"Tell Mama not to Forget..."

The operation was delayed by one day.

Apparently, on the morning of his original schedule, doctors found a thrombus – a blood clot – in the vein between the heart and the lungs. It was a bad turn of events that caused the unnecessary and dangerous delay of the much needed operation. The next day however, the doctors concluded that further delays would be disastrous.

After much consultation with his team, particularly with his Anesthesiologist Dr. Papa, Dr. John Balinghasay decided to push through with the operation. He explained the situation to all of us, my brother JV included.

With my very little medical knowledge (close to nil) this is what I understood: "too much blood pumping through the veins during the operation could push the clot into the arteries, causing a blockage which may lead to cardiac arrest. On the other hand, too much push in the other direction could send the clot into the lungs, possibly leading to pulmonary arrest. Further delaying the operation to treat the thrombus first would definitely allow the gas gangrene to spread faster and deeper into his body".

Not too many acceptable options, huh?

But, since a decision had already been made a couple of days earlier, the entire family was one in upholding the decision to go through with the operation.

My brother was wheeled out of the room soon after.

His twin brother Ray was at his side as JV left the room.

Just before leaving the room, JV reached up for Ray and said: “Tell Mama not to forget her insulin…”, and off he went into the operating room.

You see, a year or so earlier, Mama was diagnosed as having diabetes too. Since then, both she and JV had to inject themselves with insulin on a daily basis. Most of the times, JV – with over three decades of injecting himself with insulin – expertly administered the insulin injections to my Mom. Having had to live with diabetes for the past 30+ years, JV was strict with my Mom’s medical regimen. He constantly reminded Mama to “inject first…” before certain meals or at certain times of the day.

And even then – faced with the triple horns of possible death – he had only one person on his mind. And it wasn’t himself.

My brother’s operation and the events surrounding it have taught me and my family – and our friends too – so much about things we already know.

How many times have I had the opportunity to give more of myself – but did not?

How often have I found myself in a situation where I could have placed others ahead of myself – but would not?

I realize now that every time I failed, I missed the opportunity to see Jesus in others – and just let Jesus come first.

When Ray told me what JV said just before he went to face his biggest trial, I realized that even in one’s time of great need, it is still possible to choose others before one’s self.

I hope I still get a chance to place others ahead of myself – just as JV did.