First time back to RP!

 In 1998 a friend offered to buy our round trip tickets for the Philippines if we would go with him to meet my best friend. It has been 3 years since I left my entire family in the Philippines and have not able to go back for a visit. We could not pass the opportunity. We said yes. We would be happy to show him around the Islands for him to meet my friend.
January 1998 we landed Manila. My first time back home and see my family. The hubby our first born who was 14 months old and I showed up at my parents home. It was a bit of a surprise for them. We told my parents what  the trip was all about and that were not staying long because we have commitments for our friend to travel with them. But it was the best opportunity for me to come back home visit and have them meet the the first grandson. They were delighted and very happy to see us.

A meeting place was discuss after we had the chance to visit my parents. Camiguin Island was where we should meet. It is north of the Island Mindanao. We stayed in a beautiful cottage to wait until we hear from them. But their planned was changed. So we stayed by ourselves. February 14, Valentines day of 98,the hubby got up early morning gave me a kiss and greet me Happy Valentine. And that was the beginning of an awful experience. He felt sick and fever of high temperature made him flat in bed. We went to local hospital, I did not have any clue what was happening. Doctor said that he has all the symptoms of dengue. And that he needs to drink as much fluid as he can and if it get worst he might need transfusion!
 The hubby was ditermened not to get that far, but it was bad. At one point he past out. I did dnot know about it. With a 14 month old who was into everything and going everywhere I was not with the hubby when it happened and just found him face down on the floor red faced with a fever I tried to woke him up. And he told me what to do. He never mention that he could die from it. We rented this beautiful cottage to ourselves right by the ocean and that was where my son wanted to go all the time. The owner of  the place which was called Morning Glory retreat/cottages, was very nice old man who was very helpful. He kept the boiling water going for us at all time. Thermos every day and night for hubby to drink. A hundred and eight fever registered on the temperature. He was burning! There were times he could not even hold himself to set up! It was bad. Then he decided for us to go to a different Island where there are more tourist and that the food was better for him to nurse back! So we headed out from this tiny sleepy Island to another Island which is not at all sleepy, called Boracay! With better food he was gaining his strength and beginning to look better also. Two weeks of all intense fever body shakes and with just water in his system he looked bad.
Six weeks we stayed in the Philippines and the most challenging time. A fifty fifty chance for he had the 3rd stage of Dengue. And I did not even know what Dengue was. I was glad that I did not know of it then for I would have panicked beyond comprehension! He lost a lot of his hair from high fever and took years to grow back. This one experience he can ad to his close call life experiences category. Like rabies, but years before he had the Dengue. I am glad he is soo tough!