For almost three decades, former factory worker Lulibeth has long battled heart disease.
Now 54, Lulibeth survived several stroke attacks through the help of her father and sisters, and credits her life today to her fighting spirit.
“Gikan man to sa Ginoo og sa akong igsoon nga mao’y nag-atiman nako,” she said. This particular sister, Divin, now serves as Lulibeth’s primary caretaker.
“Pag bata si Lulibeth, wala jud siyay problem sa iyang heart. Sa katong abtik pa siya, naa siyay trabaho nya mutabang pud ni siya namo sa wala mi,” Divin recounted. “Sa katong naa na koy anak, unya wala ko’y pang gatas, naa gyod siya para namo.”
However, Lulibeth’s condition worsened until she suffered a heart attack. Little did they know, things were to change for the worse.
In the Eye of the Storm
Lulibeth was admitted to a hospital on December 15, 2021, a day before supertyphoon Odette made landfall and devastated much of Cebu and the rest of the Visayas.
Divin recalls the nightmare of being separated from her sister amidst the chaos.
“Wala pa ni-landfall, nagkusog na gyod ang hangin. Unya dili gyod makasulod akong igsoon kay bag-o pa mi nasulod, unya under isolation pa man siya. Siya ra jud didto. Kay kami mga bantay gi-evacuate man mi diha sa gawas. So na-separate man mi niya.”
“ [When I visited], kita ko nga natagak ang kisame og dinaganay ang mga tawo nga nagabitbit og dextrose gikan sa ila nga room. Siyempre ako, nakahibaw ko na si Lulibeth is dili siya kalakaw kay dili man mo-function iya left side. Grabe jud akong kulba ato, murag ako’y atakehon. Maygani naay na-luoy pa nga nagbantayan sa pasyente, nay nagtabang pud siya’g rescue. Didto intawon siya sa ER dapit, gi pasok siya didto, gipadaplin ra, og ang iya dextrose wala na.”
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Hi-Precision during Odette
After eight days in the hospital, Divin knew the first step towards saving her sister was getting tested.
“Niana man ang doctor na as soon as possible, pangitaon jud mi og naay open nga magpa-2D Echo.”
However, with severe infrastructure damage and city-wide power failures, finding a running clinic was easier said than done.
“Nabalaka jud ko sa kahimtang nakong igsoon, kay wala gyod kuryente. Unya na-NGT man gud siya katong time na pag-out. Di baya lalim nga mag-NGT unya wala pa mi gas og kuryente. So sige jud kog mangotana kon naa na’y open. Niadto ko sa Naga unya nangotana ko sa Hi-Pre kon open na siya. Niana daw ang guard na ‘Ma’am, sa Naga wala pa. Pero suwayi nalang ninyo sa Main, basig open sila.’”
Be it rain or shine, storms or a global pandemic, Hi-Precision Cebu will never stop caring for the people of Cebu.
“Niuli pa ko diri nya pagka-ugma, nisayo gyod ko Cebu City. Nalipay sad jud mi atong dako nga nag-open ang Hi-Precision. Nag-inquire ko, unya mao to, ni-ingon man nga ‘Kon gusto ka, magbayad na ka daan para ugma, ig abot ninyo, diretso na siya dayun.’ Dili na malangan pud ba kay pasyente gyod namo. Mao to, pagka ugma, nanayo mi didto. Niabot diri mga 5 kapin.”
Strong Heart, Fighting Spirit
On the day they arrived at Hi-Precision, the ground staff quickly prioritized Lulibeth and Divin for testing.
“Ok ra man sad kay wala pud mi ato nalangan ba.. Kay gipakita ko unsay iya sitwasyon, ipakita pud nako ang iyang mga records diri, kato iyang CT Scan, ing-ana.”
There, the doctor involved soon identified the presence of thrombus, or life-threatening blood clots, in Lulibeth’s heart.
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Thanks to the work of medical staff at this critical time during Typhoon Odette, Divin was able to get the right medicine to reverse the severe effects of the thrombus. It may not fully remove the blood clots, but Divin is grateful that there is progress in her sister’s recovery.
“Among na bilib lang jud ani kay taas man kaayo siyag fighting spirit. Kanang laban lang jud ba. Karon, murag malihok-lihok na siya kay gahapon, nibarog na siya pag lakaw.”
In spite of it all, the sisters are glad they still have each other. They are especially grateful that healthcare centers like Hi-Precision were able to stay open to serve and save lives.
“Nagpasalamat sad mi ato sa Hi-Precision nga wala sad sila nanira. Kay katong time man daghan man mga pasyente nga tabangonon.”
The fight is not over, though. Lulibeth still needs further testing and regular medicine to get better, but her Ate has these hopeful words to continue the fight.
“Laban lang jud pirmi. Love ka namo. Basta pagpaningkamot lang gyod. Naa may miracle nya ampo lang jud para maayo jud ta. Dili jud ka namo pasagdan.”
Be it rain or shine, storms or a global pandemic, Hi-Precision Cebu will never stop caring for the people of Cebu.
