A fishbone was stuck deep in my throat two weeks
ago and believe me when the wound is infected, it’s so excruciatingly painful.
After accidentally swallowed a bone of a fish locally called bugaong, I paid no attention to it
believing that it was already dislodged by mouthful of bananas and marshmallows
I swallowed hours after without chewing. I presume, like in the past, the wound
would naturally take care of itself without me even trying.
But after three days my condition worsened. I
cannot tolerate the pain anymore and there’s already a tint of blood in my
spittle so I have to cut short the Gender Sensitivity Training I am attending
that time at the Grand Creek Resort in Sta. Cruz and rushed to San Jose to see
my EENT.
Dr. Alexander M. Rivera, MD examined my throat,
assured me that the fishbone already been dislodged but left an infected
internal wound surrounded with abscess. He prescribed me heavy dosage of
antibiotics to be taken for 7 days. On the sixth day, my medical condition worsens,
so I went back to his clinic. He changed his previously prescribed medicine, added
a pain reliever and an oral antiseptic for my extended medical treatment.
I was writhing with pain and discomfort one Friday
night and my youngest child related to me about the homily shared by a visiting
priest during a Eucharistic celebration at school. Sophia is a Grade 7 student
of Divine Word College of San Jose. The mass was held February 3 (I swallowed
the fishbone February 17), Feast Day of St. Blaise, once bishop of Sebaste in
Armenia.
St. Blaise’s biography revealed that science and faith are not on opposite poles. He was a physician before consecrated bishop.
By the 6th century, St. Blaise’s intercession was invoked for
diseases of the throat. He was a physician who treated by means of medical
science but equally performing miraculous cures. While being imprisoned and
tortured for his Christian faith, he phenomenally cured a little boy choking to
death on a fishbone lodged in the kid’s throat.
My youngest daughter reminded me of Blaise and led
me to start a prayer of intercession that very moment. Even I am away for work,
she assured me that she will continue the novena before she goes to sleep. After
three days or so, with the invincible combination of medication and meditation,
I am back to my old self again!
While we Catholics invoke Blaise for his
protection against any physical ailment of the throat, we are reminded too that
we should refrain from spreading the throat’s “spiritual sins” such as cursing,
profanity, unkind remarks, detraction and gossip. While I cannot guarantee you me
refraining from naughty remarks, take my word that the words coming from my
mouth will always speak with comprehension and not intransigence, respect and
not disparagement.
I am a believer so I trust that intercessory
prayer can contribute to physical healing. But friends, I am in no way advising
to say the same prayer to St. Blaise to those who do not believe that he is truly
an intermediary to God. More so, I would not suggest to a wounded or ailing
atheist to pray. Such a gesture or proposition is a further insult to his
injury, much more his conviction!
I believe that the science of a present-day medical doctor and the act of faith in the memory of a martyr from
the very distant past healed me.
This I believe deep to the bones…
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(Photo: www.baqgo.com)
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