Wala ako ka-ide-idea ano ang dengue. Just basic na it is caused by a dengue-carrier-mosquito bite. Ni sa isip ko I never dreamed na magkakadengue ako or sinuman sa pamilya ko. Until one day, I was in Bukidnon when my husband called me saying my daughter needs to be admitted dahil mababa platelet count nya. That instance I knew it's already dengue. That very same day I traveled back to Davao City. I was expecting to see my child having tubes and wires all over her arms, hands and feet and was also thinking that she can't afford to move her limbs.
As I entered the hospital's room I searched for my child's face, she's smiling yet her eyes were a bit weary. She's been watching the hospital's cable television and she's repeating all over the word "DORA". Then a male nurse said, "She has no dextrose? This is my first time to see a baby in this hospital diagnosed of dengue that has no IV inserted." As of that moment, Reese was given Pedialyte or ORS as her supplement.
That afternoon, my child's platelet count dropped to its lowest. Her doctor said if it'll reach the alarming number of count she will be forced to order for Reese to have dextrose. Texts, calls and visits from our families, relatives and friends flocked. Prayers, moral and even financial support were offered. But my feelings were at its worst, I was almost blaming my husband even our house helper. That time also, I and my brother in-law Ralph who's in Korea were exchanging news about his niece thru Chikka.com. I was on my final brink of disappointment and told him, "As of now I don't know what to feel." to which he said, "A mother's prayer for her children means a lot to God." As I was left alone inside the room with my sleeping daughter I took the chance to made a wee prayer with tears and a mother's love for her child to God. I told Him, "Lord, do not let this happen to us. Ako na lang, wag lang ang anak ko." Because the moment I heard what the doctor had said, the next word I had think about was 'death'.
After my silent cries to Him, I have felt that I am NOT the only one on bended knees in prayers for my child.I knew it then that the angels are with me along with the people in support. That evening, Reese's platelet count started to grow in numbers, then the following morning another improvement. It was our second day in the hospital because of dengue, the doctor already issued an order to discharge my daughter from the hospital but I requested for another one day extension saying I'd like to be sure. Ina ako, I need to be sigurista. For our third day, me, my husband and our daughter Reese gobbled a 12-inch pizza.
These are the things I realized while looking at my daughter's face who's asleep in her hospital bed:
1. Bad situations will get worse if you look for person/s to blame and if you're a fault-finder.
2. Do not let worries hinder your thoughts to think positive.
3. Relax during difficult times. Look on the brighter side.
4. Lift everything to God. He cares for you. He cares for those you care for.
5. Our God never sleeps. He never slumbers.
6. Prayer changes things.
7. God favors those who trust and have faith in His promises.
Our female dog at home gave birth to a grey puppy with a heart-shaped white hairs on its back a day before my daughter was confined to the hospital. This morning I was thinking to name the puppy Dengue, just a remembrance of what Dengue had made me realize in life. Hehe. Then, I came up to a name. I am not yet sure of the puppy's genitals. It may be a male or a female but I'll name it Immanuel. God is with us.
