Last week, I had spent my seven-to-three morning shift at the nursing station 4 of Kidapawan Doctors Hospital (tertiary hospital). After few instructions from our clinical instructor, I pulled my paraphernalias on my 3rd year high school back pack (na magbibirthday na bukas) and went in to see my first patient at the male ward and acting like I know what I am doing and talking about. It's all about practice, you know. hehe. I have five patients all-in-all.


I received K, twenty five years old, conscious and responsive. He's a man with high estrogen level. Of course as usual, I always start by introducing myself and to establish rapport. I'm aware that he's gay and his looks don't really come across. I took his vital signs, no abnormalities noted. I noticed multiple abrasions on his both lower extremities and I found out that he's a victim of January 10 bombing here in Kidapawan. He walked- no fret- by Quezon Boulevard, blast at 8:45. He suffered multiple blast injuries on his both lower extremities. On his Xray, small metabolic foreign bodies are noted in the soft tissue underlying his ankle joint, soft tissues of the middle third of his thigh posterolaterally as well as in the third of his leg. No fracture noted.


My nursing care: Bedside care, Vital sign checked, rechecked and recorded, due meds given, placed on comfortable position, encouraged to have adequate rest period, encouraged to eat nutritious foods, diet well tolerated, encouraged verbalization of feelings...


Tuesday morning at around 10, I followed the physical therapist for an electronic therapy for evaluation and treatment on his left foot drop. He couldn't perform activities like walking comfortably within the hospital premises because of his present condition. So, it's alteration in comfort. Sir Pete, the physical therapist who happened to be my friend Quen's big bro. What a coincidence! hehe. So we had a little chit-chat and asked him with questions about what he is doing than pretending myself like a babbling idiot. After 20 minutes of improving my patients dorsiflexion of his left foot, I wondered why Sir Pete using a doppler ultraound on Kimwel's left knee. Oh no! my patient is pregnant! *lol. It is just a therapeutic ultrasound and part of the treatment process.


K is just one among the victims admitted at KDI. There are wounded innocent lives, creatures haunted by that night. Ounce of blood dripped. Blood that keeps the beast alive to tell of its existence.


Most of our lives we've been praying for peace. But it seems impossible when everybody could see that peace being held in captive, struggling to be set free. The current news about bombing has allegedly urged nations to produce armaments that have perhaps drawn no end to these coercions. Conspicuously, in large areas here in Mindanao, these inhumane acts are a constant treat, If we only could get rid of the violence and let humanity grow then maybe that's when peace will fly again.


The unfortunate events have seeded its wrath, and to most people, it would take away lives of scores. Every place has been put onto suspicion. Everyone gets feared that anytime a bomb could explode. Is there any place in the world worth to be called safe? I guess none. For its only our trust in Him that would make us safe.


I have the desire to ease the suffering that used to be part of the healing process. But I got tired of fixing problems that don't matter in the grand scheme of life.

Update: Colegio de Kidapawan landed 11th place in the Nursing Licensure Exam last December 2006 among schools in Davao City, rest of Davao and Central Mindanao regions.

Mind you, in parts of India, there's an annual holiday during which people pay visits to those with whom they've quarelled during the previous year, and make peace. I wish we could import that practice and make it part of our christmas. Think of it: a festival of mass reconciliation, a day of new beginnings which is what our Christmas should be, but isn't. There are boo boos that make everyone, seem well, a litle grinchy.


HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!