10/01/2026
This all started on January 19, 2022, when my sister was admitted to Rashid Hospital, Dubai because her hemoglobin level went down. The doctors said it was caused by stress-related anemia. She had a left thumb fracture, lack of sleep, extreme fatigue, and possible nutritional deficiencies. Because of this, the doctor ordered a blood transfusion. After just one day of rest, she was discharged and went back to work agad. After almost 6 years on night shift, she was finally transferred to morning shift. I remember visiting my sister, Ate Melissa, and seeing her working with her entire left hand bandaged because of the fracture. Right hand lang ang ginagamit niya. She was helping in the kitchen and bar, working 10-hour shifts, sometimes even overtime.
From manager to cashier, napunta pa siya sa kitchen dahil sa malasakit at dedication niya sa trabaho. Ganito kasi kami pinalaki masipag, banat sa trabaho, hindi na inuutos kung kaya naman gawin.
Sabi ko sa kanya:
“Ate, tama na. Hindi na tama ang ginagawa ng employer mo.”
Pero sagot lang niya lagi:
“Kaysa humiga lang ako, papasok na lang ako. Sayang ang araw.”
Until siya na mismo ang nagsabi na tama na. After almost 8 years with the company, she resigned in April 2024. Her boss allowed her to rest while her visa continued. In October, she cancelled her visa, applied for a new one before it expired, and left the country to Egypt to have her left thumb fracture checked.She came back to the UAE with good news the doctor prescribed a special cream that really helped heal the swollen bone in her left thumb.
But after coming back, she decided to leave again to Egypt for the second time (which I didn’t know). Pagbalik niya, she said she would look for work. She found one quickly and was even sent out of the country for work. When she returned on January 3, wala nang pahinga. Then on January 10, she experienced her first seizure. Her manager immediately called an ambulance, and she was rushed to NMC Hospital.
At first, the diagnosis was heat stroke, after she vomited and experienced severe head pain, which she thought was just migraine. They did an MRI, and the doctor initially said everything looked fine false alarm daw.
But later, we found out the truth.
She had a bulge (aneurysm) in one of her arteries, which had grown silently. That was the real cause of everything.
That’s why I’m sharing this story.
⚠️ PLEASE, PLEASE BE AWARE ⚠️
If you are experiencing continuous headaches, do NOT ignore it. Especially if you are working graveyard shifts, kulang sa tulog, maraming iniisip, stressed, and exhausted.
Huwag basta sabihin na “migraine lang” at uminom lang ng gamot. Magpa-check up agad. And make sure a NEUROLOGIST is the one who reviews your MRI results.
Let my sister’s experience be a lesson for all of us.This illness is a silent traitor. Hindi mo namamalayan na tumataas na ang blood pressure, sumasakit na ang ulo mo, until it’s too late.
My sister survived only 30% out of 100% chance. We are extremely lucky that she is here in Dubai, where medical facilities are advanced, high-tech, and neurologists are available 24/7.
But let’s be honest
Sa Pilipinas, madalas mayaman lang o may kaya ang may access sa malalaking hospitals at professional neurologists.
Lastly, I want to say thank you to Erika Duran, who gave me tips and reminded me how important it is to talk to my sister while she was in a COMA state. Malaking tulong po iyon. Maraming salamat 🙏
Please share this for awareness.
Your health is more important than any job.
Listen to your body. ❤️
