flight of ideas

Just about a month ago, my Uncle Mar was diagnosed with cancer. Upon diagnosis, the cancer was found in 3 separate parts of his intestines. The doctors wanted to perform surgery immediately to remove the affected parts and prevent the cancer from spreading to the rest of his body. Unfortunately, he had pneumonia that time and can’t be operated on until his pneumonia gets cleared, so he stayed at home and took his medications. Two weeks ago he got confined because he was throwing up a lot and was experiencing severe abdominal pain.

It was only last Sunday when I saw him again. He was in the hospital bed, and I immediately saw that he lost a lot of weight. Pain was evident in his face, even if he tried his best to hide it. To make it harder, he was coughing a lot, and that exerted pressure on his stomach, causing even more pain.

It was an awkward and depressing situation, but I managed to smile and tell him, “Isipin mo na lang Uncle, nag-workout ka, sobrang sit-ups kaya masakit ang abs mo.”

That was a week ago, waiting to get rid of pneumonia so the doctors can proceed with his surgery. No one was prepared for what was going to happen next.

Sadly, the doctors found out that the cancer has reached his bones. I just found out earlier that the “bones” they were talking about was part of his spinal column. I also just  found out that my uncle cannot move his legs now because wherever the cancer is in his spine, it’s hitting a nerve.

After church today, we went to visit him in the hospital again. We were singing hymns of how Jesus will heal all pain and sickness, when I felt how sad I was. I tried not to cry, but I couldn’t help it. By the time my dad finished leading us all in prayer, tears already filled my eyes. I look up and saw my cousin Ronald silently weeping with his arm wrapped around his dad. Ronald is an only child, and has been apathetic about his dad’s condition until he cried this afternoon. My uncle’s eyes were misty, but he was trying to be brave in front of us.  My Auntie Lina (my dad’s sister) was not crying (probably because she has cried too much) but you can see in her eyes the anguish she feels.

I remember a quote I read when I was in fifth grade. It was a classroom decoration placed above the blackboard.

“God places tears in our eyes to put a rainbow in our hearts.”

As I was wiping my tears away, I realized that no matter how tragic things are turning out to be, there are things that have not changed — our faith, and the Lord’s promise. All the tears in our eyes now will be gone, but the Lord’s promise, his rainbow  in our hearts will remain and that will keep us strong.

My Uncle and Auntie have decided to push through with the surgery on my Uncle’s intestines within the next week. They are also going with the doctor’s plan to treat my Uncle’s spine with local radiotherapy. We don’t know the prognosis yet, but we’re hoping for the best.

Please help me pray for my Uncle and his family.

POSTSCRIPT (May 28, 2009):

On my way to work this morning, I couldn’t have heard a better song…

“…even if there is pain now, everything will be alright, for as long as the world still turns there will be night and day…there’s a rainbow always after the rain”

My uncle, Mardonio Bernardo, passed away this morning. Cancer claimed his physical body, but ’til the end his soul never stopped rejoicing with the Lord.
While we grieve for his lost, I know that angels are singing out a song for the life that he lived for Christ, our Savior.

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