MOM's operation

photo taken a day before mom's operation

Today was a great day for my mom! She just had her hysterectomy this morning and thank God everything went well! She needed this operation since a fibroid mass has been disturbing her badly by giving her intense uterine bleeding. We are also hoping that the leg pain she was feeling for the past months were associated with this fibroid mass that we might hit two birds with one stone.

A day before the operation, she was admitted at the Womens Hospital for her pre operation preparations. I had the chance to accompany her in the morning of September 19, 2011 and somehow ease her of the boredom being confined on a hospital. Men were given specific strict visiting hours since the hospital was built for women only and aims to provide muslim women the privacy and the liberty for them to take off their "hijabs". As for expats like us, we should abide by the hospital rules and the country's culture.
          I am very much pleased with this hospital starting with the building's aesthetic designs,advance equipment and seemingly well trained medical professionals. I get envious seeing doctors making their team-rounds just like on "grey's anatomy" and reminded me of my once ambition. I even shared the thought to mom and I noticed she looked at the window and took a short moment to ponder. I guess she felt what I felt. To ease me up, she told me again of the family's budget constraints and gave a suggestion to pass on my dream on my niece.

OPERATION DAY- SEPTEMBER 20, 2011


We were told that Mom's operation would be on 10am. Me and my Dad decided to come to the hospital at around 8am to have a short talk with mom before her operation. I woke up at exactly 8am and rushed to the bathroom and took a very quick bath. While taking a bath I was anxious about mom's operation yet I disclosed the fact that hysterectomy is not a life threatening operation given a well trained team of surgeons. I admit I was pissed my dad's lack of urgency. He even had time to take his breakfast knowing we were battling against time. While we were on our way to the hospital, I took my phone and intended to call mom informing her that we are on our way. As I unlocked my phone, it reads "one missed call" and it was from mom. I hurriedly dialed her number a dozen of times but no one is answering.
As soon as we arrived at the hospital, I had the feeling that her operation was made earlier than what has been planned. We rushed to the 6th floor where mom's room was located. I arrived at moms door and was about to open it when nurse Elvie told me to pick all the things of my mom since she would be transferred to another room after the operation. Right at that moment, I was stunned! Mom had her operation without me or dad to wish her God bless. My instinct was right then, the missed call was to inform me that she is to be taken to the operating theater sooner than we expected.

We waited outside the operating hall from 9am to 2am. Me and my dad were among those men waiting anxiously, whose wives are having their delivery at the same operating theatre my mom is. As time passes by, patients from time to time goes in and out of the hall. At around 12 noon, I get worried and wonder what happened to my mom inside the theatre. I build the guts to rush to the main door where I pleaded to the female security to allow me to check on the status of my mom. Dad was behind me when the security escorted us to the nurses station of the theatre. I asked for my mom's status and they told me that the procedure is on going and it might take a while. I was relieved by the look of the nurse that seems to be telling us that everything is normal. So, we sat back on the waiting area and waited for another 2 hours.

after the operation

POST OPERATION

Mom looked very very exhausted after her operation. I wanted to hug her and tell her that everything is ok and she is fine. But the "strong" figure that a man should be stopped me. As she was transported going to the critical ward, I never cease to stare at her. I had an intense pity on her. At the same time, I thank God for making the operation a success.
I thought that when she gave birth to me and my brothers, she might have the same "tired look" and I am lucky to witness this for the second time, or am I? I am thankful that the burden she had been carrying physically was taken away from her and hoping that her leg pain would vanish a few weeks from now.

God really knows how to sort things out. He planned of me coming to Qatar in time that mom would need me the most. I know Dad could be very devastated without me to talk with while waiting for mom outside the operating theatre. God gave mom to me and likewise me to her.

after the operation

Mom's operation today reminded me of my real purpose of coming to Doha and that is to spend more time with my parents which had been taken away from me during my growing up years. I hope my brothers are here with me that they might also have more time with mom....


CONGRATULATIONS MOMMY!