MAR 06-7

INDEXING TITLE: JPINGUL’S Medical Anecdotal Report [6-07]
TITLE: There’s a Time for Everything
PERIOD OF MEDICAL OBSERVATION: October 8, 2005


A 55-year-old female patient had 4 consecutive intervals of stroke, the last pinned her to the bed. She developed weak extremities, balance and swallow dysfunction. To illustrate, she had to be nursed and fed through a gastrostomy tube, diaper changed, and sponged bath on bed. If she wanted to watch television, the care-taker transferred her to an adjacent rocking chair and the TV was tuned to her favorite channel.

She deteriorated, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Life was slowly sucked from her body, as the previous soft and lean muscles became only skin and bones. Bed sores became increasingly difficult to treat, she had them on every pressure point at the back and sides. She had pneumonia every month, and her infection were for resistant to most antibiotics. Even under the constant home care of two doctors: a neurologist and a surgeon, her body continued to die. She was my mother-in-law.

It was on a Friday morning, before her caregiver ever poured the liquefied formula food, when she noticed that there was no resistance from her body. The caregiver called my attention, when I saw her lying on bed, she was lifeless. I checked on her heart, breathing, and pupils... she was gone. I attempted a short cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, then I looked at my wife and she knew, her mother has gone.

Our home was filled with both gloom and a strange sense of joy, neighbors came in for support as they heard my wife crying. The morning sun was shining bright and warm, it was a beautiful morning. The suffering of my mother-in-law had ended, at the back of my mind, she is now in peace with her creator.

At the funeral, it was a family reunion, people came even from other countries to bid farewell to her and to encourage those who were left behind. One of her siblings even uttered, “We forgot the time that this house was filled with laughter and joy, now the sadness had ended, let’s hope in the days to come there will be rejoicing.”

INSIGHTS: (discovery, stimulus, REINFORCEMENT), (physical, psychosocial, ETHICAL)

It was an experience, as if our family was just coming out of a storm. When one has just gone through difficult times and now times are easier. As the storm clouds were clearing up, a ray of light shines in from the sun, and a rainbow appears.

It feels good. I see hope, as rebuilding starts.
After 4 years of having a sick patient, which ate up most of our resources, its about time we allocate resources to build our home for the children. The old generation has passed and the younger one’s take over the present time.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to loose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silent, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate;
a time of war, and a time of peace.

He has made every thing beautiful in his time.

What ever time one is passing through right now, just remember that there is a reason and a purpose, and whatever it is, from the big picture, its beautiful.