Up and down moments for family since Cory hospitalized

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III admitted yesterday that members of his family were having “up and down moments” since his mother, former President Corazon Aquino, was hospitalized anew due to colon cancer.

“That is the complete answer. It’s up and down. It depends on one’s perspective, either you see something as half-full or half-empty,” Aquino told The STAR in a telephone interview.

Aquino said this was how he would describe the situation because there were times his mother would be okay, and then later she would not be.

“That is why sometimes you get different answers, it is actually time based. Sometimes when I am the one in hospital she’s okay, but when it’s my sister who is there, she’s not,” the senator said.

“And the truth is she cannot really eat yet. She would have fruits sparingly but she could not even finish a banana. One time she had peaches. We would also give her ice cream, jello, but most of the time she has to be fed intravenously,” Aquino said.

During good times, he said his mother could watch television, and the last she saw was a basketball game “between Ateneo (de Manila University) and FEU (Far Eastern University), I think.” 

Mrs. Aquino also watched her youngest daughter Kris one time but was not sure whether it was Showbiz News Ngayon or The Buzz, two showbiz-oriented shows she is hosting, the senator said.

Aquino said when his mother was reported to be in critical condition, this was the time when the series of tests done on her yielded negative results.

“Those particular things were not really very clear to us,” the senator said.  But the results changed when her physicians repeated the tests, he added.

“I was blissfully unaware of the first results and only my sisters knew about them. Luckily they were already different when I found out,” Aquino said.

The senator disclosed he was with his mother in the hospital last Sunday until Monday because it was his turn to take care of her overnight.

His next schedule will be tomorrow since he and his sisters take turns taking care of her in two shifts.

Aquino said his mother was being administered pain killers because of her condition, “there are times that she is strong, she can move and turn on her own in bed but there are times she has to be carried or be assisted from the bed to the comfort room or even when she just needs to turn on her side,” Aquino said.

He also said there were things they need to discuss with her, such as the continuation of her chemotherapy and other treatment, or whether it would be okay if they take her home and continue treatment there.

But Aquino said they were still waiting for the right time because he was not sure whether his mother could absorb everything when under painkillers.

“She is the boss and so we have to consult her on everything first. Her chemotherapy is also psychologically and physically draining, so we have to ask her when she wants to do it,” Aquino said.

Aquino further said they have been receiving a lot of suggestions on how his mother should get treatment and the unsolicited pieces of advice given verbally, through texts and emails range from the alternative to the questionable.