Wonderful!

Seeing again the beauty of God’s creation is unbelievable! However, after Dr.
Jeffrey Cinco Lim, staff ophthalmologist in Chong Hua Hospital, Cebu City, operated my
right and left eyes in just 13 and 10 minutes, respectively, I realized the modern
technology has in fact advanced to the point that the unbelievable is now a reality.
Yes. It is reality, because I considered myself to be the same as a blind person.
Blind in the sense that I had to ask my grandson, son or wife to accompany me by the
highway for them to see to it there were no vehicles approaching before I crossed. I had
experienced nearly having been bumped by oncoming motorcycle whose exhaust pipe
has a silencer, because I merely rely on my sense of hearing. Even in the office where I
am working, anybody who comes in I had to ask first my officemates as to the identity of
the person.
One day while waiting for my classmates at Asian Development Foundation
College in Tacloban City, a petite lady asked me if the class had not yet started. I asked
her if she was one of my classmates. She replied: “I am Joverly Morfe, your instructress.”
She laughed. In class she told the story followed with laughter from my classmates whom
I equally failed to clearly see their faces, except for few near me.
Many among my friends thought I have gotten a “big head”, figuratively
speaking, because for several times they had to greet me first before I could recognized
them. It is really difficult to loss the senses, whatever, not only the eyesight, because with
sense defect, a person has lost approximately 75% of ability to comprehend. A person
may loss all teeth and still enjoys food, even without false teeth, only using the gums. For
the sight and hearing is different; the loss of one of it greatly damages the capability of a
person.
Being one of the poor among the poor, I have no hope my eyesight will be back to
the period of my youth. It was Congressman Eufrocino M. Codilla Sr., who from time to
time telling me to have my eye examined by Dr. Lim. It even reached to the point that
Congressman Codilla accompanied me to Chong Hua the recent month of March where I
learned both eyes had cataract and were already subject for operation. The good
congressman told me he will shoulder part of the expenses for which I am very grateful.
Next who convinced me to have my operation done at Chong Hua Hospital was
former City Councilor Sixto “Titong” Pongos. He told me the best hospital with modern
equipment facility for eye operation is Chong Hua. Indeed, it has for my eye examination
passed some five different apparatus before I took the operating table. Inside the
operating room are different machines monitoring the heart; Dr. Lim even asked me if I
am taking beta blocker because he saw my heart beat register was slow. I told him that
was my normal heart beat.
The election period delayed my return for Biometry examination right after the
initial laboratory test; the examination is for reading the grade of the eye to be fitted with
IOL (intraocular lens). IOL is for the phacoemulsification procedure.
“Cataract Removal — Phacoemulsification utilizes an ultrasonic probe to break-
up the cataract into tiny pieces and gently sucks (aspirates) the pieces out of the eye
leaving the capsular bag in place.
“Lens Implantation — the cataract lens is replaced with an artificial intraocular
lens (IOL). The foldable IOL is inserted through the same small incision used for
phacoemulsification.
 “Vision Restoration — the IOL gently unfolds into the capsular bag replacing
the natural lens. Light passes through the IOL focusing on the retina providing a clear,
sharp image.” — A Patient’s Guide to Cataract
During the operation, Dr. Lim told me he was starting the insertion of the IOL, in
few seconds, I already saw the image of his fingers manipulating over my eye. No pain,
no stitches, no eye patching and the operation is fast in less than 15 minutes. What
amazes me is the instant visual recovery. After rising from the operating table and the
plastic dark-colored shades fitted to protect the eyes from tiny flying objects, I was able
to see beautiful nurses around me. Beautiful, yes, truly beautiful ones, not ugly, because
it was only after my operation I can recognize ugly face.
One thing nice in the operation, after paying the doctor and hospital bills, my son
with me went to SM Shopping Mall and ate our breakfast/lunch. We were not able to take
our breakfast because the schedule of operation was 7:00 am of recent Friday. After
eating we returned to LS2 Pensione House at Junquera Extension and rest for an hour.
While watching the television I saw an advertisement of Gaisano Country Mall at
Talamban, so we went there at 3:00 pm were I bought an Alex shoes and Hickok belt.
Why I narrate this experience? This is for the sake of those who have doubts on
the method of eye operation. They can be assured of the eye surgical operation is now too
simple that fear of going under knife is of the past, because the incision is through laser.
To understand it simply is similar to welding two metals to combine.
My eyes can now see clearly what I missed in several years. Wonderful!
Previously, I saw all women beautiful; now, I can distinguish the beauty from the ugly.
When I was in the waiting room before operation, I saw three old ladies; one is four years
older; the other two, nine and five years younger than me. All seems to be feeling
nervous, tense and apprehensive of what will be the outcome of operation.
One of them commented when an 84-year old man came out from the operating
room. “One good thing for us, we are accompanied either by our child or grandchild.” I
added: “Yes, my son accompanied me because my wife doesn’t want my mistress to be
with me.” That breaks the eerie moment, everyone laughed.
After operation I met one of the ladies, Engineer Araule, former professor of
Contractors Violy and Undo Codilla, daughter-in-law and son of Congressman Codilla,
respectively. She said: “You removed the tense and nervousness we have. Thanks! I felt
comfortable after hearing your joke.” She requested me to convey her regards to the
Codillas.
This article is written the past Sunday, after two days from my left eye operation.
Dr. Lim, immediately after operation said, I can watch the television, read, encode in the
computer; hence, this piece.
I take this opportunity to thank my benefactors: Tongonan Brgy. Chairman
Isagani R. Bañez, Atty. Cleto L. Evangelista Jr., City Mayor Eric C. Codilla,
Congressman Codilla; and benefactresses: Engineer Germeline Melendres Panta, and
Businesswoman Imelda Sacay-Brendt, for their financial assistance.
To my colleagues and friends who had been apprehensive of my operation thus
resorted to praying; thanks.
Likewise to Dr. Nicolas “Chito” Aviles who did not receive even a centavo for
having given me the clean bill of health; and to her lovely medical secretaries for waiting
on OSPA hospital’s laboratory results of my medical examination, though their tour of
duty had already ended that Wednesday noon.
Lastly, to the good medical staff of Chong Hua Eye Institute, the nurses in the
operating room, administrative clerks, cashiers, doctors of optometry, especial mention is
Joanna Malana for allowing me to use her name and address in the LBC pouch, including
her candid explanation how to avail the PhilHealth of my daughter. They had done a
good job with sweet smiles that every patient expected it to be. Hope that other hospital’s
personnel especially those in the government to serve patients equally, whether or not
they are poor. Of course, with smiles though they work on hectic schedule. (Email
g_duna@yahoo.com)