Pacete: Waltzing with Dengue

WEDNESDAY 3 p.m., I was shocked when the platelet count of my daughter, Jezsa, dropped to 105 from 240. (The reference value is 150 – 450 x 10/L). She got fever in the past five days (38 – 40 degrees Celsius). Two doctors advised that I have to take her to the hospital.

My wife, Rose, packed up after identifying few things needed for this fortuitous event. We went first to Our Lady of Mercy Hospital…private rooms were occupied but there was one bed vacant at the ward. I reserved it. We proceeded to Doctor’s Hospital…all rooms were taken, no space in the ward. The next stop was Riverside Medical Center and my wife made a decision that we have to confine Jezsa there.

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The Admitting Section advised us to proceed to the Emergency Room so that the doctor could make proper diagnosis. We went inside. More or less, there were fifteen patients waiting to be diagnosed. Some more were coming in. The lady doctor accommodated us, “Sir, we will admit your patient but we have no rooms. She has to sit down on that plastic chair and we hope to find a bed for her at 4:00 tomorrow afternoon.” My thought bubble worked. What! My daughter whose platelet count is dropping faster will sit down in that chair for 24 hours. Oh, My God! We decided to go back to Our Lady of Mercy Hospital.

Jezsa was admitted in the ward after a thorough procedure at the ER. The ward nurses showed friendly faces. We befriended fellow watchers attending to their patients. In the new neighborhood, there were four Silaynons. The place was a little bit hot although the electric fans were rotating. I left the hospital at around 7:00pm. Rose stayed with Jez. Our patient was reinforced with 0.9 percent sodium chloride (I.V.) to hopefully prevent her platelet count from further dropping. I was home but not very comfortable because my son, John, was also having fever (38 – 40).

It was 10:45pm. My mobile phone chirped. The message came from my wife. We need two units of blood with platelet concentrates. Jezsa’s platelet count dropped to 22. She got more rashes and few dark spots. SOS ASAP! There was urgency in the message. My mind went blank. When I recovered, I decided to call our city administrator, Mr. Imok Salmingo. He cordially referred me to Beverly, our Liga ng mga Barangay secretary tasked by Mayor Oti Montelibano and Councilor Joedith Gallego to assist Silaynons needing blood through the Red Cross.

Beverly texted me that Red Cross does not have the blood I needed. She told me to see her 5:00am, Thursday. “I will work it out to help you.” (Silay City has very good “Kontra – Dengue Program”. Free laboratory exam, free medicine, free blood…as long as Red Cross has the kind of blood needed by a Silaynon patient.)

I was not able to sleep. Every tick of the clock was precious. I am not a doctor. I only know that my daughter’s life is in danger. At 4:00am; Thursday, I was up. I requested my friend, Roger to warm up his motorcycle and take me to Beverly’s house at Brgy. Rizal. She was quick. She handed me letter of authority to withdraw blood from the Red Cross.

We were on our way to Bacolod. Smoke-belching vehicles clouded our way with carbon monoxide polluting the early morning air. I don’t know what agency can address this problem in our highway. Who cares? We passed by a crowd. There was a man being pacified by a gasoline station security guard. He was chased by two hold-uppers. He decided to run away because he had nothing to give.

I arrived at the hospital around 5 a.m. I was shocked to see that the bed where my girl was lying down when I left the hospital last night was covered with four big tubes and there were two big machines at the side. “God, what’s going on?” was the question at the back of my mind. I was about to cry when Rose tapped my shoulder. “Ver, we transferred at the other side. That is not our daughter.” I was relieved. What I saw was a death bed scene. There was a woman lying in there and she was running after her breath.

Roger and I rushed to the Red Cross Building to get the blood. At window 2, I was met by a beautiful lady who looked very sleepy. I presented my documents and she replied, “Sorry Sir, we don’t have the kind of blood you need. We only have fresh frozen plasma. If you can wait, probably this afternoon…but we are not sure.”

Zoom! Back to the hospital. I reported to my wife. She was able to talk to some hospital staff that somewhere, their friends can provide us with what we need but one unit would cost us 2, 200Php…so two units would mean 4, 400Php. And, we need two more reserved units. Anyway, I drained my resources to produce the amount. Blood type O positive with platelet concentrates arrived…analyzed at the lab, transfusion commenced…slow, risky (allergy is possible or any adverse reaction). Later, we decided to transfer to a private room upon doctor’s advice. It would mean additional expenses. Some patients in the ward were coughing. That would mean something to the fragile life of my girl.

Jezsa is still in the hospital. She is not out of danger yet. She is expensive but she’s past of me. Her life is precious. I have no choice but to waltz with dengue. Dengue still scares! Dengue still kills! You have to believe me.

My only consolation is friends who may help and God Who gave me His telephone number – Jeremiah 33:3, “Call unto me and I will answer you.”