Merry Christmas indeed!!!

Again, pardon for not posting updates lately. I was up on my sleeves before Christmas… still about my health. But 2 days before Christmas, I received the best gift ever.

I was scheduled for biopsy last Wednesday, December 23. I went for it so as not to prolong the agony that I have been experiencing the past few weeks. I was glad though that there was a pathologist willing to conduct biopsy despite the holiday fever.

At 9:45 a.m., I was already at Makati Med’s Pathology Section lobby. And at exactly 10 a.m., a male doctor in loose rapper-like jeans approached me and said, “Ms. Argamaso?” I nodded. He uttered, “Dito tayo.”

The doctor was young and looked relaxed which was a bit too comforting for me. To add more comfort, I tried to talked to him:

Doctor: Bakit ka iba-biopsy?

Winkie: Meron po kasing lump sa neck ko. (Showed him the left side of my neck)

Doctor: Ay, ang laki! Kulani?

Winkie: Sa palagay nyo po?

Doctor: Parang. But let’s see kung ano result ng biopsy.

Winkie: Inooperahan ba yung ganito?

Doctor: Depende sa doctor mo.

Winkie: Yikes! Takot ako sa surgery, doc. Tsaka, ayoko magkaroon ng tahi.

Doctor: Nagpachest x-ray ka na?

Winkie: Hindi pa po.

Doctor: I suggest you do. Tatlo kasi ang cause ng kulani: sipon, deprensya sa tenga or mahinang lungs.

Winkie: I see. Di naman po ako sipunin at walang deperesya sa tenga ko. Siguro nga sa lungs. Kaso di po inadvise ng doctor ko. Pwede ba ako magpasecond opinion kung sakali?

Doctor: Oo naman. Pa-second opinion ka para sure.

Winkie: Sige po.

Doctor: Oh ano, game na?

Winkie: Masakit ba?

Doctor: (Looked at my lump and then nodded). Oo eh!

Winkie: Wag na lang kaya? Uwi na lang ako.

Doctor: Sige, ok lang. Kaso biopsy ka pa rin next year. Ngayon na noh!

Winkie: Ok fine. Ngayon na nga! Sayang naman pinunta ko dito.Teka, masakit ba talaga?

Doctor: Mejo lang, tiisin mo lang.

Winkie: Gaano kasakit? Parang facial?

Doctor: Yung facial kasi relaxing. Eto may konting pain kasi may kukunin ako sa loob. Pero ung facial na may pimple. mga 15x ang sakit nun.

Winkie: Hindi nga?

Doctor: Gusto mo lagyan natin ng anesthesia?

Winkie: Pwede?

Doctor: Oo naman.

Winkie: Sige po, please.

Doctor: (Pulled out an ointment tube’)

Winkie: Ay kala ko injection.

Doctor: Ano ka manganganak? Biopsy lang sa leeg noh?!

Winkie: Oh ok. Kala ko general anesthesia para wala talaga akong maramdaman.

Doctor: Baka ma-Michael Jackson ka.

Winkie: Ay bakit? Ano ba talaga kinamatay nun?

Doctor: Overdose ng anesthesia. Gusto matulog kaya nagpapaturok lagi ng anesthesia.

Winkie: Showbiz ka, doc ah!

Doctor: Hindi naman. Medical kasi ang reason ng death tapos linya ko pa kaya alam ko. (Lathered some ointment on my neck)

Winkie: Doc, damihan mo para super effective ah.

Doctor: (Laughed) Sige. Takot ka talaga noh?

Winkie: Obvious na ba? Pano naman, worst na naging sakit ko eh lagnat. Never pa kaya akong na-ospital.

Doctor: Ano ba, kulani lang yan!

Winkie: Eh doc, ano sa english ng kulani. Para pag sinabi ko sa friends ko hindi naman masyadong pangit pakinggan.

Doctor: Lymph node. Swollen lymph node.

Winkie: Bad ba ang kulani, este swollen lymph node?

Doctor: Hindi ah. Yung lymph node ang nagfifilter ng blood before it goes to the heart. So malamang, may nafilter yan na marumi kaya lumaki ng ganyan.

Winkie: Oh ok. Di pa ako made-deads ah!

Doctor: Hindi noh?! Mga 70%, ok ang result. I assure you. O game na, baka mawala effect ng anesthesia.

Winkie: Ok doc. Dahan-dahan ah! Pag nasaktan ako, saktan din kita. (Laughed)

Doctor: Promise, di masakit. Konting tiis lang. Wag kang lulunok at magsalita ah!

And so, the doctor finally pulled out some cell samples from my lump. He did it twice. He said he needed to check another area to make the findings more accurate. It was just a short procedure. Mas mahaba ang idinaldal ko kesa sa biopsy, hehehe!

Doctor: (Putting something on my neck)

Winkie: Ano yan doc? Baka masakit ah!

Doctor: Band-aid lang noh?!

Winkie: So, kelan result nito doc?

Doctor: Di ba sinabi sa yo?

Winkie: Next year daw po, January.

Doctor: Oo, after January 19. Wala kasi yung head namin. Sya ang mag-aanalyze ng results eh

Winkie: Ganun? Ang tagal ko pala maghihintay. Kala ko mga first week lang ng January.

Doctor: Eh out-of-the-country yung head namin.

After that, he handed me a paper and asked me to proceed to the cashier. I went back the Pathology Section to gave him my receipt.

Doctor: Oh, here”s your claim receipt. Sa January na lang ah!

Winkie: January talaga?

Doctor: (Whispered) Tinest ko na, benign cells. No need to worry. Pero syempre yung official result next year na. I just want to assure you para merry ang Christmas.

Winkie: Uy, thanks doc! Super gift talaga yang sinabi mo sa akin. Di na ako iiyak sa gabi. Merry na talaga Christmas ko.

Doctor: Para di ka na maghintay at maenjoy mo na ang holiday season.

Winkie: Thanks po. Eh teka, bakit masakit sya ngayon? Eh kanina pag punta ko di naman masakit.

Doctor: Syempre, binugbog ko eh. May kinuha ako sa loob.

Winkie: Ano pwede kong inumin?

Doctor: I-John Lloyd mo lang yan.

Winkie: John Lloyd?

Doctor: Biogesic. Pag di umubra, i-Manny Pacquiao mo.

Winkie: Alaxan?

Doctor: Oh yun, alam mo naman pala eh!

Winkie: O cya doc, salamat uli! Merry Christmas

It was really a relief for me to hear that doctor’s assuring words. After that, I went back to the office with a big smile on my face and I instantly told my colleagues about it. They were so happy for me. I immediately texted my Mom and aunt. My aunt called me and expressed how happy she was of the result. Mommy, on the other hand, texted me back with, “Salamat sa Diyos, anak! Maganda ang resulta. Magdaan ka sa simbahan bago ka umuwi at magthank you ka ke Lord.” I replied, “Of course, I will.”

It was my best gift of the season. Now I could sleep with ease and smile effortlessly. But still, I am truly thankful to all my colleagues and friends who showed deep concern, support and love. All your prayers were heard there in the heavens. Indeed, God is great… all the time!

I know it’s a bit late for holiday greetings but this little girl is extremely happy this season (kaso di nakasmile sa pic kasi ayaw ang suot, hahaha!) and wishes to greet you all a very…

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

More blessings of love and peace to you and your loved ones!