THE last five days have been one of life's most challenging and upsetting times in the lives of our family members.
It started on Friday, October 4, 2019, when my eldest brother, Sunny Junior, had his angiogram. The results were very bad. We were told that all his major blood arteries were 95 percent to 100 percent blocked! A heart attack could happen anytime! We were caught emotionally unprepared.
God was knocking on our doors.
All indications and medical score cards indicated a need for an open-heart surgery. No other options were presented or even considered. We were told not to waste any time and go down to Manila immediately. An ambulance was arranged to bring us directly to the Philippine Heart Center with a surgical team already given a heads up by our efficient, competent and compassionate Baguio doctor-friends.
Upon arrival and after an assessment, we were told that he would be scheduled for surgery as soon as a final evaluation would be made. The next day, the cardiologist laid it out with no words minced. With the physical condition of my brother, Junior was bluntly told, "You are overweight, have a very short neck, have obstructive sleep apnea, and leg vein issues. You could die, if not during the quintuple heart bypass, from complications after the surgery."
Wouldn't you be stunned and at a loss if death stares directly at you?
What would you be thinking?
What was my brother thinking?
What were each of us thinking, and feeling?
Uncontrollable but measured teardrops appeared on my brother's eyes, which he wiped as discreetly as possible. All of us tried to keep a brave face, but the pain was there and the tears came so naturally. We were human. We care. We love.
Then the twist.
Dr. James Ho, the cardiologist, came back after further reviewing the results of the angiogram and said, "Let's do an angioplasty instead. It is doable!"
We all sighed a breath of relief. It was still going to be invasive, but the thought that it wouldn't require a heart bypass was comforting and gave us hope.
Earlier that day, Junior was given the anointing of the sick, was given a general absolution, and he received the Lord in Holy Communion.
God was with Junior and with all of us. He answered all our prayers in a way we all did not expect. Yes, He answered. He showed his kindness and His mercy. He was watching over Junior, and over all of us. We thank Mama Mary, Papa Sunny, Mama Betty and Dennis for interceding for us.
We thank and praise God for answering our prayers.
P.S. To our family, staff and friends, thank you for praying for Junior and for all of us.
My dearest family members,
This major chapter in our lives revealed many things.
To each of you, God spoke in various ways.
As for me, in addition to what we may have shared and felt in common, God's resounding words were:
"You know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night." (1 Thessalonians 5:2)
and
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears my voice, and open the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." (Revelations 3: 20)
Let us thus listen. So that when God knocks, we will hear and open the door.