Dear Loved Ones,

            Pleasant Greetings at from Sacramento, CA, USA! The month entailed many adjustments from the hectic activities in Pinas to the more relaxed pace in the USA that it took a toll on my personal health. It was a life-changing experience to spend 3 days in hospital for the first time in my life (except on baby deliveries); now, everything is back to normal! Much Thanks GOD!

            May 3 was the fiesta in my hometown for Santa Cruz, so I went shopping at SF for some eats; Among others, I bought halo-halo at Jollibee, palabok, menudo, fried chicken; I indulged myself, sort of. The following days, while I was working out at the gym, I felt dizzy. Since Sean was on fieldwork in San Diego, and I was alone at home, I decided to dial 911 for emergency. The EMT crew of 5 arrived soon, took my blood pressure, and tested my blood sugar, which were at elevated level. They then recommended to bring me to Mercy Folsom Hospital where I would be attended readily. True enough, upon arrival at hospital, the ER team readily brought me to a room, examined and conducted tests, took good care of me, actually!

The doctors, nurses, and other technicians assured to care for me. My family (Gerry, Sean, and Sarah) were worried and kept on calling. Likewise, my friends (Rose Davies, Odette, Robert who offered to bring me to hospital, Janice) wanted to visit me at hospital, but I declined them, since the hospital crew were truly taking good care of me! Even Sean, I told him not to change his return schedule, to follow his original work plan, since I was responding well to treatments. The following day, I was given meals to eat, the blood test results numbers were responding well to medicines given. The following night, I was transferred to a regular room in the Progressive Care Unit, which means I was on the road to recovery. The doctor recommended me to take the Lexi-Scan, a stress test for the heart – a state of the art procedure under the Nuclear department, where instead of the patient running on treadmill, the patient lie down with several meds injected; 5 doctors were attending. While the actual stress test took 15 minutes, the pre and post evaluation took a total of 5 hours.

 

Pre evaluation consist of taking photographs of your heart and body (30 mins.), waiting time to relax for the test; After the test, you get the weird feeling, so tired and hungry, given time to have breakfast, relax, go to the restroom where you clean out your stomach; then go to the post-test photographs, same procedure with the pre-test photography – to compare your heart conditions. With God’s blessing, the results were all clear/ clean! With the good results of the Flex-Scan, I was cleared to go home!

I am so thankful for my hospital experience, first time in America, under insurance, where no money came out of my wallet! Unlike in Pinas, where one has to prepare, to pay for deposit, pay for the total billing, before one is cleared to go home. Here, no one is denied treatment. Care is given promptly, before bills are settled later, after being discharged!

Other highlights for the month:

·      After my hospital stay (May 10-12), I attended the Mass for dedication of our parish to our Lady of Fatima on May 13, followed by breakfast at the parish hall;

·      On our Opus Dei, we had confessions, Meditation, Benediction;

·      Sean treated me to a Paint Party, fulfillment of a lifetime dream to paint, under guidance by a professional – we kept our painting!

·      On Mother’s Day, Sean treated me for lunch at the 5-star Ruth’s Chris Steak House, while Sarah and Max sent me a flower plant by FEDEX! My family showed me LOVE ever since. Gerry calls me every day ever since!

·      Movies watched for relaxation were: The Fate of the Furious 7; Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2, starring Chris Pratt;

·      Attended the BCBP Breakfast gathering at Denny’s meeting 3^rd Saturday of May; met new friends, as they invited me to the CLP retreat on June 2-4 at Menlo, CA. Looking forward to join Odette and husband Robert

·      Sean and I attended the Graduation dinner of Hanna Romanos, daughter of Art and Rose, head of our CBCP group. Hanna graduated from SAC State, Cum Laude!

Much love and Best Regards!!!

SUSAN BG