i pray

it was 2am and my dad woke up with a start. the pain in his chest woke him up. he tried something to ease the pain, but it didnt go away.

when my brother woke up, he asked that he be taken to the doctor. mom tagged along, which was a good thing because they werent prepared to hear what the doctor said. after numerous tests, the diagnosis came.  the 2am chest pain was a mild heart attack.

the doctor was concerned that the heart attack might recur sooner than later, so dad was advised to stay in the hospital for a couple of days for observation. the tests have indicated that there is a slight blockage in his arteries which might have led to the heart attack. for that, he was given aspirin to thin his blood a bit.

as i write this, my dad lies in the ICU. doctors think it would be best for him to stay there; a nurse is dedicated to just two patients, making response time quicker and faster.

it was my dad, not my mom, who brought us up. i am daddy's girl. when mom had to go out and work, he stayed home and took care of us. i broke down the moment i heard what happened. i'm better now, though. ignorance of the situation rattles me.

as i write this, i whisper a prayer for my son, the grandson who adores his lolo. i pray for more years to come, for there is so much a grandson can learn that only a grandfather can teach him.

i pray for my mom's strength. she had relied on him all these years to make sure that the laundry is washed and folded, that dinner will be waiting when we get home from work and school, to pack our lunches. their system, even if a bit non-traditional, worked because they understood their parts. her world may not crumble, but there would be a noticeable slack in the system.

i pray for the daughter who still needs her father for comfort and support. the constant love, even if unsaid, has helped me all these years and i cherish it more now that i have become a parent like him.

i am thankful for the time past and all the lessons learned.  i pray for time, that it will be well spent and that every moment be a good memory. i am grateful for the opportunity to be reminded of my own mortality, and to make every moment count.

be strong, dad. we are here.