After months of intense heat and unannounced brownouts, rainy days are here again! And with that, disease-carrying mosquitoes are also back! Deadlier than ever!

12 years back, I had to be admitted for kidney infections. The extreme pain found no any position that could ease it. My wife, Amy, was then pregnant with our son, Zeann EJ. The intense pain made me bid my wife goodbye! Aahhh…that was 12 years ago.

The last week of May, this year, reminded me that I am only human! I was admitted to Medical Center of Digos Cooperative (MCDC) for some reasons that I wanted to also find out. My medical laboratory showed the presence of Amoeba in my body. My high-grade fever really lived up to its description. The fever started in the wee hours of Thursday morning and after four days in the hospital, my body’s temperature wouldn’t respond to the meds. Tuesday morning, I was feeling a little bit uneasy due to latest lab results. My platelet count was going down to 62. With this, I called my sister, Ching, a nurse by profession and is the HR director of Davao Adventist Hospital (DAH), suggested to make the immediate move from MCDC to DAH. Her reason was one thing that I wouldn’t contest, “Come here, so I can also take care of you!” My sis demanded.

With the help of sir Bernard Cordita, one of my colleagues at South Philippine Adventist College (SPAC), we reached DAH in no time. My body temperature was stuck at 39.7 degrees Celsius. The nurse had already made 4 attempts to re-attach the I.V. back to ANY of my veins. The fifth try proved successful! Whew!

After I was wheeled to the Room 216, temporarily, my attending physican, Dr. Geovanni Patalinghug, DAH president, ordered for a Typhoid Fever test. By four in the afternoon, I was given the first dosage of anti-biotic for Typhoid!

Amoeba! Typhoid!

Back to my platelet count, it’s now clear to me that Dengue was indeed present!

Wednesday morning, my platelet count was down to 43 then to 24 and Thursday evening it was at its lowest count – 15!

After few minutes of tests and exceptional results, and roller-coaster positive results a day after, I was out of DAH by Saturday. We stayed through the night at my sis’ place.

Tawa-tawa, Durian shake, and PRAYERS! I got a lot of family who really prayed for me and some SMSed me! (Thanks, FilipinoMinistry family in Singapore!)

The summer-end experience showed me that I am no robot! I am no machine! It reminded me to slow down and just as that ol’ personal favorite says, “I’m only human, and humans forget….”