Heartbeat Of Summer

13

BEFORE SUMMER

6 Months before going to Batanes.

•••

" PULMONARY Arterial Hypertension. It's a fatal condition and...it has no radical cure. Frequently of onset 1-2 per 1 million people. There is a risk of sudden death " The doctor looked at us, based from the looked in his face....

" At her case, Sereia has only a year to live "

Tears from my mother's eyes suddenly flowed. She has cried for almost everyday. Pati sina ate Sienna at dad umiiyak na din. I don't want to cry, I want them to know that I'm still strong and far from death.

Hindi na bago sa'kin na malaman ang ganito. I know ever since then, that I'd died early. Matagal na akong may sakit, simula panganak ko , lagi akong nasa hospital dahil sa sakit ko.

Ilang checkups na ginawa ko. But I'm helpless and incurelble. I've already accepted my fate like this. I just can't help it sometimes to ask.

Why me? Madaming masasamang tao na dapat mas maparusahan ng ganito, pero bakit ako pa. Hindi naman ako gumagawa ng masama. I'm too young for this.

Alam ko hiram lang tong buhay ko, pero bakit? Bakit ang agang bawiin?

Madami pa akong gustong gawin. May pangarap din ako.

Niyakap ako ni mom ng mahigpit habang humahagulgol pa rin.

" My baby..." She cries.

" Are there really no cure doc? We can pay as much as it can cost. Gusto ko lang humaba pa ang buhay ng anak ko. " Dad tried really hard to get a glimpse of hope from the doctor.

Umiling ang doctor, " Surgeries and medicines haven't been invented for this disease . I'm sorry "

It's been two years, after our La Union trip, I collapse at the hotel room. When I woke up, I'm in the ICU with tubes connected right from my chest, I'm breathing through the oxygen gas they put on me. Many machines were nearby my bed , and the beep sound from the multi-parameter monitor.

Nahihirapan akong huminga, naninikip din ang dibdib ko. What happened?

" Doc she's awake! " I heard a nurse outside.