Compassion rules doctors, these miracle bearers who seem to value others’ lives more than their own. If one wishes to prove that doctors make particularly great fathers, then one may want to start with Dr. Henry Lu, a neurologist who also subspecializes in pain management at the Makati Medical Center. Dr. Lu, who is also the president of the Pain Society of the Philippines, is the husband of Dr. Josephine Lu and father to three charming boys: Justin, 10, who is exactly a year older than the nine-year-old twins Julian and Judd. (Yes, the three boys share the same birthday.)
He lovingly describes the beautiful blessings of his life. "Justin, the eldest, is more sensitive. Julian is a little more adventurous. The other one, Judd, he’s the funny guy."
Dr. Lu operates on an erratic schedule, but he sees to it that it does not get in the way of his role as a father. "It’s hard but I always make sure I have time for my kids. They’re growing up so I always make sure we have quality time together," he quips. Just recently, they trekked Mount Pinatubo using a 4x4 and went scuba diving. "We also play computer games," the older twin, Julian, excitedly supplies. "But we make sure it’s only on a weekend. After Sunday morning, no TV, no computer games. Because the first time I played, I did it up to 3 a.m.! I know its effect on them because I know its effect on me," the doting father explains.
Ten years ago, during the birth of his first son, Dr. Lu almost buckled under the pressure and the anxiety of parenting. "I felt I was not ready for this. You don’t know what the future would be. But as you go along, you actually learn. It’s a learning process. Of course you make mistakes but as long as you correct them, you’ll be okay. I think it’s a matter of balancing – if you discipline and at the same time spoil the kids a little bit," he grins, his boyish charm and pleasant face deconstructing an image of somberness usually attached to people like him who aid seriously-ill patients and making him look as if he were just an older brother to the playful boys.
"As a father, I’m the modern type. My kids treat me like a friend, although my wife is the disciplinarian so it balances pa rin," he says. Dr. Lu, who is now gearing for an international convention on pain management this November, shares his favorite moment with his children. "Sometimes I sleep with them. They share one big bed and they want to be cuddled. I treasure that because I know in a few years, they’re going to hate me for that," he laughs. Does he already imagine Justin, Julian and Judd as teenagers? "That’s really scary," he admits. "I’m just gonna go at it one day at a time. You know what I learned? You can never predict the future. So you have to learn to live the moment."
As Dr. Lu feasts on the present with his children, clowning around with them, ruffling their hair and wrapping them in big bear hugs, he establishes himself, not only as a health warrior, but more importantly, as a hero to his children – on-call, 24/7. – Samantha Echavez