Leaving The Hospital

October 15, 2006
Yam Leaves Hospital

As soon as Yam was declared engrafted, she worked her way slowly towards normal routine. She took in fluids and then solid foods, little by little, until she found it comfortable to do so. She began to move around and even went out of the room to the floor lobby. She looked into her email box and sent few mails. She started writing and recording her weight and fluid intake. She took to heart Dr Lopez’s advice that she can leave the hospital as fast as she gets back to the normal motions of life.

October 14 is exactly a month since Yam entered Asian Hospital and Medical Center. For the past few days, she wanted to be home. At Tita Helen’s house, her room was being readied. The necessary things (bills, records, etc) needed for discharge were being worked out by Dad, who arrived the night before from Davao. Dr. Lopez visited at mid-afternoon, smiled, and said, “I was just waiting for you to tell me you wanted to go home.” Thus were the words of final clearance, and by 6:30pm, Yam is home.

On Sunday, October 15, Tita Helen prepared a hearty lunch of sinigang ng tuna. Yam ate with gusto, with an extra serving of rice, then took in her meds. Yam’s sister Janice called in from Davao. The siblings talked lengthily as Yam smiled, smirked and swayed with pleasure as she related her experiences to a very eager listener. Seeing a vibrant-looking young child, who just a few days before was helpless on her hospital bed, is indeed very delightful.

Looking back at the month-long roller-coaster hospital ride, we feel relieved that the most difficult days are over. Even then, we take caution in pushing Yam too much. We now look forward with bright hopes We see Yam to be a woman who will care for the weak and the sick, one who will love others and help them overcome, a person who will fight for good causes, and one who treats people in pain and suffering with gentleness and compassion. All this, because she received the same lavishly from many people, like you.

October 25, 2006
The Post Transplant, Post-Hospital Days

Yam was discharged from the hospital on October 14, exactly a month after she was admitted.
Two days later, she had her first outpatient visit to monitor the development on her blood system . On her way back home, Dad drove her around to appreciate the landscape of the Filinvest Corporate City and the various architectural designs of houses in the posh Ayala Alabang Village. At Tita Helen’s home, she ate well and read Harry Potter for three hours, then went for a nap. When she woke up late afternoon, Mom was worried as she was running a 39 degree fever. Calling on Yam’s pediatrician, Mom was advised to bring her immediately to the hospital for care management. It was a difficult struggle for Yam to accept going back to the hospital but she finally relented after half an hour of persuasion.

Yam stayed in the hospital for three days and was back home on October 19. It turned out that she was positive of cytomegalovirus (CMV). This virus lays dormant and non-disruptive to a healthy person but may be fatal if untreated to an immuno-compromised person like those who undergo transplant. She was treated for this and she tested negative after a few days. She continues the medication though, to avert any adverse chances, in addition to several other tablets meant for every possible complication that may arise.

Adjusting to a constrained life is a constant struggle for Yam. Some days, it’s a breeze as she goes around Tita Helen’s home and enjoys whatever she takes hold of – a book, a teddy bear, a pillow. At other times, she misses the activities that a kid her age normally does – run around, go malling, play and get dirty, go to school. Realizing her restricted condition sometimes makes her mood swing low. Happily, she quickly bounces back to her usually buoyant disposition.
Today (October 26) marks the start of Yam’s second post-transplant month. So far, so good, so to speak. She goes through her daily struggles with grace, and her small victories with gratitude. Her routine remains deliberate and careful. And she remains positive and raring to live a more carefree life as days come and go.

November 5, 2006
Getting Better and Better By Getting By, Day By Day

“One step at a time” best describes this period as Yam enters into her second post-transplant month. Her regular check up showed that she progressed pretty well. Her blood counts are within normal levels. Slight variations in one or two specific cell counts indicated the need for adjustment in medication.

Yam also began walking to the nearby village park to regain her physical strength and rebuild her confidence. She occasionally goes out for a walk but avoids prolonged exposure to the sun. She continues to wear her face mask as continues to take in immuno-suppresants.
Kids are happiest when with other kids. And Yam is fortunate to occasionally meet Jill Octa and her sister when she goes for her weekly check up. Jill underwent a successful bone marrow transplant 8 days after Yam did at the Asian Hospital, also with Dr. Francis Lopez and Dr. Allan Racho.

During this week, Dad and Ate Janice visited Yam from Davao. On October 31, Mike and Gina Peck with their children, Sri and Ian, also visited. Mike and Gina manage the Outreach Asia Foundation from their home in Minnesotta and they responded to our desperate cry for help for Yam’s transplant fund. It was exhilarating to meet such generous souls and they were as happy to see Yam getting better and better, day by day.

As the Pecks left, we can only thank them and the many other people like them who lovingly and selflessly shared part of their lives and resources to redeem a young soul from the scourge called leukemia. We thought that the best we can do now in return is to care for Yam, rear and see her grow into a woman who will inspire others, keep the circle of life going for others, and perpetuate the life of giving, caring and serving.