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I was not even supposed to be alive let alone be here in America. My Mother nearly died giving birth to me. There was a greater chance I would not have made it, if it wasn't for a miracle. You see, in the Philippines money is not only power but it is also your health. There is no medical insurance or health care for the poor. The worse thing is that if you are sick or dying and you don't have the money, doctors will turn you away. They rather see a human being die than save a person's life, all for the glory of money.
Thanks to God that my family had the money to take my Mother to the hospital during her pregnancy so she would have the proper treatment and the doctors care in order to save the both of us. It was through my Aunt Loli's direction and financial support that made it all possible. If Aunt Loli wouldn't have suggested and financed the money for my mother to have me delivered in the hospital, My mother and I would not be here.
My two other sisters were not so lucky. My oldiest sister Mary, delivered at the house, died three days later because of a mistake. The Witch Doctor cut the umbilical cord wrong and my sister bled to death. I was only two when this happened.
Unfortunately, I was not too young to remember when my youngest sister died. My sister Susie was over a year old. I believe I was four at the time. I still remember begging my Mother if I could hold her but my Mother would answer, "You are too small to hold her". My sister Susie was so beautiful.
One day she became ill. My family was desperate to take care of my sister Susie. She was taken to the hospital and the doctor made a mistake diagnosing her. She was not getting any better due to the wrong treatments administered. Out of desperation my grandmother hired another Witch Doctor.
The Witch Doctor performed odd and cruel rituals. She would shove ointments and other liquids into my sisters mouth. Then she sprinkled other fluids all over her body. I asked my mother, "Why was she doing that?" Even at a young age, I knew that what was being done to my sister was not right.
The next day my youngest sister Susie died. I can remember screaming out, "Why!" I was so angry. I was crying so hard that I remember not being able to breath or even make a sound. I wanted to kill the Witch Doctor. The anger I felt at such a young age consumed me. I reached for my Dad's machete.
I was so small and the machete was so heavy. The only thing I could do was drag it across the room. My anger for the Witch Doctor was so intense that if I had the strength I would've used the machete on her.
The death was hard for me to take. My Mother was so strong and so encouraging. I remember her telling me that she is not gone but she is my guiding Angel and all I would have to do to see her is too look up to the sky where she would always be there to protect and guide me. I was constantly looking up to the sky sometimes trying to speak to her but most of the time I would just stair in total stillness. I could always feel her presence. I knew then that she would always be there for me. |
