Painless

Prologue

Mr. Tizon rushed his daughter to the hospital with tears in racing down his cheeks. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang nangyari sa anak niya. His daughter's mouth was covered with blood but she didn't even cry. He don't have anyone that he can lean on, for his wife died giving birth to their only child.

"Nurse! Tulungan niyo ako!" he shouted the moment they entered the hospital.

"Right this way, sir" nagmamadaling sabi nurse.

Dali-daling dinala ng mga nurse yung bata sa Emergency Room. Everyone’s face was in shock of horror. How could a child bleed while smiling and not crying? Hindi nila maintindihan yung nangayari kaya wala na silang sinayang na oras.

Naguguluhan man ay nangingibabaw pa rin yung kaba niya. Sumunod siya sa loob ng Emergency Room pero agad ding hinarangan ng nurse.

"Sir, you're not allowed here," sabi nung nurse.

Napahilamos nalang siya. He was frustrated but he knew that he should keep his cool. He wanted to cry but he wanted to stay strong for his child. Bumuntong-hininga siya bago hinarap yung nars.

"Just do anything to save her," he said.

"We will sir," the nurse responded.

Wala nang nagawa si Mr. Tizon kundi ang maghintay. Kahit ano-ano na ang naiisip niya. Ayaw niyang mawala yung nagkaisa-isang anak niya. He can't bare to accept it knowing that his wife left him leaving his daughter the only memory left by his wife. She got her mother's eyes kaya mas lalong napamahal siya sa anak niya.

Minutes passed and the doctor went out of the ER.

"Ikaw ba yung magulang?" tanong nung doktor pagkalabas nito.

Agad napatayo si Mr. Tizon at sinagot yung dotor. "Yes Doc!"

"She's safe now," he said

Mr. Tizon breathe the sigh of relief. Thank God.

"Ano nga pala ang nanyari Doc? Bakit dumudugo yung bibig ng anak ko," he asked immediately.

"She's teething and she keeps on gnawing her tongue causing it to bleed," sagot nung doktor.

Mr. Tizon's eyebrows met. "Diba po masakit yun? How come she didn't stop?" he asked again. He knew that it was normal for a child, but why does she keeps on biting her tongue to the point that it started bleeding?

"I have to say this," he paused. "Your daughter have this very rare condition called Congenital Insensitivity to Pain."

Naguguluhang napatingin si Mr. Tizon sa doctor. He never heard it before but it does sounds serious. Hindi pamilyar sakanya ang sakit na yun kaya mas lalo siyang kinabahan.

"A-Ano po yun, Doc?"

"Pamilyar naman tayong lahat sa Nervous System, diba? We have this so called nerve fibers in our body. Without these, the body and brain can't communicate. Nociceptors sense pain, and sadly your daughter don't have it."

"I-Ibig niyo ba pong sabihin, h-hindi nakakaramdam ng sakit yung anak ko?"

"That is correct."

Napahilamos nalang si Mr. Tizon sa mga narinig niya. Hindi pwedeng mangyari 'to!

"May gamot po ba? Is there a cure?"

"Sadly, there is no cure"

Nanggagatong yung mga tuhod niya kaya napaupo nalang siya. His lips trembled with his hands. Ayaw niyang maniwala pero wala siyang ibang magawa. Doctor na ang nagsabi sa kanya at alam niyang alam ng doctor ang mga sinasabi nito.

"She might have corneal abrasions, febrile seizures, fractures, constipation and osteomyelitis because she can't feel anything. The good news is we have some treatments."

Nakaramdam ng pagasa si Mr. Tizon matapos marinig yun.

"She needs eyewear, she might scratch her eyes at baka hindi niya ito mapigilan that would cause the Corneal Abrasion. At dahil mahihirapan tayong masabi kung kailangan na niyang magbawas, you should set a timer para alam mo kung kailan siya magbawas. She also needs a wheelchair para maiwasan ang fractures or sprain. She also needs to be in a cool place. Kung maari dapat lagyan ng aircon yung kwarto niya dahil hindi niya mararamdaman na nag-iinit na pala yung katawan niya which would lead to Febrile Seizures. And most importantly, always tell her na kapag nakakita siya ng dugo sa anumang parte ng kanyang katawan, she should call your attention. And because she's still a baby, never take your eyes off her."

Hindi alam ni Mr. Tizon kung paano niya nasaulo lahat ng sinabi ng doktor. Kahit ano ay gagawin niya para sa anak niya.

I lost your Mom. I don't want to lose you too.