I asked the Lord for more time with my Dad and He granted my prayer. He almost died last year but the family was given a chance to be with him, to love him more and to tell him the things we always wanted him to know (which I knew he always also wanted to hear.)
In my head, I have a list of things I still want to do with him, a list of thoughts I want to tell him. While he cheated death, he is now bedridden, his whole left body side already paralyzed and more often than not, his thoughts are woozy. So, it’s not really easy to accomplish the list of things I want to do with him. I could have done them when he was still up and about but hey, life happens. We tend to ignore what is right before us sometimes. Yes, I may be limited in terms of activities with him now but I refuse to dwell on what can no longer be done. I choose to embrace the time and the chance to share more with him.
He can recognize me. He can hear me. There are a lot of times when he talks to me about the future, about his dreams for his grandchildren and about his past. In a very long time, he can now pray with me. His favorite prayer is Hail Holy Queen. There are certain things that make him happy and give him comfort like Andok’s siopao, Tipa’s hopia, Energen (which he calls Milo rice) and Milo itself. He likes being wiped with a wet towellete and being moved in his bed from time to time. I cannot imagine life being confined to a hospital bed ’til God-knows-when so I understand, how these little comforts bring hope and faith to him.
Today, my husband Dave and I went to Bambang, Manila. It is known to be the mecca of medical supplies in the metro. Adult diapers, hospital beds, wheelchairs, non-surgical gloves,hospital equipment, caregiving supplies — you name it, they have it.
My mission was to finally buy an egg mattress. It looks like this…
This is said to bring comfort to a bedridden patient as it helps circulate blood, promotes joint support and provides even and all-around support. It is inexpensive as prices range from Php 800.00 – 1100.00. In Bambang, I was acquainted with this kind of mattress which is known to help care for bedridden patients:
This is called an air mattress, a buoyant inflatable mattress. Compared to the regular egg crate mattress, this is pressurized by a machine, designed to run for 24 hours with the air being distributed. Its alternating air pressure provides for more movement for the patient. Each unit may cost around Php 5,000.00 (depending on the brand) which comes with a free repair kit should the inflatable bed be pricked or something. It comes with a 6 month warranty, but only for the machine. I was pretty excited by this though I postponed considering it an option. I wanted to see how my Dad will first react to a regular egg mattress. It’s a good idea to consult our doctor about equipments like this too.
So, I ended up buying this yellow mattress, along with a few supplies — diapers, non-surgical gloves, cleaning wipes and a nebulizer.
I am hoping the bright, sunny color helps.
Bambang is really a good place to visit if you are in need of caregiving supplies. Always canvass before purchasing. There’s always a best price and a lot of options. Do your canvass in a block or two. You can find the Bambang, Manila map here.
I have never known about stuff like this until my father’s year round hospital bouts. Now, I know. I am familiar with certain medications, the most affordable prices in medical supply shops and drugstores and procedures in hospitals and relating with doctors too. It’s not a fun experience but it squeezes your innermost strength to take it all in just when you think you have no more to give. Then, you learn to be more grateful about living, about loving.
Tomorrow, I go home to spend time my father with the egg mattress as my present! I hope it adds to the little comforts that he has now.
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