yuanfen (completed)

seesaw

Because Richard was now more "alert" and "responsive", his routine and therapies changed also. He no longer needed the nasal catheter because he was breathing more on his own. He also began moving his head from side to side, training his gaze at objects in front of him. He regained his swallowing reflex. Today was his first day back to solid food.

Seated on his bed, Dei affixed a towel and an adult bib on him.

"Ay shet! Ano to?"

"Okay Champ....today you're going to start eating again...." Dei said as she pushed the over-bed table closer to Richard and took off the lid from the bowl that was on the tray.

"What did you just call me? Champ? I like that...." Richard "smiled" in his head. "Kingina! Kalabasa?....mashed kalabasa pa talaga?"

"Mashed squash....soft diet ka muna para lang masanay ka ulit sa regular food...."

Dei started feeding him and he drooled and "chewed" like a baby with food coming out of his mouth. He coughed and choked a little on his meal. After eating several spoonfuls, he looked at Dei.

"Uhmm...pwedeng uminom?"

"O, water...." She put a straw to his mouth and he sucked in some water. "Ayan...o, slowly naman..." Dei said as water dribbled down his chin. She took a corner of the towel to wipe the mess off.

"Uuuuggghhh....sabi na di ko type ang kalabasa e....." Richard's face was scrunched up. He moaned softly.

The TV was on with the usual cartoons and Dei was busy reading a book beside him so she didn't notice his discomfort.

He farted loudly.

The sound and smell startled Dei that she jumped up from her seat.

"Anong nangyari?"

Richard's face was still scrunched up and he continued farting.

She pulled off his blanket and started rubbing his tummy. He had had an accident.

"Ihihiga ko yung bed mo, ha? Tapos clean up tayo...." She said as she pressed buttons on the side of the bed which made the bed recline back to a flat position. Richard was still wearing a hospital gown so it was easier for his nurses and aides to clean him up. He was lying on a protective sheet so the bed would not get soiled.

"Ahhh shet shet! Di ko mapigilan!....shet! Ambaho! Tangina! Kadiri!"

Dei pressed the call button.

"Yes, Dei?" Maan replied from the other end.

"Assist please...." She spoke calmly so Maan was not alarmed and knew that it was not really an emergency.

"Sige....papunta na si Lala dyan...."

"Thank you..."

"Ay wow! Sino naman yang Lala-ng yan? Makikita nya ang privates ko! Dei! Nakita na ata ng buong facility yung santi at junjun ko e....bago na naman?!"

"Yes?" Lala, a nurse aide, said as she entered the room.

"Basin, washcloth, protector, and gown, please...." Dei instructed.

Lala got a basin from the bathroom and filled it with warm water. She also got extra clothes and other things that Richard needed.

"La, pa-help move kay Richard sa side nya...one...two...three..." Dei said as she positioned Richard to lean on his side.

"Hmm...mukhang di pa sya hiyang sa solids ano?" Lala said as she watched Dei clean Richard.

"Parang....pero kailangan mag-try e...."

"Yun lang....Dei, tanungin mo kaya si Ma'am Rio kung anong favorite kainin ni Tisoy...."

"Don't you call me that! That is not my name! You're already seeing my privates....you don't have the right to be so chummy with me!" Richard glared then blinked vigorously at Lala. He huffed.

"Hmm...may galit Champ?" Dei said as she continued cleaning him. "...pero sige, La....tatawagan ko mamaya si Ma'am Rio....okay....there...all done...."

Dei and Lala repositioned Richard and dressed him in clean clothes. He was still scowling the whole time. His expression only changed minutes after Lala left the room.

Dei noticed this but just made a mental note about it. "Bakit kaya?" she thought to herself.

Dei continued to feed Richard a soft diet of mashed food but avoided squash. Richard soon relearned to chew soft food like rice with soup. Cream of mushroom soup and rice mixed together was his favourite.

Despite her seemingly small frame compared to the almost 6 foot tall Richard, Dei was strong. She could lift him when he slid down on his bed or wheelchair and re-adjust his position. She could also help him transfer from his bed to the wheelchair and vice-versa with "ease".

"Okay Champ! Lipat tayo sa wheelchair....time for some fresh air!" Dei announced one morning when she wheeled his wheel chair from one corner of the room to his bedside. She was now his full-time and private nurse. He still lived in the facility, though, but needed less medical treatment. He was there more for his therapies – physical, occupational and speech.

"Ang lakas mo! Kaya mo talaga ako?...ay wow! Parang wala lang ang bigat ko sa yo ah? Nag-t-training ka ba para maging next American Ninja Warrior o kaya Spartan race?"

Richard now made a lot of sounds – his attempt to speak. He groaned as Dei adjusted him on the wheelchair.

"Ano yun? Opo....lalabas po tayo....may speech therapy session ka with Richelle....."

"Ayaw! Eh mas magaling ako magsalita dun!"

"Tapos, OT/PT with Diane and Lanie....swimming ka today...."

"Uy! Swimming! At least makaka-relax ako ng onti sa water....."

Richard also had to relearn how to walk. While on the parallel bars, he wore leg braces and a harness to keep him stable. He hated these sessions. Paolo/Pauline worked with him. Richard found Paolo funny and quirky. He liked sessions with Paolo. Although it lasted for about 2hours each time, it felt like an eternity.

"Tangina legs! Cooperate naman o! Napipikon na ako!"

After several weeks of intensive physical therapy and practice, Richard was able to take a few tentative steps while holding on to the parallel bars.

"You did it, Champ! So proud of you!" Dei patted him on his back and wiped his sweat from his forehead.

But after weeks of being able to take at least 4-5 steps on the bar almost unassisted, Richard suddenly shouted, ".....NO!" and let go of the bars and dropped to the floor like a rag doll.

"No" was his first spoken word after his accident. But it was also his last word as he withdrew and reverted back to a non-responsive and vegetative state, staring at the blank TV screen in his room.

"Tangina self! Ano na?"