My Backstory

So, here I am, writing or should I say typing my first blog. Honestly, I’m not a good writer but I’ll do my best.

I met my wife in 2002 in Pasig City, one of the known places here in the Philippines. She was attending a service while we were on duty. My partner and I were invited to their house to help her regain her confidence to continue and once again meet with other people. Months passed and slowly my feelings for her has grown. We decided to get married on May 24, 2004. There are a lot of struggles, needless to say. Our first child was born on February 25, 2005, our second in April of 2006 and our youngest in May of 2008. I started working as a call center agent to support my family. I always remember seeing my wife waving her hand while saying goodbye every night I leave for work. We were very happy. Although, I admit having a lot of shortcomings, I still strive to be the husband and father my wife and my children wants me to be.

Then came 2010…

My wife and I did not expect to have another child. It was in November 2010 when she was already on her 6 month of pregnancy. We got home from a sports event. Obviously tired of cheering her friends, she lay in bed just staring at the ceiling. I was talking to her surprised that she’s quiet. As I looked at her, I saw her face started to twitch…she was having a seizure. That was November 1, 2010.

I decided to resign from my job in Magallanes, Makati to look for a new work which is near our home. I said to myself that my wife is having difficulties with her pregnancy so I need to be home sooner that before. I got hired in one of the tech companies in Quezon City. In one of my shifts, at around 11PM, my supervisor came to me rushing, holding her phone and trying to show me her text messages. She said sorry because it was already late when she read my wife’s message. It reads,”Please tell Mel that I’m having seizures again..etkjmdvomdovwonscneiskskf “. I cannot remember exactly those jumbled letters. I left the office, took a cab and went straight home. I found her lying on the bed with her legs outstretched.

November 12, 2010…

After consulting with her doctor and recommending an MRI scan, we went to one of the hospitals in Quezon City. The staff said that the result will be available tomorrow (November 13). At home, we sat her on a white reclining chair. She asked me to give her some bread and soda. She ate excitedly and then reminded me to take care of our children. “Don’t forget to bring extra clothes and jacket for them…”, “Always look after our youngest..”. Then she went to bed to sleep. That night, while on bed, she keeps having short episodes of seizure. I decided to take her to one of the hospitals in Marikina with the help of our friends. When we arrived at the hospital, her nose is bleeding and she’s not responding to my call…my wife was in comatose.

November 13, 2010…

From Marikina we took her to another hospital in Quezon City. The doctor told me that one thing I don’t want to hear. They asked me if I want to have our baby delivered because my daughter’s heart is beginning to slow down. My mind was racing, I said if that will help our baby then take her out from the womb. Our baby was placed in a separate ICU on the ground floor of the hospital while my wife is on the second floor ICU. My little daughter did not survive and I asked my parents and my brother to bury her while I stay in the hospital. They buried her with my yellow t-shirt covering her body.

November 15, 2010, Monday…

My wife is already struggling. Her heart is starting to fail. The nurses asked me if I want to remove the life-support from her. I said no and just do whatever they can to keep her alive. They started injecting her with a drug to help her heart pump blood to her body. There are 7 injections. After administering the last dose, they started CPR on her. I watched the nurses trying to keep her alive and then she was gone.

I really missed those precious moments we have. I have regrets. I wished if I can only go back I would’ve spent more time with her and our children. There are a lot more details of this story but I decided not to include them.

The lesson I’ve learned is love your family, your wife, husband, children while they are still with you. Cherish every single moment with them. Try to be as understanding and loving as you can be, and you will have no regrets at the end.

I still miss my wife’s smile…