Johann Quisumbing

It was an early morning Thursday, in October 2015, when the ambulance with twirling red lights and sirens blaring finally took me into the ER of the hospital. In my mind, I was expecting to hear, like what we’ve heard before, that everything is happening because of my post polio condition and there is nothing that can be done except strong pain killers for the rest of my life. At that time, I secretly felt was not too long.

My wife who’s a doctor bypassed the usual ER procedures and requested for a Neurology consult right away. I thank the Lord for my wife that day for after the Neuro-doctor saw me, I was admitted quite quickly. That late afternoon, I got the first sign of good news.

The doctor came to my room that afternoon and basically explained the there were signs that went beyond the doctrinal conditions of post polio syndrome. He thought that my spinal cord was affected. So, the next three days, I underwent a battery of tests and scans. My wife was worried. As for myself, I was feeling a little bit hopeful. I thought that all I could look forward to was continued physical deterioration. But now there may actually be a chance.

When the nurse wheeled me to the doctor’s office, he showed us a number of x-rays. His diagnosis was that my entire spinal cord was being compressed. But the doctor’s main concern was that the compression in the neck area was actually endangering my life. You see, the C2 up to the C5 part of my neck actually regulate those parts of my body that have been failing. And to my surprise, my ability to breathe is affected as well.

My dear wife broke down in tears. For myself though, I had a strange sense of relief and peace. Of course, from a spiritual point of view, I knew the Lord was behind this. But that is for another story.

It was when my neuro-doctor brought in the spinal surgeon who introduced a radical procedure to fix my problem that I actually experienced a real hope. I had no fear but was quite elated.

To this, I again I say “Thank the Lord and let His name be praised.”

Until the next post,

Johann Q