Answer to Mama's Prayer

Mama's prayers have been answered.

They didn't go through the operation in Manila.

Medical records were taking too long to get from the mainland so they couldn't proceed ASAP. In that case, Papa repeatedly plead and cried for his release from the hospital. "iyawid nakon! patayen dak ditoy" (take me home! they are killing me here)

Well, Mama felt good about it. Not proceeding with the biopsy.

what good came about this?

Glet was able to go home. Pat was able to go home and process his kids' (petition)papers. Papa is still with us.

Our faith and trust in the Lord is being tested right now. We just need to recognize that he has a plan for us. All we can do is to pray for strength and understanding, to be able to accept His will. It may be sad but we have to go through it.

Abscess in the Brain

I decided to read up on Papa's condition and this article simply explains his condition.

"The swelling inside the brain can put pressure on delicate brain tissue and the mass of pus itself can block blood vessels that are supplying essential blood to parts of the brain. If prolonged, this can cause brain damage, because the oxygen supply to these tissues has been disrupted. It is therefore important to treat abscesses as early as possible."

"The effects of a brain abscess depend on its position and whether the brain has been squashed and damaged. Symptoms may be rapid or develop slowly over a period of weeks.

A headache is usually the first symptom of brain abscess. This results from raised pressure inside the skull, as the abscess presses on the brain.

Abscesses in the lower rear brain (the cerebellum) tend to cause loss of balance, a staggering walk, and neck stiffness.

If the abscess is in the frontal lobes of the brain, it may cause loss of memory and reduced attention span, and dysphasia (speech disorders).

Abscesses in the temporal lobes at the sides of the brain usually cause partial loss of vision."

Other symptoms of brain abscess can include:

• drowsiness;
• confusion;
• seizures (fits);
• paralysis;
• loss of sensation;
• loss of coordination;
• weakness;
• fever and chills;
• vomiting;
• irritability; and eventually
• coma.

The doctors have mentioned doing a BIOPSY. I hope that they choose the least invasive procedure to get to the brain.

Papa's CT Scan

Papa's scheduled CT scan yesterday .. found the abscess got bigger. The medication didn't help shrink it. NOw, they are going to drain it. If it is not possible for it to drain ..they are going to do a biopsy of that tumor found in his brain. Then we are looking at radiation. Man, I'm speaking broken English but I'm just jotting these things down for myself.

Polynesian Cultural Center

$10 dinner at the Gateway + Free night show. =)