CHAPTER 10 HELP X HEROISM

SOLEMN

AFTER an hour of driving we arrived at our destination which is the hospital. It was named 'Hillton Hospital. Makikita sa entrance kung gaano kalaki ang lugar na sinasabi ko. It was really big. I am sure that this is one of the most famous hospital.

For the whole duration, no one dared to talk. Tahimik lang ako pati rin siya. Silence engulped us and no one dared to start a conversation. Tinignan ko siya.

She's silent but I can see it on her face, she's quiet scared. Alam kung nag-aalala siya sa isang bagay na wala akung kaalam-alam.

"Hello Dr., you can park there in your reserved spot." The guard at the ticket house said.

I nodded. I know na may posisyon at kilala rin sa hospital itong lalaking kasalukuyan kung pinamamahayan, based on how people address him. After that, dumiretso na ako, wala akung nakuhang ticket because of the same reason. I looked for the spot the guard said. As I was looking kitang kita ko na puno talaga ang  parking lot ng lugar na ito. Walang kahit vacant, except for the reserved parking slot.

Minutes of looking then I found it, may karatulang nakalagay doon sa pwesto na 'reserved parking slot.'

I stopped the car and was about to go out to remove the sign when  I heard a car from the sideroad beeped at me.

Kita kung bumaba ang isang lalaki. Nagamamadali ito at parang nagpapanic. He run towards our car and knocked the windshield.

I opened it for him.

Kita ang pagtataka sa mukha ng kasama ko, pero hindi naman ako koto pinigalan.

The moment I opened the car window, biglang nagsalita yung lalaki.

"Hi sir, I'm really sorry for the inconvenience but my wife is going to give birth. This is the nearest hospital pero nakita kung puno yung parking lot dito. Please I'm begging you, can you spare this slot to me? Kailangan kona talagang madala ang asawa ko sa loob. Maselan yung pagbubuntis niya! I'm scared na baka mawala yung anak namin kapag hindi pa siya na agad matulungan." He pleadly asked. I can see him  panicking. Hinahabol niya yung kanyang hininga.

I was about to speak ng biglang nagsalita yung babae sa kiliran ko.

"Yes, sure. That's not a problem." Seryosong ani ng kasama ko. So she also can be serious sometimes huh?

I can see the happiness in the guys face after hearing that.

"Also Ejie, samahan mona sila." Aniya sabay biglang tapik saakin. I agree with her, walang problema saakin iyon. I know they need my help.

"Sige na. It's your duty, as a doctor. Ako na ang bahala sa paghahanap ng mapaparkingan at tulungan mona sila."

"I nodded without any hesitation seen in my face."

Even though I don't know anything about this track. I know kailangan kong gawin at gampanan ito, even though I don't know anything about being a doctor.

"Thank you, Very much!" He said with a smile in his face.

Dali-dali akung bumaba at sinundan siya patungo sa sasakyan niya. He opened the door, nakita ko ang isang babae na nakahawak sa likuran nito at nahihirapan. I saw the guy hold his wife at timulungang makalabas. Dali-dali akung rumesponde.

Pinagtulingan naming dalawa na madala ang kanyang asawa sa loob.

As we entered. Pumunta agad ako sa reception area na nakita ko. Pinaupo ko muna sila.

"Hey, there's someone's going to give birth. It's kinda crucial, since maselan nag pagbubuntis niyo." Direktang ani ko dito, without being formal. I'm in a hurry right now. I need to hurry since buhay ang nakasalalay dito.

Nakita kung nagulat yung nagbabantay na nurse. Dali-dali naman itong may tinawagan sa phone.

"I-i'm sorry Dr. Ejie, but there's no currently available doctor or obegyne right now na pwedeng magpaanak, since napakarami ng pasyente . As of now ikaw lang po yung available na Doctor. May mga nurse po but I don't think they can perform C.S." Anito after seeing the patient.

It can't be.

"Huh? Wala bang iba talaga? Please call again. This is an emergency." I asked her again.

"Wala napo talaga Dr., i'm really sorry. Pwede nyo naman po siyang dalhin sa ibang hospital, pero..." Suhestiyon nito. She stopped at the last words but continued. " Since ikaw lang po yung available ngayon pwede po sigurong ikaw nalang po yung magpaanak. But I doubt that you'd do it Doc." Nakakakot ulong ani ng nurse.

I can't be. What should I do? Wala akung alam sa pagpapaanak. Hindi ko ito katawan and kahit isang kaalaman sa pagiging doctor ay wala akung kaalam-alam, pagpapaanak pa kaya? She's right I won't do it.

"Since  you never tried C.S operations before Sir kaya, I think risky po na ikaw yung gumawa and I know that you won't do it po. Since wala rin po kayong background dito and it's not part of your field po. Napakalayo po since you're a Pulmonologist po."

She revealed.

I am frustrated right now. Tinignan ko yung lalaki kasama ang asawa nito they are still seating.

Geez, what should I do? I can't be the one who should do it. Like what she said. Baka mapahamak lang sila kung gagawin ko yun na wala akung backgro, I mean wala akung kahit isang alam tunglol dito. We can't also go to another hospital since maselan yung pagbubuntis nung babae at baka ikamatay ng bata kung hindi pa ito mailabas.

Nilapitan ako ng lalaki. He asked me.

"Doc, okay na poba? Please help my wife." He pleadly asked me.

What should I do? I don't really know. It's so frustrating, ano ba ang magagawa ko? I need to make a decision now or else....

I was about to answer him ng biglang magsalita yung receptionist. Tinapik ako nito sa aking kiliran.

"Dr. Ejie! Good news. I called again and I heard that a Doctor who just got home from U.S, Dr. Lawrence Salvedo, said that he can do the operation for the pregnant woman. Since part rin po ng field niya ang pagpapaanak." She said.

I was enlightened by what I heard.

"Dalhin lang po natin siya sa ER. Dr. Lawrence is there, he's ready."

I nodded and thanked her. Isinakay namin yung babae sa isang tumatakbo na higaan. I don't know what it is called

Nasa 5th floor pa yung ER. Madali lang kaming nakarating doon using the elevator. Also thanks to the nurse who helped us, push the bed.

Ipinasok na namin yung babae sa ER. May mga nurse na sumalubong saamin at pinapasok yung pasyente. Pinigilan muna nila ang asawa nito.

"You can enter sir, but you first need to wear something." Ani ng isang nurse at sinamahan muna yung lalaki para makapagbihis.

Right know, nakikita ko parin yung pag-aalala sa mukha ng lalaki which I can say is normal since it's her wife and child. But at least he's not panicking anymore.

"Are you okay, Doc?" A nurse asked.

I looked at her direction. I nodded. I'm really good at portraying this role huh?

Everything happened too sudden. I'm currently still in shock right now, still recovering.

My situation right now is very tiring. Ang raming mga problema. Problems after problems. I think I wouldn't last if this keeps going.

Nakakabaliw lang isipin yung mga nangyayari sakin. I found myself in a completely different world. Iba yung mukha ko, trabaho, posisyon, edad, pangalan, anything, ibang-iba. Tapos nangyari tong problema ngayon, good thing it was solved. I just wish she would deliver her child safe and sound. I don't want to think anymore. Ayaw konang isipin na may kasunod pa nito. I'm really going to go crazy.

Napaupo nalng ako sa isang upuan na nandito. I am tired, ramdam na ramdam ko ang pagod sa katawan ko at parang gusto na nitong bumigay.  Kahit tanghiling tapat pa ngayon.

Kung ibang tao lang siguro ang nasa sitwasyon ko ngayon, baka tuluyan ng mawala sapag-uisip. Good thing, I know how to handle everything. But I can say that it's hard. Totally hard.

Napaupo nalang ako at nagpadala sa antok at pagod na aking nararamdaman.

Thinking what would happen next?

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