lang ang nag-iisang sandalan ko. Siya na lang ang pamilya 'kong inuuwian.

He will lost his memory. He will lost his memories with me, with my family and lola.

"Everything will be alright." Andromeda comforted me, "Malakas kaya yang lolo nating yan!" ngumuso siya kay lolo," Tsaka si General yan ohh? Pati sakit takot diyan." ngumisi pa ang babae

Napangiti ako sa sinabi nito saka pinalis ulit ang luhang lumalandas na sa aking pisngi.

"Huwag kang nega cous! Idasal lang natin yan. Lahat naman nakukuha sa pagdarasal." sambit niya