The mood was somber. Dr. Geronimo has just been wheeled in after another bout of band ligation was done to stop the bleeding from the blood vessels in his throat, a complication of his liver disease. It was bad this time.
Several hours earlier, Sarah, who was unfortunately home, was awakened by a loud knock.
" Ma'am Sarah! Ma'am Sarah! May vomiting na naman po...ang daming dugo!!" her father's private nurse was frantically calling her.
It was like she was on autopilot. She immediately grabbed her bag, called for Mang Rudy through the intercom and told him to prepare the car. She brought a towel and a basin from her bathroom and went to her dad. She saw him inside his bathroom, by the toilet. He seemed so small then, helpless. He looked up at her with pleading eyes. He didn't have to stay anything. Sarah steeled herself...strong heart, strong mind. She wanted to be a daughter and cry for her father but he didn't need that right now.
"Dad, we need to get you to the hospital quick!!...nurse, yung pang BP dalhin mo...dala ka na din dyan ng pang IV just in case. Bilis!!!"
And when they reached the hospital where she was an intern ( it was the nearest and one she trusts), they recognized her and immediately took care of her dad.
Nanlumo si Sarah nang pinaubaya niya si Daddy niya sa staff. She remembered seeing Gerald in the same room months before and had the same feeling. The feeling of possibly losing someone.
And so, here she was two hours later in one of the hospital suites as she accompanied her father back to the room. He was finally asleep and sedated. Being a doctor, they performed the emergency procedure even past midnight to accommodate her dad. She watched as Nurse Mel received the endorsements from the OR nurse.
After everything, Mel approached her saying, "Pahinga ka na Doc...kami na muna bahala sa daddy mo. Tulog naman siya...and special request ni Dr. Cruz Senior na mag-assign ako ng private nurse..."
"Mel, kakayanin ko ba 'to? Ang hirap..."
"Doc, wala tayong choice. Sabayan lang natin ang agos ng buhay...Di naman tayo bibigyan ng Diyos ng problemang Di natin kakayanin. Isa pa, you're stronger than you think you are.... Pahinga ka na Doc S.”
“Salamat Mel...Pasensiya ka na...buong buhay ko kasi, ako ang inalagaan. Ngayon lang ako natututo sa sarili ko, ang hangganan ko...yung nakikilala ko na kung sino ako pero pag ganito na may crisis, parang bibigay ako..”
“Doc, problems can define us, defeat us or make us stronger. Ang tingin ko, nando’n ka sa stronger...ang dami mo nang nalampasan di ba? Di naman sa tsismosa ako doc, sorry, pero i hear stories about your life at bilib na bilib ako sa tatag niyo. The way you put on a smile just to let everyone feel important when inside, you are trying to find your own...”
Sarah was touched by Mel’s words. Never has anyone been on target about what it’s like for her. “Salamat sa kumpiyansa Mel. Hayaan mo, tatandaan ko lahat ng pangaral mo. Ilang taon ka na nga, parang ang dami mo nang nadaanang unos?” Sarah teased her friend.
“Doc naman..halos magka-age lang tayo pero...ewan ko ba, I feel maternal around you.” Natatawang sagot ni Meli. Palabas na siya ng pinto nang bumalik at may naalala, “Tinext nga pala ako ni Nhila at pinagbilin kayo sa akin ng Alaga niya. Siguraduhin ko daw na makakatulog ka tonight at wag ka na daw kamo uminom ng kape."
"ha?! Si Gerald talaga! Kakausap Lang namin ah! Di siya makaalis sa taping eh..." napangiti si Sarah.
"Ano ba yan doc?!!! Kinikilig ako sa inyo!”
“Ako din eh...hahaha! teka, are you dating anyone? May friend kasi si Gerald eh...si Francis or Bamboo...or something like that, mabait yun. Banda banda kung trip mo...”
