
The medical community of zamboanga city is mourning over the loss of a great colleague.
I don't know him personally. I just know him because i see him a lot in many social functions of the medical society (my last memory of him was attending a birthday party of a multivitamins mascot 2 nights ago), and every now and then i see him along the corridors or nurses stations of every hospital every time i go on rounds. I even remembered him last year when he was very anxious about a particular dengue patient whom he referred to me for co-management.
Only in his late thirties, he is a person who works hard and well dedicated to his profession as a pediatrician. He is one of the top pediatricians in the city. As a family man, i learned that he is a bread winner to his nephews and nieces.
At around 3 pm this afternoon, i was about to see a patient with leukemia at the emergency room of one of the private hospitals. Another case of DOA probably arrived because one distraught lady came out wailing. But another set of nurses came out also crying loudly. Another familiar doctor came out of the ER misty eyed..This is not the normal drama from an ER with a case of DOA, i thought to myself. Then one of the nurses who was crying told me.."Tor wala na si Dr..."
I proceeded inside the complex immediately, and what i confronted was the ashen lifeless body of a familiar person. Jung was beside him, a cardiologist friend together with the other pediatricians who are great friends of the departed. All of them are crying. I surveyed the entire room which is now crowded with other nurses from all the nurses station, orderlies, cleaners and other resident physicians. All of them crying. I tried to compose myself, but the whole scene is quite unexpected. The only sounds you can hear are the loud sobs his sister and eldest son.
This man touched alot of lives and his departure has left a mark. Something unexpected happened. A reality check? WE are only human, and anytime, we are going to die. Doctors are not spared.
He was already in rigor mortis, they tried to revive him but attempts were futile, they can't even open his jaw for intubation.
Another case of Rico Yan and Miguel Rodriguez? I thought they were just myths. But what has happened in front of me proved its possible to anyone.
One of his friends told me,"he even made his rounds at around 12 midnight earlier went home around 2 am." He went to sleep and death took over.
From the bottom of my heart, may you rest in peace.