Years After You

Kabanata 4

Disaster

Kinabukasan nung nagising ako and did all of my morning routines, panibagong araw na naman para pumasok. This time may duty na ‘ko lagi sa hospital, 3 weeks duty ako dahil next is graduation na. Sa DLM medical hospital ko balak pumapasok for post-graduate internship dahil maganda dito at madaming pagpipiliang specialization, and I wanted to take up neurosurgery. I did my usual look before going to hospital, there’s a hospital near our school and doon kami nagt-train.

Bumaba na ‘ko from my unit, never minding the neighbor thing. Kung makasalubong ko man siya, I’ll just thank him again in person but he don’t have to give food. I'm not a beggar.

Sumakay na ‘ko ng taxi papunta sa hospital, it’s currently 9:29am sa watch ko, 10am pa naman ang pasok ko mas maganda ng maaga para maka-cope up agad sa mga gagawin. I arrived first sa hospital, kaya nandun muna ako sa station naming mga interns. Nag-scroll na lang muna ako sa iPad ko and took some notes. I checked na rin yung charts sa computer. Ang ginagawa lang naman namin dito is sumasama kapag rounds, check-ups, at minsan nanunuod kami ng surgery sa gallery area ng hospital. Hindi muna kami allowed to took care of the patient without permission sa mga doctor or even nurses, pero kadalasan ay pinapasubok nila saamin ang ‘pag kuha ng dugo, paglalagay ng swero and such. Naatasan din pala kami minsan dalhin ang mga sample tests at kunin ang mga result.

Sa journey ko dito naka-encounter na ‘ko ng iba’t-ibang situation. It was new to me but it is normal since it is a hospital. I saw really big trauma coming in, and saw someone dying in emergency. It’s sad but we can’t predict what is ahead of us. As much as I could, I will help them.

Nag-aayos ako ngayon ng mga gamit at nag-iisip na rin ako ng way on how to learn more. I’m assisting as much as possible para mas maging hands on ako after. Nagt-take notes din ako kapag may extra time dahil minsan ay swamped kami. I really love helping others, help them heal and make them happy.

Sa paghihintay ko and halos kumpleto na rin kaming mga interns, nag-start na rin kami. We are divided by three groups, some of us are in wards monitoring post-op patients. The others are in-charge of outpatients and our group will help other nurses and doctors in emergency room.

We are advised that we have an emergency patient. Trauma patient, male, motorcycle accident, unconscious. Nervous but still managing to be calm. Ayokong magkamali baka mapalayas ako sa ER.

Nakarating na ang ambulansya at agad-agad naman rumesponde ang mga nurses at doctor. Chineck na ngayon ang pasyente, nilagay na rin ng nurses ang mga aparato para sa kanyang pulso and set-up the IV. The doctor ordered a brain CT, x-ray and abdominal CT based on his protrude stomach possible that his stomach is perforated.

While checking for other injuries, the patient had a sudden cardiac arrest. One of us conducted a CPR already. We are also instructed to intubate him so he can breathe. Unfortunately, he died of a heart attack, and based on the lab tests the patient was under the influence of drugs that’s why he’s unconscious.

We are truly sadden about what happened but we can’t do anything about it. I mean, we did everything we could, everything we did is stated in his medical records and in our admin databases if for some reason they will claim a malpractice. My duty went on as emergency patients keeps coming in.

Lunch time and kasabay ko kumain ang mga schoolmates ko. Close ko naman sila and we’re good. Konting chikahan lang after we eat then balik station na kami. Wala namang masyadong patient, so makakapag-scan pa ng notes. Nagcheck na lang kami ng mga charts as well as adjusting patients' IVs.

Afternoon went fast as the darkness conquers the sky. Nasa station lang kami and yung iba sa amin ay nag-aaral habang wala kaming ginagawa yung iba tulog siguro bumabawi ng lakas. Nakapag-dinner na rin kami. As a treat for everyone and thanking them for their hardwork, I ordered coffee. Para na rin hindi kami antukin masyado dahil magdamag kami, unlike others na nasa ward and outpatient uuwi sila.

The coffee arrived just few minutes.

“Thank you for the coffee, Elisha. Bait mo talaga.” sabi ng isa sa mga schoolmates ko.

“Enjoy your coffee po. Thank you for everyone’s hardwork today.” nginitian ko sila.

“Thank you ha, Elisha. I don’t think matatanggap ko ‘to. Bawal kasi e.” saad ng head nurse sa ER.

“Bakit po?” nagtatakang tanong ko naman.

“Baka kasi isipin ng iba binubully ka namin dito kasi hindi namin hinahayaan na nililibre kami ng mga juniors namin.” yung isang staff nurse.

Nagulat naman ako doon. Ganoon pala ‘yon?

“Hala. Okay lang po, it is a thank you treat for everyone. Ramdam ko po kasi ang pagod ng bawat isa.”

“Ang tahimik ano po? Nakakabi—” sabi ng kasama ko na agad siyang pinutol ng mga nurses.

Pinagtitinginan na siya ng mga staffs kaya kaming mga kasama niya ay napatingin na rin sa kanya.

“Shhh. Hindi mo pwedeng sabihin yan dito. Jinx yan.” sagot ng isang nurse.

“Bakit po? May problema po ba?” classmate ko.

“Mas malala pa ito sa inaasahan niyo. Bawal sabihin ang “q” word dito sa ER. Baka rumagasa ang mga pasyente.” paliwanag ng head nurse ng biglang tumunog ang mga telepono.

“Oh my God. Eto na nga ba sinasabi ko. This is the jinx.”

Napatingin na lang kami sa nagri-ring na telepono. Habang sinasagot ng staff ang tawag, hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa mga narinig. Ang daming paniniwala na possible talagang mangyari. It is not just about what is in the book. Learnings that we get as we experience it.

Multiple emergencies came in, siguro almost 12 midnight na kami nakapag-pahinga.

After the duty, I rushed home to sleep dahil duty na naman ulit, 5am na ako nakauwi then duty ulit by afternoon.

I didn't felt the hunger, I just need rest. I feel like I'm gonna die.