One Moment

by mossgirl19   Jul 20, 2017


“Nanay, can you see me?”
You gave me a gentle nod.
“I love you, Nanay.”
You smiled. You understood.

Twenty fours later,
No response.
“Nay? Nay? Nay?”
No response.
The nurses tried to wake you
The doctors came too
No response.

Everybody in the room
Was crying now
My sister angrily shouted
To the nurse in charge
“Do something!”
On the floor now,
She was weeping like a child.

For the first time,
My uncle’s face was wet with tears
Grandpa was panicking
Repeating the words
“Wake her up. Wake her up.”

The nurses didn’t move.
So I did, like I was the only one
who can still make it.
I woke you, shook you.
“Nay? Nay? Please, wake up, Nay!”
No response.

My knees wanted to give in
My heartbeats seem to stop.
But I can’t and so I got some cotton
Dipped it into the water
And I wet your lips.

Grandpa said dip the cotton in soda
And wet your lips with it
I did, with trembling hands
My younger sister followed through
And let some soda into your mouth...

Your mouth moved! And our worlds moved too...

Once again.

The battle continues
Thank you Nanay.
Thank you for fighting for us.
It wasn’t the soda.
It was you and your strong will to live.

Twenty four hours later
You are still breathing
I know in the next
twenty four hours
when I ask
“Nanay, can you see me?”
You will give me a gentle nod.
And when I say “I love you, Nanay.”
You will smile.

________________________
This is an account of actual events.
My grandma suffered a stroke for the 2nd time and we
believed she was recovering fast, but the
next day, she had another attack and she became
unconscious for more than an hour. Grandpa suggested
we wet her lips with soda because he thought
she may have had low blood sugar level.
She underwent a brain surgery 12 hours later
and is now recovering in the ICU.

"Nanay" is the Filipino term for mother.
I and my siblings grew up with our grandparents.

9


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Latest Comments

  • 6 years ago

    by Sai

    A very moving write. It's the worst when we can't do something for the people we love as they're suffering. Sometimes all we can do is watch, and wait. Sending good thoughts for you and your family.

  • 6 years ago

    by Mahesh Kachare

    Nice poem by you. I liked it so much.

  • 6 years ago

    by Natalie84

    It put us in there too. Imagining it as if we lived it!!! Beautiful write!!!

  • 6 years ago

    by anand singh

    A beautiful and realistic write with in depth feelings of love and caring. Yes, we all know that at some point and time we have to go through this but still panic when the moment does come. Thank God that she pulled through. No doubt the love care and concern of you and your family played a role in bringing her back to be with you all. Another beautiful piece.

  • 6 years ago

    by CRAFTY KEN

    Wonderful to express such love for your Nanay, my prayers along with the others for her speedy recovery.

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