RIP, Grandma Regina P. Lopez

July 27, 2011
Around 1pm

While having lunch with my youngest sister somewhere in Pasig, I got a call from my younger sister informing me of an unusual situation back at home. She was called firsthand via mobile phone by our helpers that our grandmother was found unresponsive in her bed. I told her to bring her to the nearest hospital immediately and we will follow them. At that time, my parents were also somewhere else but they were also informed about the situation. 1 hour later, I arrived at the hospital. Our grandma was being attended to by the emergency physicians on-duty. Being a physician myself, I told them about her past medical history - diabetic for more than 15 years, controlled, not on any insulin therapy nor oral hypoglycemic agents, had stroke around 2003 with left-sided residual weakness, had upper gastro-intestinal bleeding due to aspirin intake, transfused with 2 (I think) bags of packed red blood cells, admitted at another private hospital last year due to complicated urinary tract infection. The ER physician also told me his working impressions - another episode of stroke, possibility of heart attack (NSTEMI/non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction), Pneumonia in the elderly. I saw my grandma intubated, but with stable vital signs, yet still unresponsive and a high capillary blood glucose level. I was also told that she must be admitted at the intensive care unit/ICU but I didn't give my consent. Instead, I told them I had to wait for my mom & will ask her. I doubt she'll agree with it. Moments later, my parents arrived and they went to the Admitting section to get a room. Not surprised, my mom didn't consent for my grandma to stay at the ICU. She opted to hire a private bedside nurse instead. 3 hours later after arriving, we finally settled in 1 of the private rooms in the hospital. And we hoped, prayed for her recovery.


July 28, 2011 to August 3, 2011

I always visited her at the hospital on my way home from work. There were moments that she was "going down" and I had a feeling that we will not be able to bring her back home alive. My mom decided to bring her home to her original home town, even if it meant travelling by ambulance for many hours. My mom's relatives arranged for my grandma's transportation and transfer of hospital. On her last night at the hospital in Manila, I realised that probably it was the last time I'll see her alive. She was transferred after midnight. She was accompanied by my parents and another relative on the maternal side.


August 4, 2011
AM

When I woke up for work, my dad left me messages on my mobile phone, giving me updates about their travel and grandma's condition. It seemed that she was "stable" during the entire travel. They finally arrived at another hospital by 9am. They were attended to, immediately brought inside a room. I thought everything was going to be okay.

12noon

I got a text message again from dad. The content was what I dreaded for - grandma joined our Creator. I was stunned, distracted from work. I informed our friends, other relatives about it. Details regarding the wake and interment followed suit.

She was 86 years old.


I went home (with my youngest sister) to Ilocos night before her interment. When we arrived early morning, everyone was in frenzy and we were extremely busy. No time to catch up for some sleep. Mass was at 8am, followed by the procession to the cemetery, the burial rites, and finally lunch at her place. We headed to the beach for awhile at high noon for a ceremonial "cleansing" and letting go. Of course, we had to put lots of sunscreens on ourselves. Then back again at the house for bathing.

(My younger sister stayed behind in Manila because she was reviewing for the Physicians' Licensure Examinations. Thankfully, the results turned out to be great.)

The activities didn't stop there. Since we had guests from Manila, we toured them in Vigan, ate empanadas, bought lots of souvenirs. By night, I was so tired. Since I was also headed back home, I decided to sleep in the bus. I was in Ilocos for less than 24hours.

Tomorrow is her supposed to be 87th birthday. We will still celebrate it, like she's still alive.

We will celebrate her "40 days death anniversary" on 13 September 2011. I'm not sure if I was going to Ilocos because of work. But I'll try to file for a 2-day leave.