THIS MAY TAKE YOU LONG TO READ GUYS, BUT I HOPE YOU ENDURE WITH ME AND LEND ME SOME MINUTES TO READ MY STORY.

It was Feb 10, 2017, 6–6:30am. On the way ako to duty sa National Kidney Transplant Institute (Medtech-Extern ako doon). Nagpababa ako sa driver sa may pedestrian lane sa tapat ng Gate 1 ng QC City Hall. Papasok na sana ako. But then, pagbaba ko sa jeepney, I looked first left and right para malaman if may mga padating na sasakyan. Well, I saw some coming but it was far. I was on the right side and far from naaninag ko papadating ang jeep, taxi at motor. However, di ko na alam ang sunod na nangyari.

Nagtaka ako pagkagising ko (dahil parang 30 mins ako nawalan ng malay; tinanong ko agad kasi ’yung rescuer anong oras na — 6:30am na daw). Nasa tabi na ako at may mga police, guard, and rescue team. And then I asked kuya rescuer, “Anong nangyari?” “Nasagasaan ka,” sabi niya sa’kin. Tapos nun napahawak ako sa mukha ko dahil puro dugo nakita ko sa kamay ko at pagkatapos nun sinabi ko kay kuya, “Tulungan mo’ko kuya!” Napaiyak ako din kasi nang sabihin niya na wag ako malikot at dahil nabalian ako, dun ko palang narealize lalo na masakit yun, at umiyak na ako ng sobra. Pasalamat na lang din ako kasi walang nawala sa gamit ko.

Tumatawag si boyfriend nun; pinasagot sa’kin ni kuya at sinabi ko nasagasaan ako. He was in a rush and went to me from Legarda. Thankfully they asked me if I have a friend to come with me at si Ram, ka-extern ko sa NKTI, he went with me after ko siya tawagan (pinatawag sa’kin ni kuya rescuer; ganun din na pinatawagan niya sa’kin si mama ko). Mama talked to the rescuer & told them to go immediately to the nearest hospital. Luckily I was an intern before at East Avenue Medical Center, and some of the people knew me and helped me.

I forgot the ortho doctor’s name who straightened immediately my fractured bone. I thank Ram, for he was with me and he talked to my ninang also and other relatives (sorry, Ram, if you got screamed at that day, everybody was in shock that time). Afterwards my boyfriend came too. After a while, the mother of ALBERT IBAJO TORRES — name of the person who got me in that situation (maswerte siya napilayan at bugbog lang siya) — tinawagan daw siya ng anak niya kaya siya napunta doon sa’kin. I can’t believe she came din.

To make the long story short, I was shook when I saw one of my tooth was broken and my enamel showed — how unfortunate I am. By the way, they provided the titanium plate for my fractured femur bone. (My diagnosis: Fractured closed complete comminuted displaced m3 right femur.) The plate is worth 45k. I thank them for they provided it; however, when they knew that we had a discount in PhilHealth (Mom used my PhilHealth) she got angry! Excuse me? It’s my PhilHealth diba? Actually, they really need to provide all our bill because it’s her son’s fault.

Our bill in hospital: 44,425 Php. With discount… only 20k+ ang na-charge. So, si mama dahil maawain siya, sinabi na lang niya na bayaran ’yung 20k+ namin. But then, after ma-discharged and some check-ups, the mother of ALBERT IBAJO TORRES, Tess is her name (I don’t know the whole name), provided the fee for check-ups and continued to pay the balance for the bill. Pero when we came back for my 3rd month of check-up, nagbago ang lahat. Nag-try si mama to reach her, tinawagan niya sa phone but she didn’t answer until my mom decided to call her in the house where she works as “kasambahay.”

But things changed! She was angry and told my mom, “Mag-antay ka. Kasi wala nga akong pera diba?” Sabi naman ni mama, “Ano, mag-aantay ako? Nag-usap tayo ha, nagpirmahan pero hindi kayo tumutupad! Idedemanda ko kayo.” Then she fought, “Sige idemanda niyo!” My mom was triggered by that. So afterwards we filed a case and after some weeks, a subpoena came to our house pero nung pumunta kami sa 1st hearing di sila pumunta. Tinamad na din kami kasi parang wala din mangyayari. Mahirap pa mag-asikaso dahil we’re from TONDO tapos the case is in QC pa.

Nangibabaw din sa heart ni mama yung awa kasi may pamilya ’yung nakabangga sa’kin. Sabi nga sa Bible:

ROMANS 12:19

Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

Pero kinaayawan ko lang doon dahil matapang pa siya — matapang pa siya ipaglaban na hindi kasalanan ng anak niya yun. Well, kung tutuusin, pinagtataka ko noon dapat jeep or ’yung taxi ang mauuna kasi sa case na yun… nasa right side ako patawid, yung arrangement nila from right to left is JEEP—TAXI—SINGLE MOTOR of Albert Ibajo Torres. Ibig sabihin po talaga, he was driving more than the required limit. His motor really broke down when I saw the pictures from the MMDA.

From that time na matapang pa si Ate Tess, we never contacted them again or asked for help, at hiningi pa yung balance ng bill. We just asked the Lord na Siya na ang bahala sa pamilya nila. Sa therapy ko, hanggang sa makalakad ako, wala naman sila naitulong e — actually hanggang doon lang sila. Walang palabra de honor e.

God said also in: PROVERBS 3:8 📖

Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones. ✔

In addition, I should look forward now because I conquered everything! I am now a strong woman. I wanna thank all of you —

Nagpapasalamat ako sa ninang ko, Ninang EMILY AGASID, for helping without hesitation, lalo na financially. She was really a blessing to me at sa family namin. I pray to God na i-continue Siya i-bless sa family niya rin and business niya.

I also thank my DEAREST PHYSICAL THERAPIST, Ma’am Nikko, for helping me to step up again and be confident in every walk of my life. Hihihi.

Thank you din sa mga friends ko na pumunta sa’kin nung nasa hospital ako — napakarami niyo. Most esp. Ronny, Rose, Ate Roch, Ram (2 weeks ako sa hospital, 2 weeks din sila dumuty sa’kin. Iloveyou guys ☺☺☺). Thank you for being with me guys and gals — AU FRIENDS AND MGA KA-INTERN FRIENDS KO and other church friends ☺☺☺

PS: Sa mga friends ko na malayo na chinat ako to send prayers and support. So many to mention, thank you po talaga 😍

Also din po sa CLGF Family for being there and praying for me too.

Sa mga other relatives ko na dumalaw din, esp. Tita Ana, Tito July, Tita Achie, Tito Angelo and his wife. Maging sa tita kong pastor, Tita Josie, sa pagbabantay din sa’kin sa ospital. Kay Ninang Theresa Cordero, Ptra. Mercy. Salamat sa prayers po.

Thank you din po sa NKTI Family, thank you sa pagpunta niyo po that time sa’kin; esp. sa mga Senior Staff and CMT namin. Sa EAMC Family, mga staffs ko doon for helping me.

Sa mga kapatid ko, Ate Joy (emotionally and financially) at Ejboy (sa pagpapasaya sa’kin). Kay mama at papa kong mahal — sa pagmamahal at pagpapalakas sa’kin lalo na si mama na walang sawang nag-aalaga sa’kin hanggang ngayon, sa’ming magkakapatid. ❤❤❤

Especially my boyfriend, who helped me until now, bearing with me. Mostly sa time na naisip ko nahuhuli na ako dahil wala pa ako experience sa lab work. Yung tipong isang taon na akong medtech pero wala parin akong nagagawa — frustrations ko bilang medtech na wala parin akong kwenta… salamat, pinalalakas mo loob ko lalo na sa pagsama mo sa mga laban ko sa buhay. Alam ko maraming nawala sa’kin na chance this 2017 but I look forward na sa 2018 everything will change (as what you say din).

Salamat din kahit napakadami ko ng stitches sa katawan ko, you always tell me pa rin na “I’m the most beautiful girl.” And the scars are just marks of how strong I am. ❤ Thank God He gave me you. Thank you for being patient and supportive to me. Iloveyou babe, iloveyou always and forever.

And most of all, I thank the Lord God Almighty, for giving me this 4th life since the day I was born and suffered lots of operations and life & death situations. I thank the Lord for comforting me and continuing to heal me physically, emotionally, and in my health issues. I LOVE YOU LORD. Your mercy endures forever. The grace of the Lord is sufficient for me. ❤❤❤ All glory belongs to the Lord. Hallelujah. Amen!

I’ve wrote this as an open-letter to everybody, to show how good the Lord still is despite nagkukulang tayo sa Kaniya, and I wanted to show how awesome the Lord is with His miracles in my life. ☝

I DECLARE BLESSINGS TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE READ MY LIVING TESTIMONY.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAVE A BOUNTIFUL NEW YEAR! 🎆🎆🎆🎁🎄🎊🎊🎊

BREAK A LEG PROVERBS 3:8 Then, you will have healing for your body & strength for your bones. 👣

It’s been 2 months since I had my accident last Feb. 10, 2017.It started when… I travel every morning before the sun rises (between 4:45 or 5am because my work starts at 6am, though sometimes I’m still late). I rode a jeep here in Divisoria (divi–cubao) and I rode again at Seattle, a jeep going to Philcoa, and went down at National Kidney Transplant Institute – NKTI (where I’m working as a trainee/extern). I always pray wherever I am.

The night before, I got a bad feeling wearing my clothes that had a print of “Life’s a bitch.” I had a feeling that I shouldn’t wear it. And I heard something inside my head sayin’, “Wear your other shirt, not that one,” but I just ignored what I heard. The next morning, Feb. 10, 2017, I went out of the house at 5:15am (it’s very late) so I traveled. While in the jeepney, I prayed and prayed because I remembered my dream also that I got into an accident (yeah, it happened; I didn’t tell anybody up until now). I can’t explain why I was not feeling alright or what, so I called my boyfriend. I wore my headset and talked to him while journeying. We talked until I saw that I was nearly going down the jeepney. I told the jeepney driver, “Kuya, sa may pedestrian lang po.” (Gate 1 of QC City Hall) and also told my boyfriend, “Wait lang babe, maya na tayo usap. Tatawid lang ako.” I went down on the pedestrian lane and removed the headset on my left ear and looked left and right. I saw the vehicles were far, so I crossed the lane, but then…

I was surprised when I was lying down on the ground and saw some medics and police traffic enforcers, and guards. I opened my eyes and it was kinda blurry at first, then I asked the medic guy, “Kuya, anong nangyari?” (It was like I awakened from a dream — is it a dream? is it real?) and he said, “Nasagasaan ka.” I was astonished! I touched my face and looked at my hand and there was blood! I told kuya again, “Tulungan mo ko kuya.” and he said, “Oo, wag ka mag-alala, wag kang gagalaw.” Then I looked at my right leg and saw it was bent. I tried to straighten it but he said again, “Wag mong gagalawin, nabalian ka.” When I saw the blood on my hands, I felt a little panic attack in my heart, and no pain at first, but when he said that I got a fractured bone, that’s the only time I felt so much pain and told him again, “Kuya, tulungan mo ko! Please!” I cried so hard and very loud because it was very painful. (That’s the time I remembered when someone told me “Do not wear that shirt” — it was God telling me and reminding me. I guess it’s also my fault.) Then they put me on the stretcher and in the ambulance, yet it was very hard for me because whenever they touched my leg, I really felt the pain — it’s like killing me! The medic guy and girl asked my name and I just told them to get my PRC License in my bag. Then they asked me where I was going & I told them I have duty in NKTI (actually the accident happened in front of the main gate of NKTI, just one more cross and there is the gate!). So they asked me to call one of my co-workers there. So I called my BEST FRIEND RAM, then the ambulance waited in front of the hospital and he came. They also told me to call my mother. I called her and said, “Kuya, ikaw na po kumausap,” so he was the one who had the conversation with my mom.

They brought me to East Avenue Medical Center – EAMC (it was my hospital when I was in fourth year as a medtech student; I had my internship training there). They put me again on another stretcher — another torture! To make it short, Ram got my phone and called anyone whom he could call. Then there was Dr. Narvaez (an orthopaedic doctor). He asked lots of questions — my name and what happened to me, then he said, “Micah, sige, iuunat ko yung leg mo ha.”

Me: I got big eyes and yelled, “Wag doc! Masakit po!”

Dr. Narvaez: “Hindi pwede kase kailangan. Maiunat yan ha. Dahan-dahanin ko lang.”

So he gently stretched my bent leg and I was yelling aloud, and the whole ER patients and hospital personnel were looking at me — in short, “I’m the center of attraction!” It was very very very very 100x painful, or not just 100x — a zillion times. Imagine it: stretching your fractured leg! Aaaaawww. Then they put a gallon and tied it around my foot so the water gallon would pull my bone inside (my femur bone).

Just a wrap-up!!!I had CT scan, x-ray, and other lab tests. I’m very happy because only my fractured bone was the problem & no other injuries inside. Only abrasion on my face and arms, including my broken tooth (it’s still painful up until now; if you have some dentist friend can you ask them what to do to my tooth? See the picture). I had my operation Feb. 17, 2017, 11am–3pm. The titanium was placed outside because my bone canal measures like a baby’s bone canal (my doctor said), so my steel inside was just a support. I need to wait for 10 weeks to start my therapy. My last checkup said that it has a callus formation. YEY! THANK GOD. ❤ It’s a GOOD SIGN!!!! 😊😊😊

*Callus – Mass of exudate and connective tissue that forms around a break in a bone and is converted into bone in healing.

I’m very blessed because I stayed in the hospital for two weeks. (And thankful for the persons who visited me in the hospital — my family: Papa, Mama, Ate Joy, Ejboy; my love Jeff [who also was there whenever he was off]; my bestfriends Ram and Dhez; my ninang Emily; Tito and Tita esp. Tita Josie; cousins; NKTI friends/staff/Heads/chief medtech; my old staffs in EAMC; my medtech friends and classmates [Salamat sainyo ang kakalog nio. Hihihi]; and mostly the Lord God Almighty [always and forever].) Also to persons who didn’t make their presence when I was in the hospital but reached me through chat and text, thank you guys! ❤ I love you all.

I pray that God will continue to guide my life, all the days of my life. I pray also that He will help me in my therapy so that I can walk again. Thank you Lord, declaring victory. Also, may God bless the one who made me like this and may it never happen again to him (and to me), Amen. Thanks for taking time to read. God is Good. All Glory to Him. I shared this because I’m ready to face another journey (when I get my complete healing). 🙏☝✍ God loves us. 😍

PPSS:

It’s my 4th life.

I’ve had a congenital atresia since I was born, operated 1994. When I was 3 days old, I had a colostomy, then operated again after a year. Some years later, I got severe dengue when I was 2 or 3 yrs old, I was in 50/50 condition. My mom thought I’m gonna die. My pedia doctor told her that when the clock hit 12mn on the 2nd day of admission in Pedia-ICU, if I didn’t respond, they were gonna cut off all the apparatuses that supported my life. During those times, before that time hit 12mn, my mom went to Christ the Living God Fellowship in Scout Albano QC to ask prayers for me. After praying, my godmother told her that she’ll come tomorrow. After my mom left, she (my godmother) felt conviction — if she didn’t come that same night to pray over me, something would happen to me. God’s Holy Spirit guided them to go to the hospital without knowing where it was and where my room was… It was past visiting time and by God’s guidance, wala sumita sa kanila while going inside the hospital premises na visiting hours over. Yet, they still got to ICU and prayed over me.

You know what’s the best thing? When they left, after some hours, nag-respond ako. Yung sinasalin sa’kin na blood (PRBC and/or platelets), hindi ko na siya tinitatae kundi nagkakaroon na ako ng color, and my breathing and the blood flowed all over. That’s the power of prayers.

I’ve been observed for additional 24hrs and in GOD’S MIRACLE & GRACE, no need to do anything. So, from ICU → house, no warding room needed. That’s the power of God’s love and prayers of God’s people. Within 3 days, I have been discharged.