WHERE MY PATIENCE CAN NO LONGER ENDURE
Before going on with my topic this week, let me say happy birthday to Sir Rodolfo M. Pepe Jr., my ever benevolent principal, a kindhearted friend, and an altruistic brother for all. Sir, happy, happy birthday! As they say, stop counting your age when you’re 30…
It was Friday morning of October 10, 2008 when I witnessed and experienced a very traumatic queue of patients waiting in the receiving counter of certain hospital’s OPD ward. What a life would be to go through worries and uncertainties whether my hospital purpose for that day would end my trouble.
Yes! I was served worthy as the 201th patient that day as early as 8:00 in the morning. While waiting for my name to be called, I spent time reading the posters and ads dispatched in the walls and had some refreshments in the canteen nearby. After two and a half hours of tedious pause, I heard my name right spoken in the counter. As I drew near, I came to think that the hospital’s management is at par best to be serving hundreds or even thousands of patients at the spur.
I was given the slip specifically for my business and heeded optimistically at the surgery section. After having surpassed the heat of waiting the 201th slot, I was tagged this time number 30 in the surgical ward. There was no other choice than to wait, wait and wait. The time lag made me comprehend that one of the toughest jobs for one to do is to wait.
In the surgery queue, I spent around one hour and a half waiting in the corridor before my name was called for consultation. I was entertained in the surgical section past 12 noon. The surgeon on duty advised me for biopsy before conducting the operation and I had no doubt for that. With this, I thought of the doctor’s sincere service to be serving thousands of patients despite the pressure, heat of tongue and hunger which were on strike while serving. The biopsy supposed to be conducted kept closed for a moment because the doctor-in-charge was out for lunch. One of the attending student nurses disclosed clear instruction for the biopsy to go on with respect to the doctor’s availability in the afternoon session. All of them said, “no ala una kayonto na lang nga agsubli.” I nodded and walked out without any hesitation.
Another hour went too long and I got exactly 1:00 pm time as seen in my cell phone. I have to wait for my name to be called at the corridor as instructed earlier. Hour by hour, minute by minute then it went steadily 2:00 PM yet I failed to hear from them my name. My patience cannot endure the never ending-story of waiting until 3 PM then to 3:30 PM. By this time, I realized that I was waiting for nothing. At 4 PM, still my name was not called up for the purpose. With much distress and hypertension developed in the “waiting corridor,” I gave up…I surrendered. I left the hospital with great regrets and disappointments. This was the kind of service I got from the Baguio General Hospital, Baguio City that day.
While on ride going to town, I had thought of consulting private surgeon. I made it through certain doctor from Santo Niño Hospital. He told me to prepare a bit thousands of pesos which I don’t have during that time. He scheduled the operation at 8:00 PM that day but I didn’t appear.
Finally, the long wait was over….After a week (Oct. 18, 2008); I went to Luis Hora Memorial Regional Hospital in Bauko for the same purpose. At the information counter, I was served best by the one in-charge. She referred me instantly to the Doctor at the OPD ward where I received due attention.
In less than an hour, the operation pushed through having the hospital’s head Dr. Edgardo I. Bolompo who served as my surgeon. I felt very relieved to be served this way with the presence of the student nurses from the University of the Cordilleras who shared their service in the four-hour operating time. With great delight and satisfaction, I would like to commend the generosity of my surgeon Dr. Edgardo Bolompo, my attending physician Dra. Dona Belle P. Borbe, nurses around (I failed to get their names), and the student nurses from UC namely; Klaudine Day-ong, Presima Ligod, Claire Ayeo, Cael Noemi, and Michelle Paplonot. Your service had brought a part of my confidence alive in my personal and teaching life.
For purposes of clarification, the surgical operation I had was the excision of the multiple fat deposits in my elbows and knees. (For comments, feel free to leave them in my website at www.lesiomhar.page.tl or in my CP # at 09185452554).
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