I Will Survive

Trafc blog
Nov 5 2010
Partially written while I am stuck in the traffic jam, Blog finished at home.

It was in November 1, 2008 when I had accident in our staircase. We were preparing ourselves to go home to LB to celebrate Tatay's life on All Saints Day. I was fixing our luggage on the 3rd step of the stairs then I unconsciously missed the second and first step on the way down. I stumbled on the floor and felt something cold inside my body. The coldness travelled from my foot towards my brain. Suddenly my surrounding started to dim out and I started to feel a cold sweat. I opted not to stand up because I had a feeling that I will black out. I just nested on the floor where I fell. After recovering my energy, I stood up and walked towards the sofa, feeling the pain on my right foot. It was only then when I realized that my right ankle was swollen.

To make the long story short, I started Nov 1 with a visit to the ER and spent the whole day at the cemetery with bandage on my right foot and with me being mobile with my left foot only through short, slow hops. I never bothered to use crunches as I feel I am so disabled. It took more than a week before I could walk straight. But the pain was felt for months.

More than two years after, on November 4 , 2010 am, a similar incident happened. I woke up early as I needed to be in the office before 8am. I had a scheduled training then. Routinely, I rose from bed after a few snoozes in my mobile phone, wore my house slippers, grabbed my undies and towel and went out of the bedroom to take a bath downstairs. As I held my things with my left arm and hold on to the rails with my right hand, I had my first step down the stairs. With a snap of a finger, ka-blam! I accidentally slipped off the stair steps. As a reflex reaction, my right hand grabbed the rail tighter as I was about to fall down but my foot kept on slipping on the 2nd step... 3rd step...4th step... 5th step...Until my foot reached the base step. I slipped off the stairs with my left thigh and being supported by my left elbow and arm. I didnt know how to react but I remembered myself saying, "Anu ba yan! Nadulas na naman ako! "

Thinking that nothing serious happened, I stood up, went straight to the comfort room and continued with my routine. I started with a pee. (Sorry for the slang word). As I sat down on the toilet bowl, I started to feel something wrong. I was starting to feel dizzy. I bowed my head to make me feel more comfortable. However I felt something cold travelling inside my body. I felt that I am starting a cold sweat. I decided not to continue my daily morning routine as if I continued to take a bath, I may blackout inside the toilet.

I then decide to go back to bed instead, take a short rest before I continue taking a bath. Successfuly, I was able to bring myself up to the bedroom turn on the electric fan, aimed it where I will nest and laid down on our bed, beside sleeping Kaira and Keziah. I managed to send am SMS to my husband who was at work to tell him what happened. I tried to recover myself in 10 minutes then I rose again, went down the stairs, this time with bare foot, headed to the comfort room and took a bath. This time I felt pain all over my body but tried ignoring it. I dressed up, ate breakfast and proceeded to the office.

I noticed that there were bruises and scratches on my arms. Later on, when I went for a bladder break in the afternoon, I noticed a very large bruise on my left thigh---nearly oval shaped about 5 x 3 inches in area. The blood has clot this time. Still, I ignored it, proceeded to my workshop, stayed late in the office and went home on my normal schedule, as if nothing happened and as if I was feeling no pain at all.

When I came home, I showed my bruises and scratches to Kaira and Keziah. They were so worried about me. They were actually forcing me to go to the hospital but I told them that I am fine. It was only then that I realized that I also felt pain on my right elbow, right arm and even on the right side of my neck. Probably it was caused by the tension when I tried to hold on to the rails to stop me from falling down. One thing for sure, I did not hit my head. Thank you Lord!

After dinner, even with pain all over my body, I decided to clean up the service area of our home. I swept off the water on the floor and cleaned up the trash. As I tried to pick up the garbage in the trashcan, blood suddenly came out of my right thumb. Unaware, there was a broken glass in the trash can that caused the 2mm wound on my thumb. I washed my hands and rushed upstairs to do first aid then I continued to finish my task in the service area.

Finally, I was about to take a rest. I cleaned myself up and went to bed with Kaira and Keziah. I had pain all over but I managed to reflect on the things that happened that day. With so much body pain, I pitied myself but I do not know who to blame. I just prayed with my kids and thanked God for another day.

Life has many trials. I have been through lots of trials --- emotional and physical. I learned to ignore the pain. I learned to hide it. I believe this is part of maturity and this makes me a stronger person. Though full of trials, life must go on....

Lord, thank you for giving me trials that I know I can handle. Whenever I can't, I know I can hold on to you. Thanks you for the blessing me every single day...

---maron---

23:59pm

05november2010

Tacloban City 2010

Click link to view blog

http://maronski-roundworld.blogspot.com/2010/11/tacloban-city-2010.html

A Tribute for Toby

I first met Tobias "Toby" Propalde, Jr. on November 6, 2007. My gradeschool-highschool friends had an impromptu adventure to Pagsanjan Falls then. Planned on All Saint's Day through SMS while I was in the cemetery, my friends and I met at Bay Church on November 6 morning. Unknowingly, one of my highschool friends, Nonoy, brought along with him 2 other friends he introduced as 'Marlow' and 'Toby'. Mar was Noy's ex-officemate at Smart Communication while Toby was Noy's housemate. Riding 2 cars in convoy, 7 of us (Vince, Chill, Noy, Toby, Mar, my husband Lem and I) headed to Cavinti, Laguna to start our journey.

I am the type who doesn't talk too much especially with new acquaintances. But with Toby, he was so kind, courteous and friendly that he usually start the conversation with his new friends. Toby calls me 'Ate Rons.' Admittedly, I am older than him by 6 years and it is really right for him to call me 'Ate.' With his 'Bisaya' intonation and childlike acts, he seem so humble, 'malambing' and open to admit to new acquaintances that he is afraid of heights. He seem to be out 'bunsoy' in the group. That was the time when we were queueing as we do the 'practice' for rapelling down to Pagsanjan Falls. He said it was his first time but he succesfully surpassed this trial.

The activity was full of fun and photos and all cherished that moment. Toby and I had a few exchange of SMS, as few chats in yahoo whenever we happen to catch each other online but never met again until 2 years after.

On July 2009, Chill and I planned another adventure to Caramoan Islands in Camarines Sur. We booked a flight for those who confirmed---again, the 6 of us: Chill, Vince, Noy, Mar, Lem and I. Another friend, Hazel, also planned to join until she cancelled the booking in October due to conflict in schedule. By that time, Toby also informed us that he wanted to join the trip. I was the one who personally booked his flight, using my credit card and voluntarily communicated with him the details through mobile phone because I wanted him to join that trip. I want him to experience what we will experience in Caramoan Islands.

After all the planning, November 20, 2009 came. Chill, Vince, Noy, Mar, Toby, Lem and I met at NAIA at 5am for our flight to Legaspi City. The trip was a very memorable and enjoyable one. With the refreshing sceneries and good friends with you, you will really appreciate the beauty of the place. We spent 3 days exploring Caramoan Islands and Legaspi until we travelled back to Manila on 22nd of November 2009 and parted ways from NAIA airport.

Again, I had a few, seldom chats and SMS's with Toby until I received a bad news in early May 2010 that Toby was confined at the Dr Victor Potenciano Hospital (formerly Polymedic). Chill and I hurriedly planned a visit for Toby. We individually went out of the office earlier than normal on May 5, 2010 to pay a visit for Toby.

We had mixed emotions when we saw Toby in the hospital bed. Toby was smiling and had a very positive disposition on his condition. At the same time he was very thankful that we took effort to visit him. Vince was also there through a phonecall and talked heart-to-heart with Toby. Mar and Noy had been there before. They were actually the ones who told us about the news.

Toby introduced Chill and I to his roommates, brother and girlfriend. He introduced us as the ones who were with him during his Pagsanjan and Caramoan trip. According to him, the Caramoan trip was his most memorable and most enjoyable trip and he was so proud to experience such adventures. He even boasted with his officemates our pictures during the trip.

After long chats, Chill led a prayer for him, all of us with tears, except Toby. We prayed for Toby's speedy recovery. After the prayer Toby asked us why everyone was crying. He told us that we should not cry because he will get well soon. Before we left, Toby asked for help from us--- any kind of support --- prayers, referrals, financial, emotional, etc. Before Chill and I left the hospital, Toby was full of hope. While on the bus on the way home, I sent SMS to my cousin who is a doctor and advised Toby on how to get benefits from PCSO.

After that, I occassionally sent Toby SMS to check his condition. I had few chats with him through yahoo. I heard good news from him that he was already released from the hospital, that he stays in Cavite, that he had already gone back to work, that he took alternative medications, etc. All the while, I thought everything was doing good. Not until end October 2010 when I heard from Chill that Toby was confined back to the hospital.

All Saint's Day came and I spent the whole day in the cemetery celebrating my Dad's life. I had a long day then that I decided to take a leave on November 2. My vacation leave was so worthwhile. I cooked that day, I cleaned the house, fixed some stuff and decided to go online on Facebook at 5pm. To my surprise, I saw a very shocking photo in the newsfeed. I saw a picture of Toby with captions "In Loving Memory of Tobias 'Toby/Jojo" Propalde, Jr. August 17, 1983 - November 2, 2010". I was so shocked and clicked into the photo to see the link. It was his sister-in-law who posted it and the photo mentioned that Toby rested in peace at 10:15am. I almost cried. With teary eyes, I sent SMS to my friends who also knew Toby. All were shocked as well as they just got the news from me. Everyone was sad as we have lost a true friend who, at a very young age, acquired this illness that is almost uncurable!

To our dear TOBY, we will truly miss you. I am thankful that I had a chance to know you. Our 3 years of friendship seems to be a lifetime already! You are a very good man and you are loved. You will forever stay in our hearts! Be happy for you feel no more pain. May you enjoy eternal life with our Creator!

To the loving family left by Toby, our deepest condolences and sympathy for you. We will help you pray for Toby and may you continue to be strong in emotion and strong in faith. God bless you always!

---maron---

03november2010

22:44 hrs