My heart aches for my friend’s mom. I didn't know she would be gone too soon at the age of 59 years old due to a cyst in her intestine.
I’ve known Teresa since our high school days, we were not close back then. We got closer when we went to college together with our high school classmates. We also joined born again Christian church together although we're both Catholics. The picture at the top is when I met her mama for the first time. We joined one event in our church that was held in Manila at that time and we decided to go together. We had a connecting flight one stop over to Cebu City so, we dropped by where her mom was living at before we head to Manila.
Her mom was very accomodating, she picked us up from the airport and toured us within the city. She was working as a masseur in one of the catholic churches in Cebu together with blind masseurs.
I know this sounds weird but Teresa is living in Cagayan De Oro away from her mom, she already got used to living alone in Cagayan De Oro while her mom is away. It might be a weird set up but I know Teresa has reasons why she can't leave our hometown. I won't be able to elaborate more on that as I'm not sure how to do it.
When Teresa found out that her mom was very ill in Cebu, she thought of going to her, however, due to the pandemic and lockdowns were everywhere, she was unable to. So, she decided to let her mom come to Cagayan De Oro instead since most of their relatives are living in Cagayan De Oro and at that time, the City is not very strict in accepting people from other places. Her mom agreed to come and they finally, live together. They were able to spend more time together and Teresa was able to take care more of her mom.
However, day by day, her mom got weaker. Until one day she was rushed into the hospital and got admitted.
At that time, we didn't know yet what really was the illness of her mom. I was able to take time though to talk to her before she laid (if you see the photo from the the top) and asked her what was the cause. Then she told me that when the pandemic started their group of masseurs was transferred to Mandaue City where she cannot eat because there are no stores nearby, she tried bringing lunch with her, however, the food only gets spoiled because she was unable to eat on time.
The next day of our visit, Teresa got the result of her mom's laboratory and she was informed that her mom has a cyst on her intestine. Teresa was advised that her mom needs an operation, however, her mom doesn't want to undergo operations and Teresa didn't want to force her mom. So, they got discharged from the hospital without going to the operations.
However, few weeks after being discharged from the hospital. 21st of February this year, Teresa announced that her mom passed away which was very heartbreaking to all of us her friends.
Teresa is closed to my family and we decided to visit her at her mom's wake.
Her wake lasted for 5 days she was buried at Jasaan the place where Teresa's aunt lives.
I've mentioned more than once that my friend Teresa still remains to be smiling despite her mom being hospitalized and even until her wake. I did think that she was already prepared for the outcome, however, as for me, no matter how ready we are for a loved one's death, we are still astound and it cuts us deeply.
Mothers are a great gift from God and we should love them and protect them at all costs because they did the same by bearing us 9 months from their stomach and even raising us well until we get old.
Cheers,
Mary 🌷
