Family Trials

The end of 2008 and the start of 2009 are among the very hard times to our family. In this spawn of time, we experienced a very tragic and life threatening situations. Our trials have come very rapidly that it overlaps with each other.

To start with, in my birthplace at Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat, my relatives are caught in an armed conflict between the rebels and the arm forces of the Philippines. We are so worried about their situation for they always inform us via SMS that the gunfires are drawing nearer. Due to the increasing economic crisis not only in the Philippines, the companies which my father worked have also experience this hard time. He was forced to leave his position and in the 19th of December my father was unemployed. Aside from that, last December 26, 2008, my cousin was rushed into the hospital and eventually died because of seizure. The whole Murillo and Lee clan was shocked with the news that they’ve heard. Who would have thought that a good 26 year old, family loving, and very funny man would just passed away in just an instant. After the death of my cousin, there was an emergency from Kalamansig which is about my grandfather which is the father of my mother. He was said to be rushed to the hospital because he’s vomit is accompanied with blood. The only thing we can do is to provide financial support for his hospitalization. While my grandfather was in the provincial hospital at the Kalamansig, the armed conflict ignites again. At the second night of his stay at the hospital, the electricity source of the town was bombed by the rebels and the whole town including the hospital was covered in darkness. Because of that, my relatives decided to prematurely discharge my grandfather from the hospital for the reason that the medical staffs and doctors have evacuated for they have felt that the shootings are near the area. Luckily, my grandfather survived the situation and have recovered, and eventually returned to his drinking habit. And after the burial of my cousin, just a week after that, here comes a very big trial for my own family. And the main reason is me. I was admitted to the hospital due to severe abdominal pain, vomiting and LBM. After a day of observation and series of test, my doctor told me that I have amoeba in my system that is why I have LBM. The other thing is that the severe pain was caused by appendicitis which was diagnosed by my surgeon which was also referred by my other doctor. My appendix was said to be ruptured so the surgery cost higher than the usual and the time of hospitalization is longer because of amoeba treatment. Aside from that, we do not have enough money to pay for all the bills, so we borrowed money from my fathers company and other relatives. The other thing is that the medical assistance which is the Philhealth of my father was not fully paid by the company he is employed. So my father rushed to go back home from Zamboanga to Davao city to fix the problem we are facing, mainly financially.

I was away from my regular routine for 8 days due to my condition, and I don’t know when will I recover fully but still I am grateful. I am very grateful for all the help, sympathy and every possible thing that come to us, to our family. Even though we are now having so many debts because of me, I am still thankful. Thankful because God still made our family safe and united despite the problems we have. Even in the midst of our trials, we just stayed faithful that our Lord up high will help us in any possible way.

Thanks everyone.