A kid’s note

This is a story of my first night duty in the Pediatric ward. Haunted with ghost stories, I tried to believe that what I had seen in my first night duty was part of the traditional welcome surprise. But I guess it wasn’t, no matter how I hoped it was.

Since my first day of duty in the Pediatric unit of the hospital, my colleagues had been telling me about the unusual noise I would probably be hearing during midnight. I did not take it seriously because in the first place, I don’t believe in such horrific elements, and perhaps they are just telling me such stories as a welcome spice in the unit. There were five of us in the nurse’s station for the night shift, and everybody was busy carrying out the physician’s orders and doing the necessary evening care.

As I was checking each patient’s chart, a small ball rolled along the hallway from the patients’ rooms. I decided to pick it up as it might case injury if someone would accidentally bump on it.But as I was walking along the hallway, the ball kept on rolling away from me. I hurriedly walked towards it, but it continued to roll away even faster. I was already running to catch it, until the lights suddenly turned out. I closed my eyes for a while, then opened them slowly to adapt to a dimmer light coming from the outside through the glass windows at the end of the hallway.

Then I heard footsteps, irritating sounds produced from the tiny feet as they hit the steel lining of the wooden staircase. The sounds of a child’s laughter and giggling echoed in the hallway. I hurried to catch the child as injury was a near possibility. Suddenly the lights turned on again, and the hallway was dead silent. There was no one in the stairs. Then I felt something hit my back. It was a crumpled paper. I immediately opened and read it, “Welcome to the Unit!”

I smiled, even laughed. I was right. It was a very clever welcome from the nurses in the unit. They were bursting out laughing at me. I learned it was a tradition when new nurses will be assigned in the unit. We resumed our work while they were telling tales about how exciting and fulfilling it has been while working with children. We were too busy that we did not realize the shift was almost over.

“So who was the child running away from me last night?” I asked one of the nurses as we were changing our clothes at the quarters. “What do you mean by that?” Lolita answered. “Are you trying to scare me again? I saw a child running down the stairs that night,” I was already having a weird feeling.

Lolita looked serious. Then she told me the story of that child. She said a nine- year old boy was left inside the Pediatric ward when the hospital was burned fifteen years ago. Although he was physically abused by his father, the child was very enthusiastic and loves to play with the nurses. When everyone had panicked during that fire, he fell down the stairs. Now there were reports that his spirit has been wandering around the unit.

After hearing the story, I packed my things up and went outside the hospital. Incidentally, Rodrigo, my friend who is also a nurse in the Burns unit, spotted me at the ground floor. I told him about Lolita and the traditional welcome surprise in the unit. “Lolita? Is she a new nurse in the Pediatric unit?” he looked curious. “Lolita works in the Pediatric ward and she told me the story of the boy who was killed in a hospital fire fifteen years ago,” I told him the details. “You know what? Lolita was the nurse who was also killed during that fire incident fifteen years ago. Suspected to be impaired with narcotics, she was the one who pushed the boy down the stairs.” he said in a matter- of- fact tone.

I was totally confused about everything that just happened. I knew something was not right. I immediately scanned the nurse’s rotation schedule on the bulletin board. Indeed, there was no nurse named Lolita in the Pediatric unit.

Then I noticed something in my bag. It was the crumpled paper I picked up that night. I opened it again and to my surprise, “She is not a friend” was written on the back portion. The words looked like it had been written by someone who is in grade school. I remembered the kid. Then I heard a sound of a ball bouncing, and laughing and giggling, again. Maybe the kid’s spirit was giving me a clue, or even warning me, specifically. I couldn’t be so sure.

Later that day Rodrigo was in a car accident. He is in the ICU until now. In the meantime, I am already transferred to the morning shift, when I can be sure that ghost encounters won’t happen again, perhaps beyond my own sensory perception and rational understanding.

domtoral. (Jul 29, 2011). A Kid’s Note. Retrieved Wednesday, Sep 14, 2011, from http://allnurses.com/showthread.php?t=597939

Rising from the shatters

This is a story of a woman who survived the aftermath of broken marriage through counseling, support and social work intervention.

Despite arduous job- seeking endeavor in Manila, couples Sam and Andrea had to face an urgent decision to save the family from further financial problems. Sam, 37, had to return with their two kids into their hometown in Brgy Tina, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur hoping to establish their family back there. This barangay is located forty- three kilometers from Tandag, the capital town of the province, at about an hour of travel along a rough road. The municipal building is also located there. Most of the population relied on agriculture, from farming to small- scale business.

Meanwhile, Andrea, 36, was left in Manila and lived temporarily in her brother- in- law’s residence while still looking for a job. Apparently, her brother- in- law reprimanded her to depart from his residence, due to her being jobless and even pregnant. That day marked the beginning of her agony. She barely had communication with her husband. Being homeless, she helplessly looked for someone who could offer her temporary shelter. Eventually after she narrated her story, an old woman was willing to help her in exchange that she would help this woman in selling squid.

The day came when she felt she would be giving birth sooner. Wrapped with all the courage she had and an old twenty- peso bill in her pocket, she went to a birthing clinic by herself. As the midwife was very busy preparing things for the other patients, she offered help hoping that she would be free of charge from the service she needed.

However, she was referred to a hospital because she had to give birth via Caesarian section. Due to financial constraints, the old woman cannot afford much of medical needs. Overwhelmed with embarrassment, she felt she just had to bear with the pain physically and emotionally. On the other hand, since bottle- feeding was strictly prohibited in the hospital, she offered herself to breastfeed other babies, in exchange to some amount of money so she could purchase her due medications.

Realizing that she could not raise her child by her means, she pleaded her aunt (who instantly came to Manila to attend a seminar) to adopt her child. In the long run, she totally lost communication with her husband. Bothered with speculations about the unfaithfulness of her husband, she felt it necessary to come home.

Upon witnessing the hurting truth by herself, she clung to the tiniest hope she had of winning her husband back and establishing their family, for her love and their children’s sake. She felt helpless and doomed upon seeing clearly the real picture of her situation. Her two kids were in the custody of her godmother while her husband was living with another woman, Shela, 26. Her husband even had a daughter with this woman registered in the Local Civil Register using her husband’s family name.

But then her husband was not cooperative. Instead, he boxed and stabbed her. Fortunately, she was able to parry the bladed knife but sustained injury in her hand.  With blooded hand, she cried for help and sought assistance from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development. She was brought to the hospital for an immediate treatment of her injury, and the Medico- Legal Certification was being issued.

In the absence of a Women Center, she returned to her relatives for shelter and social support. She also received medical assistance form the said office. Due to the urgency of the situation, the social worker helped her secure a Barangay Protection Order (BPO) which the Barangay Captain immediately issued the same.

Likewise, the social worker assisted the client during the investigation through the Women Children Protection Desks at the Police Station of San Miguel, Surigao del Sur. The social worker also signed in the affidavit or the Sworn Statement of Andrea. The police was reminded for the immediate filing of the case against Andrea’s husband Sam and live- in partner Shela, for Concubinage and Violation of Republic Act 9262.

On the following day, the social worker conducted a home visit. Further assessment and in- depth data gathering through interview were made by the social worker for the establishment of concrete baseline and subsequent details.

With the data gathered, the social worker and the client collaboratively formulated planning and interventions to the case. Since the ultimate goal of Andrea to restore their marriage seemed infeasible, counseling sessions were initiated and geared towards helping her express her feeling, verbalize her thoughts, and eventually cope with her situation. Andrea diligently attended each session.

In addition, she was also invited during the conduct of Gender Sensitivity Training. She was able to verbalize further the pain, anger and shared her sufferings to other victim- survivor. Her self- esteem was enhanced. Finally, she realized that her children need her. And that she needed to become even stronger as she truly is. It may not be as easy as it may seem to survive the emotional aftermath of broken marriage, but at least she has the support of her loved ones to dream for new dreams…

***

After the filing of the case against Sam and Shela, upon the evaluation of the Provincial Prosecutor as per annexes attached like the marriage contract, birth certificate of the child of Sam and Shela, Affidavit of Witness who has personal knowledge that Sam and Shela dwelt in the same roof. The provincial prosecutor ordered the accused to submit their counter affidavit, which the accused failed. Hence, the warrant of arrest was issued to Sam and Shela.

Meanwhile, Andrea’s children are still in custody of her godmother, while she is on job hunt in Manila.

Blessed One

This is a story of a rape- victim, despite her age, stood up for her rights and survived its traumatic aftermath.
Blessed with modest family situation, Janice had to face the real test of life at a tender age of five. She was not aware of how other kids of her age have fun, or at the very least she knew she did not have the privilege to play with them. She understood she had to work to survive.
She is the youngest child in a family with five children. They lived in a small shattered hut located in Bolhoon, some thirty three kilometers from the Poblacion, San Miguel. Only their room had the benefit of a nipa roof. Their bed could not even provide the comfort of a good night sleep. Its moldy walls and broken fence could not provide safety from stray animals and malicious elements. They do not have a kitchen, so they cooked their food on dug earth hole. The cold night air, the drops of rain that slid through the holes on the roof, unavailability of potable water—these were no big deal.
Admittedly, her family could barely put food on their table. More often than not, they had to rely on their relatives for food and other commodities. Janice went to school, but her total situation just made her think education was of no more importance when her very own survival is at stake. She was considered as a slow learner.
She was made to stay by her aunt’s residence (some fifty meters away from their house) on her paternal side so she could, supposedly, accompany the couple’s only daughter. However, it was not a good fortune actually. She had to accomplish the household chores before she was allowed to eat. Indeed, her meager physique had to endure the suffering helplessly. But then, she had no other choice. It was the only way to live.
In the long run, this tireless routine had its wrong twist when she felt the need to go home after a year. She was eight years old then when her uncle (aunt’s husband) molested her.
It was one midday afternoon when she went to her aunt’s residence to get some fire twig (vernacular: “kalayo”). Knowing that she was alone in their home, her uncle followed her. And that dreadful incident happened. She was threatened to be killed if she would divulge their ‘secret’. Wrapped with fear and guilt, she remained mumbled. And the same incident happened a few more times.
She could not cry for help. She was inarticulate. Until she finally gathered up all her courage and told her mother about it. Disgusted as she was, her mother immediately sought help from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office. Hence, a case was filed.
During the process of filing a formal complaint for the crime of rape against the perpetrator, the life of Janice was under a serious threat. Considering this urgency, the social worker sought certification from the police station stating the condition of the child. Also, as a requirement to the Department of Justice, the Certificate of Materiality was sought at the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor. On the other hand, their only remaining asset and means of livelihood, the eleven coconut trees, was taken by her paternal grandmother. For this reason, their family decided to move to Brgy. San Roque and erected a small hut.
Moreover, the Social Worker immediately referred the child to the DSWD CARAGA Home for Girls at Bonbon, Libertad, Butuan City for proper safe keeping. The social worker at the said center helped in facilitating the referral of the child’s case to the Department of Justice for possible extension of educational assistance to the child.
Consequently, both the social workers from the municipality of San Miguel and Home for Girls attended each court hearing. During her stay at Home for Girls, Janice successfully complied the intervention plan. While she was in the center, she continued her studies in Grade II. Her case was promulgated in the year 2010.
For now, she continued her studies in San Roque Elementray School after being discharged from the center. Her family was granted with the amount of Thirty One Thousand pesos by the Department of Justice. Half of it was for the installation of a “Sari- sari” store to support their daily needs, while the other half deposited in a bank for the continuation of her studies. Furthermore, another One Thousand Five Hundred pesos was also provided by the MSWD for their house repair.
Finally, the mother also attended counseling services to help her cope with the trauma of her husband’s unprecedented death and the rape incident.
For now, Janice could live as an ordinary child who could play with other kids. She might have lived years of misery; at least, she turned out to be a courageous girl with renewed aspirations and dreams.