EPILOGUE

“Good evening, Hon. Gising na po,” malambing na pambabangon ni Dana Carantes sa asawa.

            Bumalikwas ito at siya ay dahan-dahang hinatak pahiga saka niyakap. “Anong food?”

            “‘Yong paborito mo syempre.”

            “How’s our baby?”

            Napahawak siya sa may kalakihan niyang tiyan. Ipinatong din ni Ra ang kamay roon at hinaplus-haplos. Parang bata ito na kinakausap ang hindi pa isinisilang.

            Sa ultrasound ay lalaki ang magiging panganay nila. Nakapagpasya na rin siya sa ipapangalan sa sanggol. Bilang alaala, isusunod sa pangalan ng ama ang pangalan nito—The Sun God, ‘Ra’.

            Bumaba na sila sa komedor ng sarili nilang bahay sa Baguio sa isang subdivision. Nakarating na sina Alicia at Rio na inimbita niya upang makisalo sa kanila.

            Ang dalawang ito ay dati palang magkasintahan ngunit pinili ni Alicia na unahin ang pangarap na maging mahusay na biyulinista. Ang masama nga lang niyon ay iniwan niya si Rio na walang sinasabi.

            Ganoon pa man, masaya uli ang dalawa na nagkabalikan pagkatapos ng limang taon. Kung hindi lang daw sana naunang nag-alok si Ra ay nauna ang mga ito sa pagpapakasal.

Xeroderma Pigmentosum

                The illness of Ra Carantes, called Xeroderma Pigmentosum or XP is not a fictional disorder. It is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder of DNA repair in which the ability to repair damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) light is deficient. As prognosis, less than forty percent (40%) of patients survive beyond twenty years of age. Individuals with milder disease may survive beyond middle age. It has an estimated worldwide frequency of 1 out of 250,000 population.

                Patients with xeroderma pigmentosum must take extreme measures to completely avoid exposure to the sun. Exposure to tobacco and certain drugs should be also avoided. As preventive measures, wear long sleeved clothings, put protective window coverings, thoroughly apply sunblock even during the night, use of hats or even avoidance to certain light bulbs.

                Aside from frequent visitations to a Dermatologist, a time to time visit to a Neurologist and an Ophthalmologist is also very important. Most people with xeroderma pigmentosum also exhibit ocular symptoms. Their eyes easily become irritated, red, and swollen. Sunglasses are therefore adviced.

                For emergency situations where a patient of XP needs to be taken to the hospital or would need to go somewhere very important during the day, a specialized anti-UV suit should be worn. However, it is not adviced that the patient would go out anytime and prolong stay under the sun during the day even with the apparel.

                For a more detailed explanation about xeroderma pigmentosum, refer to medical books or search trusted and reliable sites on the internet.