How can I describe the past month except that it had been one heck of a giant Ferris wheel ride. Twenty eight days ago, my mother was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit for lung congestion. Her oxygen level was very low while her carbon dioxide rose to a toxic level. Later we found out that that she also had several infections, both bacterial and fungal in her lungs, and gastrointestinal tract. Because of the build up of phlegm and fluid in her lungs, she was intubated. One night she had two seizures that puzzled her doctors. The only explanation (so far) that they could offer was that it was a reaction of the body to very low oxygen level in the brain. Her neurologist suggested a CT scan in the future. "It's not urgent," the neurologist said. My mother was conscious alright but she was incoherent. "She has lots of problems already, least of it is the brain," he added.
One day she showed signs of the end, and we were already making plans should the inevitable time of death comes. But two weeks later, she managed to snap out of the infections. Her oxygen level became stable, and, on her 20th day in the hospital, because of the improvements, she was moved to a private room. We were jubilant. I even managed to travel on two occasions: to Singapore for the Southeast Asian Film Festival, and Manila to attend the Gawad Urian where my film Limbunan won Best Sound for Dempster Samarista. I also met with my staff to prepare for the production of my second film Cartas de la Soledad.
But two days ago, my mother's condition made another turn for the worse and she was moved to the ICU again where she has been staying as of this writing. She is stable for now, but until when only the Great, Infinite One knows for sure.
