Spinal what?

These days, a line in the Sound of Music keeps playing in my head. It goes: “But somewhere in my youth or childhood, I must have done something good”. And I wonder…

The MRI report goes: “Moderate assymetrical disc bulge causing severe spinal canal and right neural foraminal stenosis, L4-5.”

My problem started some two months ago when I started to feel a different sensation that starts from my right buttocks radiating to my right leg. Little by little I started to feel a tingling sensation and numbness in the same spot until it became painful and unbearable when I stand and walk. All the pain and sensation go away only when I lie down. It was at this point when I consulted a Neurologist who recommended an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) procedure.

The Neurologist admitted me for hospital confinement where I was supposed to undergo physical therapy with 24-hour traction for 5 days under the care of a rehab physician. The whole procedure, however, was cut short when an Othopedic Surgeon that the Neurologist had consulted told me emphatically that the only way I would get better was through surgery ONLY.

Disturbed by this new development, I asked to be discharged from the hospital and went to Thelma’s Neuro-Surgeon in another hospital for another opinion. He is well-respected in his field and specializes also in Spine surgery. And after a thorough study of my symptoms and careful reading of the MRI results on film, his verdict was: no surgery is needed and I can do with a conservative treatment of medication, regular exercises as prescribed, and 3 hours traction daily. What is more, all these can be done at home!

Today, I am almost at the end of my first week faithfully following this kind of treatment. I still feel numbness and tingling sensation of pins and needles in my right limb, but the unbearable pain is gone!

What else can I say? I am a man blessed! I have been spared a most risky operation involving my spine, not even counting the huge expense it could have cost me and my family. My life goes on as a testimony to God’s and His mother’s loving care. Truly He is faithful to those who trust in Him!

And the music in my head continues to play… “but somewhere in my youth or childhood, I must have done something good” to deserve all of these blessings.

Counting the days

It is exactly 127 more days to go! No, I am not counting the days before Christmas I am counting the days before we have another wedding in the family, the second one in fourteen months!

Yes, Thelma and I are giving away in marriage our second daughter, Dana, on 07 February, 2009. I am announcing it officially since the “Pamanhikan” is done and the preparations for the Church and reception venues are already made. Even the future home of the couple has been blessed! Only the invites are yet to be given out.

Dana’s preparations have not yet reached fever-pitch level, but just the same I am now preparing myself for yet another emotional letting go of another beloved daughter.

And so call it serendipity or what, but last night while reading my assigned topic to reflect on and write about for a magazine, I was struck by the account of Jesus’ presentation in the Temple to the Lord by His parents Joseph and Mary (Luke 2:22), and started to see its message as parallel or similar to giving away a child in marriage.

Allow me to elaborate.

Thelma and I have always said that our goal as parents is to give up our children in the end after having prepared them properly for life. And we consider our mission accomplished when we accompany them to the altar on their wedding day.

Traditionally, we see this giving away of our children at wedding rites as giving them up to their respective spouses. That is what I had in mind when Thelma and I accompanied our son Nico for his wedding rites with Cecille. And that is what we told Jay, when we gave away our eldest child, Pizza, in marriage to him.

Today after reflecting on Luke 2:22, I can now look at the rite of giving away Dana in marriage as a presentation of her to the Lord as if saying: “Here she is now, dear God. We have done our part to prepare her for life. Our mission is done. Take her with you as she begins to lead a new life with her spouse.”

With some heaviness of heart, Thelma and I will give up Dana in marriage 127 days from today. The thought, however, of giving her up to God as a present and knowing we have done our best to prepare her for married life makes the letting go much easier and even pleasant!

By the way, today is also exactly 85 days before Christmas. Yes, I have started counting the days before Christmas once again!