You guys probably figured out why I was off here for awhile now. In the beginning of February Aaron and I went to Manila for a few days to renew his passport at the US Embassy. It really went well there and I was so happy for Aaron to finally got the passport done and renewed. When we got home, just a days or so after, Bob got ill. We noticed one of his arm had a sign of bug bite. Man, with just a bug bite it almost cost him his life. We thought he will not make it. Just watching him going through the pain it really broke my heart and made me cry. I would not want anyone going through what he went through. It’s not a fun scene to see.
Firstly we thought Bob had a stroke again. So we made an appointment to our doctor in GenSan. Why GenSan, well we really liked his doctor there a lot. But after my sister went to the doctor’s office there to see if she can squeeze in an appointment for Bob, my sister informed me that the doctor right now was busy and it will take a few days for her to see Bob. So we decided then for Bob to see local doctor here in the city. So we went to the doctor here. I’m glad we did. He really is a nice doctor. As soon as he saw Bob he immediately told Bob you don’t have a stroke, instead you had an infection. As he keeps looking and inspecting Bob’s arm, the doctor said to him that “if you want the infection to go away immediately it would be better for you to be admitted to the hospital so that you can have the medicines through iv that will kill the infections immediately”. Bob thought he can handle the infection by taking oral medications. Bob was taking the oral medications mental health online pharmacy for a few weeks and still he was experiencing severe pains. The oral medication just helps a little.
I just basically stayed with him the whole time almost 24/7. He has to have somebody with him day and night. He can’t even lift his arms. If he tries to lift his arms, he will be in pain. Just moving from the chair to the bed is a big struggle for him. Luckily my kids are here with me. To help him get up I get Aaron and Chris. To help him with the eating and the drinking I had help from Jean and Chris. During weekends Jared and Nicole would help out too. It’s really a rotation for us. I’m just so happy that during daytime I had so many to help.
He had to have somebody with him, his arms and hands can’t really do much. If ever he tried to use his hands for lifting his glass to drink he will be in so much pain. If he will use his arms to get up, he will be in pain. So I told him to just let us feed him and when getting up I will have the kids help him. Finally he realized that he really needed us to help him. So its been weeks that Bob is in bed.
By week 4, Bob was still in so much pain. So he then decided to be admitted to the hospital. He stayed there for 4 days. The doctor really gave him the medicine that will kill the infection and also it will not hurt him being he is diabetic. As I’m writing this post, Bob just got out from the hospital. Finally he had the good medication that totally knocked out the infection. Right now he is resting and I’m still reminding him to take it easy. He is still not totally 100% healed.
To all of you here that continue praying for his recovery, a big “Thank You” to all of you. I really appreciate you guys prayers and thoughts. Thank you also for those friends that visit here in the house and in the hospital. Thank you also for calling and checking on him. I can’t even tell you how grateful I am to you guys. A big thank you too to the hospital staff at Davao Adventist Hospital especially to Sean Dignadice. Thank you again to all of guys and God bless!
MABUHAY!
Hi Feyma – Good Bob is improved! Family and friends really are supportive when people are in hospital in the Philippines. So much so that you could have more visitors and food gifts than required. Good part of the culture here.
Hi Brenton – Yep he is improving and healing. He is getting there. Few more weeks and he is totally healed I think.
Yep, thank good God for close family and friends. No question about it, in our culture close family gather together during difficult times.
Good to see you here again. Have a good weekend!
Hello Feyma !! Sorry to hear about Bob being ill, hope his recovery will be complete soon, please give him my regards.
Roberto: From Butuan City.
Hi Robert – Thank you so much for the nice thoughts. He is getting better everyday. Thank God for that.
Take care and have a pleasant weekend in your part of the country!
Good to hear Bob is doing better. There is nothing better than the love and devotion of a good Filipina wife to assist in the healing As I am also the beneficiary of quality Filipina care from my wife when I am sick, I am absolutely amazed at times. The Bible tells us that when a man gets a wife, he gets a good thing. So very true when his wife is from the Philippines.
Hi Dave – He is healing slowly. He is almost there. Thank you for the good thoughts.
>>> (There is nothing better than the love and devotion of a good Filipina wife to assist in the healing As I am also the beneficiary of quality Filipina care from my wife when I am sick, I am absolutely amazed at times.) <<<
That's for sure, I can't argue you on that. Happy to hear that you're also a beneficiary of a devoted wife. LOL. Thank God for that.
Nice to see you here. Have a wonderful weekend!
I could just imagine Feyma nga grabe gyud diay ang suffering ni Bob. Good he is out of danger. I will relate to you how I got sick with with bug bite.I was cleaning our backyard one weekend in 2002 mowing the grass, sweeping also the fence with cobwebs. I noticed that the spider webs are to much that I have to sweep and clean the fence every week.The presence of too many spiders made me aware that it is not good to see them outside the house. I saw a program in TV that a black widow spider went inside the man’s rubber boots place in his garage.Then he wore his boots to work in his garden and he was bitten.In my case, I didn’t noticed it immediately. It took about three days to feel the pain in my groin.I remember when I was kid that any sign of pain in my lymph node shows that I may have an infected wound in my foot.I checked and there was none. I was at work on Wednesday that I felt I can not take it anymore.I went to my daughter’s place and it was good she was off duty (she is a nurse).She let me lie down after giving a relief medicine. In a very short time I was feeling cold. Nag kurog ko nga morag gui malaria. Unya nag lisud nako ug ginhawa.That was the time I ask my daughter to bring me to the hospital kay nag delerio nako. The hospital staff latter ask me if I was bitten by a spider. I said I am not aware of it. Maayo gani na dali dayon pag adto sa hospital .Until now the skin of my lower right leg, just above my ankle is colored reddish brown, the spot where the doctor said I was bitten.
Hi Kuya Robert – It was really difficult watching him so in pain. The kids also had a hard time watching their dad in so much pain. Thank god he is recovering slowly and surely Kuya. Gosh, sorry to hear nga you also went through similar of what Bob did. Good thing you had daughter that’s a nurse. I’m sure you’re clearing the garage and yard pretty often now. 🙂
Our plan now, we are going to burn dry leaves a few times a week now, to get rid of the bugs in our yard. Good thing the city allows burning inside the yard.
Good to see you here again Kuya. Regards to Ate Susie. Take care and hope to see you here in Davao soon!
Hello Feyma ,good to hear that Bob is feeling better. Our church has been praying for Bob .
Norma and I will be going home to Bohol soon. Praise God .
Hi Ralph – Thank you so much for the prayers and the love. Bob and I really appreciate you and Norma’s thoughts.
Hope to see you here in Davao sometime soon. Have a safe trip on your way here to the PI!
Glad your hubby feeling better Feym…no fun to see the love one being ill….Amping…
Hi Perla – Thank you for the thought. He is getting there, not yet a 100% yet. So thanking God for the healing power.
You take care there. I’ve seen it’s been shaking in your part of the world lately. Stay safe!
Hope your feeling well also big job and worry for you i m sure………Glad things are improving for you guys….
Hi Lenny – Thank you for the good thought. Yep, it’s been a painful and scary moment for us as well. Thank God that Bob is recovering now. He is almost healed at the moment. Thank you guys for the prayers and good thoughts. Highly appreciated.
Have a great day!
Mrs Feyma,
We were quite worried about Bob f0r awhile. Thank God he is almost fully recovered.
Hi PapaDuck – Yep, it was scary really seeing Bob in pain and can’t move. So thankful to God for his healing power. I really appreciate you and Ann’s prayer. Thank you so much.
Are you guys still in the States? Hi to Ann. Take care and have a great day!
HI Feyma,
I am very happy that Bob is close to being fully recovered if not fully recovered by now. From his description of being in an Adventist Hospital, and my experience of being in an Adventist Hospital in Iligan City with Pneumonia in 2012 , it seems we both had a good experience. I am not too familiar with the Adventist religion but it seems they run top notch medical facilities and Hospitals. If I hear of anyone there in PH inquiring about hospitalization I think I would be inclined to have them check out any Adventist Hospitals in their area.
I am happy that Bob is feeling better now and I am sure your family is relieved also.
Hi Bob – He is almost a hundred percent better now. Thank you guys for the prayers and nice thoughts.
Like you we’re really happy with the hospital and the staff. Like you we don’t know much about their religion, but they must really be in good faith since they really had nice staff there. I will definitely recommend the hospital to anyone.
Good to see you here always Bob. I appreciate your prayer. Have a wonderful day!
ok..first…Bob is so lucky to have a woman like you..I am so envious and he should be more than proud. Also..I am glad he was able to lick this and get past it. It is no fun being down like that.
I am moving to Phils next year and have no intention of ever coming back to the US except for visit.
I hope to meet you folks one day and share a meal and stories.
I have learned much from this site and feel I am much better informed by my readings here..:)
Be well and salamat.
~~Richard
Hi Feyma,
I’m probably one of those guys wondering what happened to you Feyma. Like you said, you haven’t been here on the LIP lately, so I was wondering where you’re at. But then when Bob wrote a piece where he said he had a bug bite and got ill and had to go to the hospital my first guess was, “I bet Feyma is busy helping Bob with his recovery and all that.” Wow, thank God, indeed! Hoping for Bob for his safe recovery!
[The true spirit of sacrifice.]
Got it, thank you, Feyma!
From, Aklan Heat.
Hi Feyma,
Nice post! Thanks for sharing from your perspective Bob’s illness. What I love most about the Philippines is the Filipino people and your culture. When there is a problem the whole family really seems to come together and help at least that is my impression.
Take care! I am glad your husband is feeling better and I look forward to reading more of your articles soon! I like reading your perspective on things because you were born and raised Filipino even though part of why I started reading this site was to learn about expats because I have never met any. Not sure I am making sense but…God bless you and yours!