Last day of August

Dear Mama,

    Just finished with our Toastmasters meeting, it's around 8:30 p.m. Ralph is still out, Mama. He went out with his friends. It was supposed to be last Sunday, but they were not able to push through because Ralph got sick then, he was not able to stand. That's why they reset it tonight.

    It's the last day of August, Mama. Hopefully, September will be better for us - physically, mentally, and financially. August took a lot from us. I thought we'll never make it through. Yes, we did, but not really victorious. I've never felt more defeated. Ironic, considering I've finally won in a speech contest this month.

    Edgar was also sick today, Mama. It started yesterday, actually. He said he feels acidic. Was that acid reflux? We went out for coffee last, Ralph, Angel, and I. Edgar was not able to come with us because of his condition. He was better midday today, but he still feels the acid in his stomach, Mama.

    I don't know what else to say. Please continue guiding us, Mama. Please visit me soon.

    I miss you, Mama.

    I love you.

                                                                                                    Daddy

May August end brings all the bad luck with it

Dear Mama,

    It has been a turbulent month, this August. We've been through a lot of rollercoaster rides, Mama. I am hoping September brings better days for us, especially it being the birth month of Ralph.

    I don't really know what to say, Mama.

    Last night I joined a benefit gig to raise funds for the baby of one of our fellow members in our songwriters club who is in the hospital. It was a last minute invitation, good thing I have already excused myself from our Toastmasters meeting. All 3 kids went with me, Mama.

    Ralph went to his doctor yesterday. He was given more medicines for maintenance, and they're quite expensive, Mama. He bought them  today and his total payments reached P3,500. And this will be his monthly expenses for his maintenance, Mama. I wish I can help him, but I am currently financially depleted right now. I hope we can find more sources of income.

    I guess that will be all for now, Mama.

    I miss you, Mama.

    I love you.

                                                                                                Daddy

Update on Ralph's condition

Dear Mama,

    Yesterday evening, Ralph was able to stand up and walk. He joined us at the table for dinner. He was still feeling some pain in his thighs, Mama, and was still slow in moving. This morning, he was a lot better. He is more mobile now, Mama. Although there is still some pain.

    We're still not sure if it was a side effect of his medicines, electrolyte imbalance as mentioned by medical friends from the medical world, the food we ate last Saturday evening, or a combination of all those, including Ralph's condition.

    He will have to wait for Wednesday, August 28, which is his scheduled follow up with the doctor. We tried to reach the doctor's secretary since yesterday but we haven't received any reply until now. Although it's understandable because yesterday was Sunday, and today is a holiday.

    I hope his condition will get better until tomorrow because Edgar and I will have to go back to work, Mama. 

    I'm really sorry for everything, Mama.

                                                                                            Daddy

 

Side effect of Ralph's medicine

Dear Mama,

    Ralph was not able to stand up this morning. His feet cannot carry him. He can feel them but he cannot stand up, Mama. He was fine when we were still at the mall yesterday. This morning, he fell down when he tried to stand up.

    We think it was a side effect of his medicines for his BP, Mama. I asked Angel to search for all the side effect of his medicines, and he found one of his medicines affecting the muscles. It was not mentioned to us by the doctor when they gave us the medicine prescriptions when we were discharged, Mama.

     I am worried about Ralph, Mama.

                                                                                                Daddy

Rocky crossed the rainbow bridge

Dear Mama,

    I just told you about the cats yesterday, this afternoon we received new from the vet that Rocky crossed the rainbow bridge. He was my favorite among the cats and kittens, Mama. I refer to him as the lone wolf because he was alone, and so tiny, when we first saw him. He was always running on the street and would always run away from us. He stayed in the garage when he saw there were other kittens here, too. But we still could not approach him.

    I thought he was healthy, Mama. The kids took him to the vet last week because he was not as active as he used to be. They confined him, apparently he was sick. I did not understand, Mama. The kids were telling me about their conditions. But I don't know why my brain could not process it, or would not accept it.

    We have already lost 7 kittens, Mama. Rocky being the latest. Sometimes I think if we did not take care of them and just let them on the street, they might have survived. I don't know, Mama.

    By the way, Ralph is still under medications. He'll go back to the doctor for consultation and follow up next week. 

    I'm tired, Mama. I want to rest.

                                                                                                            Daddy

About the cats

Dear Mama,

    I don't know if I have told you about the cats in my previous letters. The kids have adopted the cats that came to our house since early this year. It started from one cat, then a mama cat with 6 kittens came. Then another lone kitten sought refuge in our house. Then a black cat came and gave birth to 2 kittens here. Although one died. 2 kittens from the first 6 were lost, probably stolen by some passersby. Then another cat, a mixed black-orange came cat alone, then came back after a few days with her 4 kittens.

    Sadly, a lot of the kittens have already died, Mama. From the first 6 kittens, only 1 kitten remains and he's in the vet now. The lone kitten is also in the vet now. From the 4 kittens of the black-orange cat, only 1 is alive and he's also in the vet. The kittens - Lulu (from the first 6), Rocky (the lone kitten), and Otis (from the black-orange cat) are all confined at the vet.

    Ralph has already spent a lot of money for these kittens, Mama. He is trying to save them. Most of those who died have expired while at the vet. Perhaps they have been taken there too late.

    I'm not sure if we are doing the right thing, Mama. We already have too many expenses, and these kittens have added to those. I hope all the efforts of the children will be worth it, Mama. I hope the remaining kittens live.

    I'm not even sure what to think about this. I am worried about the kittens, but I am also worried about Ralph's finances. I try to help, which isn't much because I too am financially drained. In fact, I only borrow money just to help Ralph, Mama. He has already spent a lot.

    Please tell me what to do, Mama. I am worried, concerned, and anxious of everything that is happening to us now. 

    I wish you were here. I don't know what to do.

    

                                                                                        Daddy

Home now

Dear Mama,

    Ralph and I are at home now. He was discharged today, Mama, on our 3rd day. He will be going back to the doctor next week for his follow up. His breathing has improved. The doctor said there's no more hissing and his lungs are now clear, or at least open.

    But as I have mentioned before, Mama, his BP has been constantly 140 and up. He is prescribed to take maintenance medicines for his BP. I feel he is too young for that. I hope he would seek second opinion, or at least the medicine would be removed once his BP stabilized.

    I've nothing much to say, Mama. I'm really sorry I wasn't able to take care of our children well. If only you were here, they will be taken care of better.

    I'm really sorry, Mama.

                                                                                                        Daddy

 

Day 2 update

Dear Mama,

It's our 2nd night here at the hospital. It's 8:30 pm now. Edgar and Angel already went home.  They were here earlier, Mama. 

During the doctor's visit this morning, she said we might stay 2 more days here. Ralph has been declared with hypertension.  His BP never go below 140, Mama. Although he wasn't feeling anything. The doctor also said he has pneumonia. He is breathing normally now, Mama. Although he still has his oxygen.

I'm really sorry this happened, Mama.

Daddy

I won, but...

Dear Mama,

As I've said in my previous letter, I joined the Tagalog speech contest yesterday. I joined all 4 categories, and I got a place in all of them, Mama.

I got 3rd place in Table Topics, 2nd Place in Evaluation and Humorous Speech, and I was the champion in the International Speech category, Mama.

I was hoping you'd be proud of me, Mama... but Ralph got admitted in the hospital today due to difficulty in breathing. We are in the hospital now, and I'm writing my letter here.

We went to PRI Medical Center in Pampang, instead of AUFMC which is nearer to us. Ralph thought it would be better here, because in our previous experiences in AUFMC, they were always full.

I thought they'll just administer oxygen and medicines to normalize his breathing, Mama. But he has pleghm showing in his x-ray and he also has a high BP.  So, he is under monitor now. They are trying to clear the pleghm and also maintain his BP. 

I'm afraid they might prescribed him to take maintenance for BP after this.

I'm sorry, Mama. I failed you again.

Daddy 

One more try

Dear Mama,

    I will be joining another speech contest tomorrow. It will the Tagalog speech contest and it will be my 3rd time joining it. I am not sure what the outcome will be, but I am doing my best, Mama.

    But first, I need to get to the event on time. I am travelling alone, Mama. I hope I won't get lost or get disoriented. Then after the event which might be around 7pm already, I hope I will be able to get home safely from Quezon City. 

    Wish me luck me, Mama. Both on the contest and on my travel haha...

    I hope I will make you proud tomorrow.

    I miss you, Mama.

    I love you.

                                                                                                Daddy

Sick

Dear Mama,

    I feel sick. I feel so cold, Mama and it's afternoon here right now. I got rained on earlier when I was looking for a cat food store along the highway.

    I have already taken paracetamol, Mama. I wish I could take the leave tomorrow, unfortunately they would require us to submit medical certificate if we take a sick leave on a Monday, Friday, or the day before and after a holiday. Even if it's just one day. It's one of the things I don't like in my job, because it doesn't make sense.

    There were a lot of times I reported to work on a Monday or Friday even though I was not feeling well because of this policy. To think I rarely go on leaves.

    I know the policy was to avoid employees taking advantage of sick leave for extended vacation, which unfortunately punishes even those who does not do it.

    Anyway, I hope I feel better otherwise I have to go to work sick.

    Until my next letter, Mama.

    I miss you.

    I love you.

                                                                                                   Daddy