Dad’s Care Christmas 2021

I wasn`t expecting to be literally living this particular Bible verse posted on my fridge . I`m basically a worrier. That being said, I have this Bible verse posted on my fridge so that I`m constantly reminded to be calm in facing whatever was bothering me.

This took a quick turn though on Saturday, August 28th when my parents` tested POSITIVE for Covid-19. What to do? The first instinct was to fly home which was quickly ruled out because of the pandemic. All I could do was to sit down in front of my computer and talk to my family. It was very frustrating! That inability to move, inability to control the situation, inability to be physically be with my parents to help out. Me and my siblings felt that as we are all in different countries. Our feet were stuck. It was a nightmare!

I couldn`t even bare to look at the first few pictures sent by my mom on LINE. Then, I noticed Psalm 46 on my fridge. I was shocked at the realization. “What? No way! Literally?! Arg!” Am I suppose to be literally still. Being proactive most of my life, this wait and see thing doesn`t sit very well with me. But what can I do? This time, I had to literally be still in Japan and know that the God I profess to believe in is faithful.

It was then that I was reminded of what my dad would always say in times like these, “ What`s that faith you have for, if you don`t use it.” Thus, began my personal walk living in reliance on God`s faithfulness in dealing with my dad`s COVID-19 condition. Relying on God is what I constantly try to practice but this tops them all since I so desperately want to be able to control the situation. But in this case, I had to lift my hands up in complete surrender to Him.

My mom`s condition was not as bad as my dad`s, so, her PCR test came out NEGATIVE in September. That was a relief!

My dad`s COVID condition level was high severe. He couldn`t be admitted in the hospital since there was no room available.
But this dire situation, God turned into a blessing in the long run as my dad got a more personalized care at home where he could be prayed on and eventually had somebody to pray with.

The next several months were a roller coaster ride. The level of anticipation of what might happen, the fear, the joys (whenever there`s a flicker of hope). My family also had to be prepared for whatever the outcome might be. This time, we really had to just lift everything up in prayer.

One form of stretching is to sit on your knees, put your hands forward, and stretch them forward on the floor. It`s literally getting down on my knees to the lowest level and begging God for my dad`s healing and should it not be His will for him to be with us any longer, then, help me and my family to accept His will and cope with it.

It was the faith that basically really carried me from point to point. To trust that God is faithful and that whatever happens, He`s going to be there in celebration or in mourning. I will be forever grateful to my parents for introducing Jesus in my life. Otherwise, in this time of crisis, being me, I`d surely fall into pieces. This faith that God so graciously gave me was the only thing I have that I can fall back on to with certainty.

September came, then October passed, then November. When my father was able to talk, the first thing he asked us to do is to keep praying for him and for us to hold on to the faith.

On the 4th of Nov., he took another PCR test but still tested POSITIVE. It was such a disappointment and so the fight continued. Prayers by the churches and individuals continued as well.

Although around this time, my dad could already take in a bit of solids and gradually regained the energy to move a bit and eventually, was freed of his need of the oxygen tank, it was still heartbreaking to see my dad so frail and in such a condition.

On Tuesday, Dec. 7, finally, my dad`s PCR test result came out NEGATIVE. What joy! It was a truly blessed day. Mixed feelings of joy and relief! It`s like waking up from a very bad dream. When my dad was tested positive, I had the feeling of disbelief of what my family had to go through and I was afraid of such horrible possibilities that it took a while for me to fully grasp the situation. Now that he tested negative, I also had the feeling of disbelief of what my family had gone through but this time, with the anticipation of such wonderful possibilities. All in the span of 4 months.

Last Friday ( Dec. 10 ) my parents moved to my father`s hometown, Baguio, a 5-hour drive ( by highway ) from Laguna, where he can do better recovery and healing.