The Day I Almost Died

I kissed my lolo and lola goodbye and asked for my ‘bonus’ – money – before I left Lapu-lapu City for Dumaguete City. I also paid my last visit to my dad and had a quick chit chat about girls. Actually, I did not leave Cebu that day immediately. Four of my cousins, which were all guys, asked me to go with them to Mandaue City, which is a two jeepney rides away from Lapu-lapu, to play the hit Dota-ish video game, Heroes of Newerth. Why can’t we play in the mercado instead? I thought. But still I went with them. We arrived in a high-class internet café in Talamban, which I really didn’t like because of their pre-paid approach with their log-ins, and waited for one more elder cousin to arrive. Since it took him nearly an hour to arrive, we played ahead and told him to catch up. Our other cousin caught up with us later that day and we had a blast killing the enemy heroes and hearing that loud “BLOODBATH!” or the occasional but overwhelming “IMMORTAL!”.

It was almost seven o’clock and my boat is leaving at nine, so I had to spoil the fun by insisting that “Guys, last game na jud ni.” (Guys, this will be my last game). They insisted back that I go back to Dumaguete the next day, but good thing that our elder cousin is married and had to go home also for dinner. Lucky for me my married cousin was riding his blue Honda Wave and his house had the same route going to the pier. So I took the opportunity and saved around fifteen pesos worth of jeepney ride. That’s a good deal already. I praised myself for my ingenuity.

We had a good chat along the ride, talking about the times when we were still kids and how we did not care what or how we were going to feed ourselves because that was our parents’ responsibility; how we played at our grandparent’s backyard as one of the superheroes, especially X-men, Spiderman, and Power Rangers; how we cut class the whole afternoon just to go to the eskina to play Starcraft or Marvel vs Capcom; and the fact that we did not know or realize any of our family’s debt, marital, or grudge problems.

I finally arrived in Pier Dos (Pier 2) and we finally said our goodbyes. I entered the two-story GP (George and Peter) building and filled out the small yellow destination form. After I collected my boat ticket and change, I quickly ate my dinner at the nearby squatter barbecue stalls (I ate chicken heads by the way) and rode the company shuttle bus going to the boat. The bus arrived with the kondoktor yelling “Dumaguete!” and I went down the bus, got my ticket inspected, and entered the boat. What I did not know about that night is this: I was about to die…

There I was, climbing the boat’s stairs towards bunker #148, carrying my blue high school basketball varsity bag, hoping to arrive in Dumaguete in one piece so that I could finally see my girlfriend. I arrived in my bed, which was the lower part of a double-deck since I hate bright lights when I’m sleeping, and wore my ocean green Nike golf sweater in preparation for the cold night ahead. The local news, TV Patrol, was up and it showed about the rebel groups in Basilan located in lower Mindanao. I watched the whole program and after the credits, I prepared myself by tiring my eyes with a good read of the first book of ‘Lord of the Rings’ . Then I finally dozed off…

Suddenly, I was prematurely awakened. I glanced at my G-Shock and it read 22:00. I slept nearly three hours only? I thought. Then I heard something, heez… heeez. Something is wrong. I closed my eyes and put one hand against my chest. Heez… heeeez. There it was again. Then I realized it was just a slight wheeze. So I casually slipped my hand into my jean’s pocket and grabbed my salbutamol inhaler. I put it in my mouth then pressed the top button while inhaling at the same time. Then the real horror struck me, the medicine did not make its familiar spraying sound. It was empty! I panicked. Calm down. Let’s try this again. I comforted myself. I put the inhaler again in my mouth and pressed. No sound came out. Fear crept inside me and I began to push the button again and again frantically. I glanced at my watch for the second time. It read 22:16. I calculated how many hours left before I arrive. Five hours! I screamed in my mind. I don’t have five hours! The boat just left an hour ago and my lungs were starting to constrict slowly. I stayed calm and slowly sat up, trying to get as much air as I can. I quickly remembered what my nurse friend taught me about breathing therapy. Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth very slowly.

Right beside my bunker was an old couple. Maybe they have an inhaler. I lied to myself. So I asked them if they have some medicine for asthma. The old woman told me that her husband had asthma before and she had medicines with her, although she’s not sure which one is for me. So I took the plastic bag full of sample medicines, but all I found were for chronic muscle pain, high blood, and arthritis. Tough luck. So I asked them again if they can somehow help me find an inhaler in this ship. They pointed to the crew member who was at the canteen. I thanked them.

I stood up from my bunker and slowly walked towards the canteen. The man in plain white shirt and blue jeans stood up from his chair and slid the glass window open. “Unsa man bai? (How can I help you?)” he asked.

I told him about my dire situation and that I needed medical attention immediately. He explained to me that it is against their policy to ask each passenger – even for medicine.

“Bai, padulong na ko mamatay. Pangita-I ko ug paagi. (I’m going to die. Please find a way.)” I was begging him.

“Naa mi nurse sa barko. (We have an onboard nurse.)” Hope came out from his words and I did not hesitate.

He led me to a small cabin at the second floor in front of the deluxe, air-conditioned passenger room. He knocked at the metal door and a male nurse with deep Moreno skin greeted us. I thanked the canteen man and I entered the infirmary. But there was more bad news…

The nurse explained to me that they have a nebulizer but they don’t have a nebul. It’s good as being dead. I dreaded.

The nurse adjusted the valve of the oxygen tank and inserted the tube in my nose. He also gave me some tablets that might alleviate my breathing. After that, he sat on the infirmary bed and we had a little conversation. I learned that he graduated from St. Paul’s University and he’s a DeMolay. Then I told him that I had to rest because I wanted to conserve more air. He agreed and lied on the bed to get some quick shut eye.

Silence consumed the little white room except for the faint sound of oxygen coming out from my nasal tube. I slouched in my chair and closed my eyes for a prayer. Lord, even though I’m always unworthy of your love, you have always shown me your miracles. I ask again for that miracle. Please, keep me alive.

Right after, my condition grew worse! My lungs constricted. I put my hand on my chest as if trying to calm it but to no avail. The nurse got up and told me that he’d rush to the stock room to try his best to look for a nebul. I agreed, seeing there was no other choice. Five minutes of waiting was already an agony. I was holding on to my last ounces of air, trying to stay strong, trying to think that everything will be all right. Then a miracle happened, the nurse came back in and flashed what it seemed to be a sign of life itself. A ventolin nebul. But the funny thing was, the nurse won’t give it to me!

“Expired man ni. Madaot pa lang ka ug samot. (This is already expired. Your condition might worsen with this.)” he explained. The medicine was already expired by a year.

I convinced him that I don’t care if I’ll live or die. Just give me that medicine! I was desperate!

The nurse let me sign some papers before he let me use it stating that whatever happens to me, he is not liable. I really didn’t care. If I die, then I’ll die.

I quickly tore the lid open and put half of the doze inside the nebulizer mask…

It was already three o’clock in the morning and we finally arrived in Dumaguete. I was excited to see my girlfriend once again and give her a big bear hug. I exited the pier’s gate where a group of vendors were calling me to buy some kapi at sopas. I declined them and called a pedicab.

I finally arrived in my boarding house and reached into my pockets for the fare thanking that God still takes care of me.

This is me, my girlfriend, and my sister