The (Mis)Adventures of Dr. D

 Daughter’s Duties #63: Due to the rising number of cases of covid, my Mom has been very worried about me seeing patients.  Yesterday, she was already using tears as a bargaining chip to make me stay at home.  Because I had already made previous commitments, I couldn’t give in to her request that afternoon.  I knew she would get mad at me once she knew I had left the house.  After I had finished with my appointments, I called to ask her if she needed me to pass by the grocery. Very miffed, she said, “So, umalis ka pa pala ha!” I thought I’d get a sermon, but she proceeded to give me a long list of things I needed to buy. She ended it with “Umalis ka na rin naman pala eh di bilhin mo na mga yan.”  #maypaiyakiyakpaperoreadynamansalistahan #angmgananaytalaga

Pedia Plot #162: Due to the pandemic, most doctors, me included,  have shifted to online tele consultations by appointment.  I had an appointment today at 5pm for a tele consultation with a patient.  Like always, this Mom is very punctual and texted me at 5pm to ask if the check-up would proceed since my clinic was closed.   Apparently, they were outside my clinic while I was here .... AT HOME.....waiting for them to go online.  😂😂😂

Daughter Duties #62 Like most people, my Mom loves receiving gift and promo certificates and storing it in her bag for future use. Due to the ECQ, my Mom has been worried that some of her certificates might be expired so we check them one by one. Mom: “Itong mga SM, ok pa ba?” Me: “Yes, Mom.” Mom (bringing out another set): “Itong mga ‘to?” Me: “Yup, Mom.  Matagal pa ‘to.” Mom: “Itong mga Jollibee? Gamitin natin pag pwede na uli tayong makalabas. Gusto ko ng tuna pie.” Me (eyes widening): “Mom, mapapaaway na tayo pag gamitin pa natin itong mga ‘to.” Mom: “Bakit? Bawal na naman gamitin at isabay ang senior discount? Hmp. Bago lang yan ha.  Kasama pa nga kita nung binigay yan.” Me: “Oo, Mom.  Kasama ako.  Binigay yan nung bagong bukas ang Double Dragon 2 YEARS ago. Matagal-tagal nang expired yang certificate ninyo. Tapon na natin ha.”

Petite Pedia Plots #161: While doing a check-up on this one month old, I was asked by the Mom what the caregivers can do to stimulate the baby.  So I told them they needed to incorporate a lot of reds, whites and blacks into the baby’s environment.   Mom: “Ah, ganon po ba.  Ok, dra.” Lola: “Kaya pala laging sinusundan ng tingin ni baby si Lolo niya.” Me: “Palagi po bang naka pula, puti o itim si Lolo na damit?” Lola (smirking): “Hindi, dra.  Maitim kasi si Lolo.” 🤪 Suddenly goes out of the room and shouts, “Halika nga dito ng makita ni Dra kung gaano ka kaitim!” 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

Daughter Duties #61 My sister and I were at the grocery yesterday to do our food run.  We called up Mom to ask if she still had last minute requests. Mom: “Pakibili din kami ng biscuits.” Ate: “Anong klase, Mom?” Mom: “Yung square-square. Nagustuhan namin” Ate: “Anong name/brand?” Mom: “Basta yung hugis square!!!!” 🤦🏻‍♀️ #ayannanamansiya #pinoyhenyoatthegrocery

Petite Pedia Plots 160 A 13 year old patient is migrating to the US and wanted to give me a handmade gift.  Truly made with love.  Thank you and I will miss you guys.

Daughter Duties #60 Due to her fervent need to protect her children and prompted by news that masks have been running out, Mom has been looking around the house for unused masks. Today, she happily exclaims, “Anak, may nahanap na akong mga mask dito sa bahay.  Nakaplastic pa so mga brand new pa ito.” “Mom, eye masks yan!!!”  🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

Now 8 years old, his Mom told me that he just asked for a cake and new pajamas for his bday.  He has been leaning towards cars and robots lately until they watched “Frozen 2” (as requested by the younger sister).  His Mom said “nabuhay ang tinatagong diwa nung bata.”  So now, he sings “Into the Unknown” with much zest and dances to “Tala” quite well complete with “kendeng”.

Petite Pedia Plots #165 *To me, red and green are lucky colors.  So I chose to wear a moss green dress to work yesterday being the first day of the year.  There has been a surge of admissions secondary to vomiting and/or loose stools.  As I did my rounds on these patients, I would ask the parents how the stools of their respective children were.  3 of the Moms looked at me, then at my dress and said something to this effect: “Dra, the color of the stools look like your dress.”  Needless to say, the green dress has now been banished to the back of my closet accompanying the green jacket from a previous blog. 

Petite Pedia Plots #164 A 4 year old proudly tells me: “Tita Doc, I can speak 3 languages.” Flabbergasted, I said, “Really? Wow! What are those languages?” He answers, “English, Filipino and British!” And proceeds  to say “hello” in those 3 “languages”.  (Ang nagagawa nga naman ni Peppa Pig.)

Petite Pedia Plots #162 Saw this 3 year old boy for the first time.  When he sees me, he bursts into tears that quickly fade when the parents distract him.   But once he remembers I am in the room, another burst of crying.  This goes on throughout the whole visit.  As I leave his room, he shouts, “Doctor, I’m sorry I’m so...... O.A.” Pang best child actor nga naman.

Daughter Duties #59 My sister and I accompanied our 83 year old parents to have their passports renewed.  The DFA staff were so accomodating to them and one of the staff quipped: “Sana po masulit ninyo yung 10 years validity ng passports ninyo.  See you in 10 years pag nag renew uli po kayo ha.” Sana nga. ❤️

Petite Pedia Plots #161 A 2 year old male patient comes in to the clinic.  He is very proud and tells me he can already count one to ten.  Me: “Really? Let me hear you count then.” He goes, “ One, Two, Ten”. 

Petite Pedia Plots #160 A 3 year old male patient has a penchant for measuring.  So, he gets my tape measure and measures his waist.  He says, “10!”.  He then goes to his slim Mom and measures her as well and says, “So many numbers. Mommy”.  And then measures me for his finale and exclaims, “Tita Doc, so many many MANY numbers!”

Petite Pedia Plots #159 As part of asthma prevention,  we often ask about known triggers of the attacks. I asked the parents of an asthma suspect patient, “May curtains and carpet po ba sa bahay?” Reply: “Wala po.” Me: “Mga stuffed toys po?” Reply: “Wala din po.” Me: “Mga alagang hayop po?” Reply: “Wala po pero yung kapitbahay po namin...” Me: “May alagang hayop po yung kapitbahay?” Reply (said with so much emotion): “Hindi, doc.  Hayop lang talaga yung kapitbahay namin umasta!”

Petite Pedia Plots #158 While doing rounds on a patient, the mother told me that her child has a stomach ache and vomits every time the antibiotic is given through the IV.  “Dra, as soon as nilalagay yung antibiotic sa swero, nagsusuka yung anak ko. Yung IV antibiotic na nga ata yung sinusuka ng anak ko eh.” #parangstrawlanganganak 

Petite Pedia Plots #157 Ever heard of the “Alphabet Round Song”? My 2 year old patient just sang it.  It goes “A - B - C - D - E - F - G ... - X - Y - Z. Now I know my A - B - C - D - E - F ....” and on and on it goes.  

Petite Pedia Plots #156 I found out that the parents of a patient were both from Batangas and lived just blocks away from each other.  Me: “So, childhood sweethearts kayo?” Mom (said with a little angst): “Naku, ang nililigawan niya nung una ay pinsan ko, Dra.” Dad sheepishly answers, “Wag na natin balikan ang nakaraan, Mommy.”  #meandmybigmouth #mayoutsidethekulambonanamandahilkaydra

Daughter Duties #58 My Mom lost weight over the years due to aging and diabetes.  So, she has been very happy wearing clothes that I have outgrown or ones that she used to fit in when I was much younger. Today, she was proudly showing off a dress from years before.  In fairness, it looked good on her. I couldn’t help and say, “Mom, ang tanda na ng damit na yan ha.” Mom: “Aba, hindi pa ‘to luma ha.  Bago pa ‘to. Kakasuot ko lang nito nung graduation mo.” Dad (sarcastically grinning): “Kelan, nung graduation niya pa sa UP pre-med?” And then it hit me. I suddenly realized when she last wore it: “Mom, suot niyo yan nung graduation ko nung ..... GRADE SCHOOL  pa!!!!”

Petite Pedia Plots #155 Saw a very shy 5 year old in the clinic.  Mom said school has improved his social skills a lot. Me: “Do you enjoy going to school?” Child: “Yes!” Me: “Do you have a lot of friends there?” Child: “Yes, I have 10!” Me: “Oh wow! That’s a lot.  What are their names?” Child: “There’s Jeric, Emman, Roman, Ironman, Spiderman, Batman ...” I could only grin and say, “Aside from being shy, he also has great imagination!”