Have you tasted santol fruit? Not the Bangkok variety but a native one, small and sweet.
Lately, my sister has had the fondness of eating santol fruit for a couple of weeks. She freely picks the fruit on the ground that falls from the tree near the place where she stays.
Seeing the skin and few seeds from the waste bin did not give me any idea that she was swallowing many santol seeds in hiding.
My sister is mentally challenged but can understand and do basic personal care. When my mother died, I took her under my care.
The santol incident escaped my attention.
The sweet santol experience became bitter when my sister had a severe stomach ache that lasted for two days. She was like a woman in labor pains.
After trying a common remedy for two days, she admitted “her crime” to me. The rest was a story of struggle and severe pain for her, and stress for me as we rushed her to the hospital for treatment.
From the swabbing area to the emergency room, I can feel the distress, anxiety and sadness of people in there. I had my own bouts of stress as I thought of the possible intestinal surgery that my sister would undergo as explained by our doctor.
Short whisper of prayer helped me gain my peace as we went through the process. This has also brought me to my senses and realized that I am not alone. I came back to myself-default mode during times of trouble.
Through my Facebook page, I posted a prayer request because I believed in God who answers prayers. No open surgery, that was my one specific request to all.
“Call unto me and I will answer” says Jerermiah 33:3. The bitter experience with santol fruit became sweet again as I received God’s answer to my request and to the prayers of many.
How sweet to reflect on how God moves in my midst just to let me know that He is just a prayer away to those who trust in Him. Let me share how I saw it.
The perfect timing
The initial procedure was x-ray — the general view of what’s inside my sister’s stomach. A CT scan is too expensive. If we have had the detailed view through a CT scan, we might end up with an early decision to send her to surgery due to a hundred santol seeds inside her. The doctor used an alternative and less abrasive approach of enemas to release the seeds from the intestine. Pain was lessened on our third and fourth day. But it came back with an enlarged stomach. Finally, as we almost agreed to surgery and invited two doctors on board, we found out that the seeds are already at the end of the small intestine. It also warned us that the urinary bladder is expanding and could erupt if not attended medically. Obviously God is leading us to his timing.
Efficient and compassionate doctors
What makes a doctor outstanding? It is the combination of compassion to people and efficiency in their medical profession. I have witnessed how Dr. Jonard Co, my sister’s gastroenterologist, executed both his proper medical diagnosis and intervention which are not independent of his reliance on God. Two other doctors, a surgeon and cardiologist, have shared their medical expertise which also helped to avoid open surgery for my sister.
People who made me feel that I am not alone
My own family Jay and Hannah adjusted and served as my errands outside the hospital. My brother reached out to give his support. My in –laws, relatives, friends and officemates and even some anonymous friends who showed and expressed their moral support as I fought our hospital battle. Even my simple and not well off current church –Chrisitan Gospel Center, whom I consider my family extended help in their small and big ways. God placed me in a big family unit where I can feel connected.
My sister’s santol experience gave her pain and trauma from eating that fruit. Since I am a licensed counselor I can lead her to focus more on how to appreciate the sweet act of God’s loving kindness while she was in her most bitter physical experience. May God be honored.
