My Lolo is An Addict

IpratropiumSalbutamol Duavent 500mcg/2.5 mlPulmoneb solution for nebulization

Salbutamol (as Sulfate)1 mg/ ml (2.5 ml) Respirator solutionBronchodilator

Atrovent UDVs 2ml500 mcg/2mlInhalation

He took in any of the above-mentioned drugs at least 6 times a day or whenever he wanted to.

It’s true. And he’s been an addict since September last year.

My Lolo Filomeno (aka Mining) is my mom’s father. He is turning quatre-vingt-cinque ans this December. He is an addict at 84 years old.

I flew in to Bacolod City 2 weeks ago as part of my client coverage plan for April. My boss was with me for a meeting with our dealer for Negros Occidental. Ma’am Joyce ferried from Iloilo right after the PAMET Convention and joined me a day after.

Almost at the same time my aunts had come home from Canada because they were informed that lolo’s not feeling any better. I’ve talked to them on the phone during Holy Week so I knew that I have to pay my grandfolks a visit.

It was an unplanned reunion of sort because Mom decided to visit Grandpa and flew in from Cebu. So were my sisters Christine and Karen and the little baby Kim.

From L to R: Tita Fe, My mom Felma with Baby Kim, Grandma Monica, Aunt Ed and Sis Karen.

I managed to catch up with Kim and my sisters at the airport. When I arrived from Manila, I immediately transferred to the other airline’s building and met them. Their flight back to Cebu was at 9am.

I took a cab then a bus ride to my mom’s hometown Hinigaran. I was a bit excited because I get to see my grandparents and my aunts again and at the same time I was worried on how serious my lolo’s condition was.

It was my mom who fetched me from the town proper. We got into a pedicab and proceeded to a little barrio called Paticui. On the way to the house, I asked mom about Lolo’s condition. And she said that my Lolo didn’t look so good. He’s skin-and-bones already and could rarely move about.

Mom further said that Lolo Mining had not eaten much for several days and that Lola Monica must have to shove food into his mouth every time. Lolo Mining rarely got off from his bed.

I was worried enough to the point that it could be my last time to see Grandpa alive. 10 minutes after the pedicab ride, I rushed in to my grandparent’s house and went in and looked for grandpa.

And I saw him sitting at a table’s end with grandma Monica spoon-feeding him. He was too weak to even lift a spoonful of breakfast meal. 

He just sat there, staring at an image of the Sto. Niño across the table. I saw that he was weak. Skin and bones, matter of fact. I knew before that he has glaucoma and his right eye was affected by a mild stroke.

My aunts and Lola Monica was glad that I came. I hugged them all, and I hugged my Lolo.

Aunt Fe and Ed told me how worried they were of Grandpa’s condition. Just like me, they were shocked to know that Lolo was too dependent on the nebulizer solution. I was surprised when Lola showed me 3 plastic bags full of empty nebulizer solution ampuoles.

She said that those were collected in a span of 3 months only. Lolo consumed a daily average of 6 ampuoles. Wow. Even people with asthma were limited to 2 ampuoles a day.

And so we talked to Grandpa about his condition. We talked to him about his dependence on the drug. Once in a while he would cough and act as if he had difficulty breathing and he would ask to be nebulized.

But we explained to him that it was not necessary.

We sat beside him over lunch and dinner. We wanted him to eat more. He may have been weakened by the drug but we knew that he could stop the habit and start eating again. We wanted him to stay healthy and strong.

The following day, we all decided to attend an early Sunday mass. A lot of people were glad to see him in the chapel. But I prayed hard for his health and life. I knew that it’s wonderful to see a person at the age of 84. Not everyone could reach such an age. My Grandpa has been blessed with kids and and grandkids who care for him and who love him.

In the chapel, I prayed for his health and life. I asked for blessings and for the chance to see him again.

It was raining hard when I left my grandparent’s house after lunchtime. I was no longer sad because grandpa promised to be stronger and not to use the nebulizer again.

Lolo Mining, we will see each other soon.