When my dad first visited Disneyland in Anaheim, California, he didn’t expect to have a heart attack. He didn’t even know that his arteries were already blocked. He loved Disneyland like a child. Indiana Jones Wild Ride, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan, Mark Twain’s Riverboat, Star Tours … you name it, he rode it.
The attack came slowly. Trip after trip, her heart grew weak. Several times he had to stop short to catch his breath. My mom started to worry, but dad insisted that he was just feeling tired.
“I’ll be fine when I get some rest,” he said. “There is no need to see a doctor.”
Four days later, on the morning of his 67th birthday, Dad couldn’t get out of bed. His chest hurt a lot and he could barely breathe. He felt his stomach hit. When my 6-year-old nephew, Richard, came into his room singing the happy birthday song, Dad’s eyes were watery. He couldn’t even dress up for the 7 o’clock mass. Wasn’t he supposed to enjoy his vacation?
Like in the movies, things happened very fast. When my sister-in-law called the emergency unit at the University of California-Irvine (UCI), the first miracle happened. Even on Saturdays the doctors and surgeons were on call. That was critical under the circumstances.
“You’re having a heart attack,” the doctor informed my dad. That was an understatement for dad.
“Are you sure I’m having a heart attack?” Dad was incredulous. Even in pain, he couldn’t believe what was happening. Although Dad knew he had a 50-50 risk of having a heart attack (his American father died of a heart attack at 60, while his Filipino mother passed away in good health at 97), he never imagined that he would actually suffer. one.
The results of his angiogram were almost perfect. One in four arteries was 100% blocked and the other three were 97% blocked. It was a miracle that he was still walking! The doctors assumed that due to his regular exercise, Dad grew corollary veins in his body that saved his life. But even those corollary veins were now blocked, no thanks to the delicious cheesecake he devoured the night before!
When my mom came back from the hospital that night, she burst into tears. The birthday party had been canceled, as had their wedding anniversary celebration. The prospect of losing a husband and becoming a widow was difficult to bear.
“In case something happens to me, take care of your mom.” Those were the last words Dad said to my brother before the doctors took him to the operating room.
The quadruple bypass turned out to be seven times the bypass. ICU doctors found three other blocked arteries that operated. They said the next 24 hours after the referral was critical. Yes, the drama had just begun.
While I was in the recovery room, Dad’s heartbeat became erratic and flat not once, but twice. Each time, the doctors applied electric shocks. Fortunately, Dad’s heartbeat recovered. However, doctors soon discovered that Dad had internal bleeding and took him back to the operating table to stop the bleeding. It was a very long night for the family, but a second miracle happened. Doctors were able to stop the bleeding during the second operation.
When Dad woke up the next day, he saw a Filipino nurse on his right side. Dad didn’t know he had a seven times bigger bypass. He didn’t even know that he had queued for the recovery room. He felt someone on his left side. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw something white. Thinking it was her doctor, she turned her head to look. Strange, he thought, there was no one there. He was sure to feel someone standing next to him.
Dad stayed a total of 9 days in ICU. Upon leaving, Mom paid what she had in her wallet: $ 300. Pay what you can, the hospital staff told her. Not only did Dad get the best doctors to save his life, but the administration of the ultra-modern ICU hospital treated our family with compassion. Money was not an issue. Mom was grateful to the doctors and nurses for saving Dad.
The invoices began to arrive in July. Mom hid the bills from Dad in case he had another heart attack if he saw the bills. As in the hospital, the family prayed for a solution to the hospital debt.
My parents requested medical help from the UCI department of social services, hoping it could help reduce the bill. Social services staff were understanding and her request was approved for approval as it was an emergency operation. On August 15, the day of the Assumption, the third miracle occurred. The ICU social worker called to report that the medical help was approved. A few days later, Dad’s medical card arrived. It contained a medical aid that was retroactive to the first day Dad checked into the ICU. Our prayers were answered beyond our expectations.
In our lowest moments, God was by our side every step of the way. Perhaps my dad still has a mission here on earth, but we are grateful for his second chance at life. Life hasn’t been the same for Dad since; it was more difficult due to his damaged heart. From our experience, we understood God’s perfect timing, his love and mercy behind our sufferings. Life on earth is precious and we live on borrowed time. We love you dad!