We often receive a lot of gifts. Gifts to cheer us up on a rainy day, make us happy when everything seems wrong, or simply just to make us smile. But the greatest of all gifts, is the gift of life.
And this is where our story begins. Raphael Inigo M. Zarraga is God's gift to Minnie Quennie Martos-Zarraga (27 years old) and Mellord Ivan O. Zarraga (25 years old), a young newly wed couple together with their eldest daughter, Angelica Yvonne (6 years old). And at exactly 2:17 p.m. on July 15, 2010 at Sta. Rosa Hospital and Medical Center in Sta. Rosa, Laguna our bouncing healthy baby boy was born.
Everyone was excited with the newest addition to our small family. Our room was filled with mixed emotions of joy, anticipation, and of love. After initial well-baby check up, his pediatrician said that he had a mild infection probably UTI, but it was within normal levels so we had nothing to be worried about. We were instructed to give him antibiotics for the next seven days. After two days in the hospital, we were finally on our way home.
On our first night home with our precious angel, we were lost with words on how to express the joy we felt. I for a fact literally was not able to sleep. I just watched over my family as they were all on their way to dream land. But around 5 or 10 minutes pass 12:00 a.m., Raphael Inigo suddenly cried and I was startled not knowing why. I carried him and tried to sing lullaby's, I made him milk, checked his diapers and amidst all he still did not stop crying. I started to panic so I had no choice but to wake up my wife and my mother-in-law for assistance. As I hurried back to him, he suddenly froze with knees and feet all straight up. With fear, we decided to rush to the nearest hospital. Upon reaching the hospital, he suddenly was back to sleep as if nothing happened. The doctors said he might have been cold since it was rainy that night. But to be sure, we had to go check up with our pediatrician as soon as possible. So we went home, I carried him back to his crib and again watched over him all through out his sleep. Morning came, and the first thing we did after breakfast was to bring him to the nearest pediatrician. As he was checked up, the doctor said he was all normal. But, for further evaluation she recommended that he should stay in the hospital for the duration of his antibiotic.
On the same day, we decided to have him re-admitted under the care of Dr. Nancy Romanes-Almojuela (General Pediatrician). He was put in the Septic NICU of New Sinai MDI Hospital for intensive care where we were only able to see him through a glass window in the door. The initial tests were done, and they found out his infection was quite severe and had to be treated extensively, under the care of Dr. Marian Colasito (Pedia-Neonatologist). He stayed in the hospital all alone for the next few weeks. Sometimes I would sneak out in the middle of the night to visit him in the hospital to pray for his fast recovery, I longed to hug him and kiss him. Days passed by, and after almost 3 weeks, we were once again off to our way home. We were again all excited and happy that finally all is well with our little angel. The following days were all filled with smiles.
Raphael Inigo was welcomed to the Christian World on August 15, 2010 at San Antonio de Padua Parish Church in Binan, Laguna. It was a solemn gathering of our closest family and friends. After that, we did not expect what was about to happen in the coming days.
I am very familiar with your battle with Raphael. My daughter, Lindsey, was born 30 years ago in USA and she was very ill at birth and had to have Kasai done at 9 weeks. When they did operation they found another liver disease in her body as well as BA. This other disease is Congenital Hepatic Fibrosis. we were devastated as well and since it was congenital which means it was in our genes, if we had another baby it would be sick as well. Then a few months after the surgeries, all the fevers started again with no relief. The doctors found that a piece of drain was left in Lindsey from her original Kasai and so they tried to operate and get it out but it didn't work. They couldn't get to the drain, so the doctors agreed to leave it in her body and her body would naturally wall it off with scar tissue. She was on a very strong IV antibiotic for six months to fight the infection that wouldn't stop. It finally did stop. Lindsey is 30 years old now. She never needed a transplant, but gets sick with lots of pain in her liver even from normal cold. I am very proud of her fight. It is a fight I never will forget and always know how important prayers are in our lives. Lindsey continues to be my miracle. I hope Raphael is still fighting with lots of love and support from his loving family.
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