Patricia Javier and her newborn, Robert Douglas Walcher IV, are back in their San Diego home after they both almost died during an early morning labor at a birthing center.
"Actually, it’s only now that I realize my son could have died," said Patricia. "I felt my body shaking when I realized what had happened. My husband and I are thankful that the nurses and midwives at the birthing center were very professional. They called 911 right away and did not waste a single moment."
Patricia recalled that her painful six-hour labor began past 10 p.m. of Jan. 30. It was already around 4:30 a.m. the next day when the baby came out gasping and then stopped breathing because the umbilical cord was entangled around its neck.
"I saw my son turning black, then they put him on a table and started giving him CPR. I was scared and confused. Then the midwife and the nurse instructed me to force out the placenta. Eh, ayaw lumabas. The next thing I knew, I was bleeding profusely. I saw my bed full of blood."
At the time, the 911 ambulance arrived and Patricia and son were rushed to a nearby hospital (Mercy Scripps Hospital).
"My husband was crying and I was just looking at him because it all felt like a dream; parang hindi totoo ‘yung nangyayari," Patricia recalled. "My mom (Jenette Canlapan) was saying, ‘Kaya mo ‘yan anak, lakasan mo ang loob mo.’"
Patricia and son were brought to the ICU where the boy was revived successfully, while Patricia received five units of blood.
"My husband kept telling me that he loved me. He said that he loves me now more than ever. I’m thankful that my mom was beside me. She and my husband gave me strength," adding that her mother-in-law, Andrea Perry Walcher, also flew in from Reno, Nevada to give support. "I’m praying that my baby wouldn’t suffer any side effects."
Patricia said what happened must be God’s way of reminding her that everything she has now can vanish in a blink of an eye.
"I told God I will be a good role model to my son and I will instill in him Filipino values," she said. "Now I know how a mother feels and I really appreciate the sacrifices of my mother. I told God I will treasure everything I have. If possible, I want to make a difference in this world. I feel that life is beautiful especially if you know that many people love you. I was looking at my son and I thought, ‘Wow, mother na ako.’ I feel that I am a complete woman now."
Patricia said that her husband promised to bring her to Cancun in March to celebrate life.
"Sweet ‘no?" she said.
Goodbye, LVN Lab!
The last print processed in the historic LVN laboratories was previewed recently in the old screening room in Cubao, Quezon City, and immediately after that all the equipment was dismantled and transferred to the new Opticolors laboratory near The Fort in Taguig.
It will be remembered that LVN Laboratories, the premier print and processing film lab in the Philippines, was sold over a year ago to producers Tony Gloria and Butch Jimenez who are also partners in the top post production company in the Philippines, Optima Digital.
However, the two opted to keep the facilities in the LVN studios compound while they built the new headquarters in Taguig. But last week, the lab, which was the last remaining building in the legendary film compound, was closed to move to its new home.
"It’s heartwarming to note that the last movie processed, printed and previewed inside the LVN compound was Paraiso, the Gawad Kalinga (GK) movie," says Butch, one of the producers of the trilogy. "It’s a movie that will spread the cause of GK and help build a better future for the underprivileged."
LVN laboratories will always remain close to the hearts of Filipino filmmakers since it was the home to many classics, and the laboratory that processed and printed almost every Filipino movie ever made.
"You can never erase the legacy built by LVN," says Butch. "And it is our intention to keep the legacy alive and pursue LVN’s dream of raising a lab comparable to the best in the region or even the world."
The new lab, Opticolors, will be launched in a few weeks. The specifications for the lab meet international standards and after getting image care certified by Kodak International for processing, the next goal is to get certified for printing as well.
"Opticolors will go after the regional market," explains Butch. "We have the facilities. But more importantly, we have the people, a great team that can match the best in Asia."
• Today and on Saturday, Feb. 17, 1 to 5 p.m., at the Coming Home Retreat and Meditation Center, Binakayan, Cavite;
• Feb. 19, Monday, 1 to 6 p.m., at Our Lady of the Redeemer Parish, San Manuel, Tarlac;
• Feb. 20, Tuesday, 1 to 6 p.m., at St. Raymond Nonatus Parish, Moncada, Tarlac;
• Feb. 23, Friday, 1 to 6 p.m., at De La Salle University, Dasmariñas, Cavite;
• Feb. 24, Saturday, 1 to 6 p.m., at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, 13th St., Cubao, Quezon City;
• Feb. 27, Tuesday, 1 to 6 p.m., at the Holy Family Parish, Santa Barbara, Pangasinan;
• Feb. 28, Wednesday, 1 to 6 p.m., at the St. Ildephonse Parish, Malasiqui, Pangasinan;
• March 1, Thursday, 1 to 6 p.m., at St. Joseph’s Parish, Mapandan, Pangasinan; and
• March 2, Friday, 1 to 6 p.m., at St. Dominic’s Parish, San Carlos City, Pangasinan.
(Note: For further information, call Somil at 046-434-8759 or 046-878-0069, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.)
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph)