True Altruism by Filipino Nurses

At Ospital ng Sampaloc, Manila, I met a number of colleagues

who for one reason or another opted to stay in the Philippines

and work their ass off...

Gloat ye all nurses that work overseas...

Gloat all you want, but here...

where you learned all your nursing procedures,

all your skills, all your principles and knowledge

in the tradition of Florence Nightingale,

here, the Josephine Brackens stayed,

lingered and cared...

I computed the time they spent working

inside the hospital:

I believe they work a total of 12 hours...

This 12 hours becomes 14 or 15 hours due

to the influx of patients...

endorsements and nursing procedures

needing to be finished before you go home...

leaving you 9 hours left...

Deduct 3 more hours from the 9 hours,

1 hour for your ride home,

2 hours for your preparation and ride to work...

leaving you a whopping 6 hours!

Sleep? how does a nurse who works at a government

hospital fit the remaining 6 hours?

How is the child or children left at home?

Do they get to see their mother?

If they get to see her, will it be a time

that they will remember when they start to walk

and meet the loves of their lives?

How does one manage with the remaining hours?

How about the husband?

Extramarital affairs right and left?

Poor nurse...

She may care for her patient

Give all the attention they need,

Give all the health education they want,

work her ass off to provide food on the table

only to be left alone?

Altruism...Selfless...

Passion...

Only a nurse who works at a public hospital

can define it...

By merely looking at her,

you will know that her feet are killing her

from walking to and fro,

checking on patients...

Yes, patientssssssss...

an astounding 56 patients

with 2 nurses at the station

working for 12 hours...

And yet, you can still see them smile...

Next time you get hospitalized

especially in a public hospital,

can you just say "thank you?"

It's more than enough

to show her you appreciate

all her efforts...

Male Infertility

First things first, Fertility is not synonymous with virility. Libido, erection, ejaculation may all be existent and in proper functioning order, but this does not automatically translate to the capability of instituting pregnancy. On the other hand, the inability to achieve erection is not a necessary precondition for infertility, although of course it is a prerequisite to penetration.

Infertility is not a sexual disorder, nor a sexual dysfunction. It is a medical condition that could benefit from medical treatment, as long as it is diagnosed early on, and diagnosed correctly.

Generally, the inability to achieve conception after a year of working towards that goal is considered primary infertility, which affects an estimated 15% of couples wanting to have a child. Then there is secondary infertility - the inability to conceive after having delivered the first child involving the same partners. This is usually medical in nature and due to age and stress.

It is very common for Filipino childless couples to wait for years before seeking professional help, mainly because of the fear of finding out that infertility is involved, and thus feel the stigmatic judgment of society. However, according to Dr. Stephen Shaban of the Department of Surgery of the University of Carolina School of Medicine, the earlier that infertility is diagnosed, the better chance for successful treatment, if needed. As such, the wait should not take longer than one year.

Normal Semen Parameters as determined by the World Health Organization

• Volume: 1.5 - 5ml (1 teaspoon)


• Sperm Density: more than 20million sperm per ml


• Motility: more than 60%


• Morphology: more than 60% normal forms

Factors affecting Sperm Production, Transport and Ejaculation

• Hormonal/ Endocrine Diseases - diabetes, hypo/hyperthyroidism (goiter)


• Genetic disorders - cryptorchidism (absence of one or both testes)


• Medications being taken - tranquilizers, hypertension medication (spironolactone), meds for treatment of thyroid problems, steroids, meds for the treatment of ulcers (cimetidine), meds taken for bowel irritation syndrome, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, rheumatoid arthritis (sulfasalazine), antibiotic for UTI (nitrofurantoin)


• Obstruction in the vas deferens - retrogade ejaculation (dry ejaculation - the ejaculation goes into the bladder instead of through the penis); hypospadias (penile opening is not at the tip, nasa gilid or nasa ilalim ang butas)


• Previous Surgeries


• Past Diseases - Mumps after puberty


• Lifestyle - Drug abuse, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption


• Occupational hazards - excessive heat and radiation, especially those working or who have worked in military air stations and other places with installed aircraft tracking radar or cellular site, as well as aircraft flights (high and certain risk of developing infertility)

Treatment: There is treatment. You just have to be impatient enough and not wait for a year.

From Health Care Magazine July 2006 Issue

Timed Accidents

Have you ever met someone

who for unexplainable reasons

you cannot remember his name

nor his face?

And after three years,

you meet him again,

in that same old place...

But this time, he won't be forgotten

Wind and Water...symbols of life and nature,

first elements you shared together...

Play...first activity you did with him...

A fruit that is shaped like a heart,

and its legend even tells it was the heart of the maiden...

How I wish someone took a photo of us that time

So I could just stare at it from time to time

On way home, I have to stare at the sky

and smile upwards

so you won't see how you really made me lightheaded

I wanted to jump in excitement

of things that will be coming...

I want to savor each moment I have with you...

But I have no right,

Just a little bit of courage

Which leaves me tongue tied

when you are near...

I wish I could just go to where you are,

bring you a meal I would lovingly prepare,

Make coffee for you...

How I wish I could show my face

after the things that I will reveal this week

I wish these revelations would make you happy...

I wish to lie with you underneath a starry clear sky,

with cool winds blowing,

holding your hand

and we, talking of our lives,

I wish that day would come

when finally, I could hear your stories,

your dreams and hopes...

I wish to know who have caused you pain

and hug you till all those things pass away,

I wish I will not lost you

even when I tell you that I love you...

I wish I won't be hurt that much

When all these wishes fall apart...