30/08/2025
You’re the reason there’s no whisky anywhere inside my house.
Back in 2023, I was diagnosed with gallbladder stones at the age of 20. Turning 21 pa lang ako that time, and one month before my birthday, grabe na yung sakit — I was rushed to the ER kasi wala nang effect lahat ng first aid na binigay ng doctor ko online.
On duty pa ako as SME sa BPO noon, work-from-home lang kaya sa MS Teams lang ako nakapagpaalam. While waiting for my lab results, I was overthinking about my pending tasks at work. I kept praying na sana simpleng indigestion lang siya. Pero after multiple lab tests and pain relievers, I was told I needed to see a surgeon. Kinabahan ako — bakit agad surgeon? Then the surgeon told me na kailangan na raw akong hanapan ng room to schedule surgery. As in gulat na gulat ako. I couldn’t process anything, so I said I’d ask my guardian first. Kahit over 18 na talaga ako that time HAHAHA.
Fast forward to February 2024. After months of hospital trips and check-ups, a doctor told me that my gallstones could drop to my intestines anytime. Worst case? Dalawang operasyon, with a 50-50 chance. I couldn’t wrap my head around it. Hirap tanggapin, pero wala nang choice.
Operation day came. Nakafasting, nakahiga, and then morning na, I remember staring at all the tools they’d use on me. Still, hindi nagsisink-in na mawawalan ako ng organ at 21. OA siguro pakinggan, pero naisip ko pa noon — “PWD na ba ako after this?” HAHAHAHAHAH grabe talaga ang utak ko 😭
Surgery went through. After 3-4 days, groggy pa ako, nakadiaper, hindi makaupo nang maayos, pero pinapalakad na ako. Then sinabihan na kailangan ko nang ma-discharge kasi baka magka-complications pa ako due to family history of asthma. Ang bilis ng lahat.
That moment became my wake-up call. Here are the lessons I learned the hard way:
1. Lahat ng sobra ay masama. Life is short, yes, pero always set limits. Prevention is better than cure.
2. Cut your bad habits one at a time. Start now, not tomorrow. Bad lifestyle and eating habits won’t show their effects right away, pero as time goes by, you’ll start to understand the consequences of those habits.
3. Save for yourself. Emergency funds are a must. If you’re the family’s backup, paano kapag ikaw na yung mangailangan?
4. Health first. Work will always be there. Your body won’t. Don’t wait until your body forces you to rest.
5. Invest in yourself. Kung may nararamdaman ka, pa-check up. Better to be sure than sorry. Healthcare system here is tough, kaya kung kaya mo, invest in your physical, mental, emotional, and financial health.
This whole journey taught me to start early. Do what you can, while you can.
Wala lang, nashare ko lang siya out of nowhere kase narinig ko yung line na “you’re the reason why there’s no whisky anywhere inside my house” and remembered everything I’ve learned — and the reason why there’s literally no whisky in my house. PS: hindi ako alak na alak na ferson ha! Mahilig lang ako sa maalat, fatty foods, fried, at occasional lang naman ako uminom. Pero aminado ako — hindi ako tumitigil hangga’t hindi ako tulog HAHAHA.
Sorry if this story feels off-brand for my page, pero hey — this is still Food Leyf sharing a slice of life. Pake niyo ba? Char! 🤣 Have a nice weekend and God bless us all 🫰🏼❤️
