Jim Ayson’s wife details PH Internet pioneer’s passing

THE wife of Philippine Internet pioneer James Romulo “Jim” Ayson took to social media to share the final moments of her husband, who passed away on Monday at the age of 53 due to heart attack.

In a Facebook post titled “The day he went away,” Chette Soriano Ayson said she and Jim were working side by side on their laptops when the latter suddenly collapsed.

“I dragged him to the elevator where I was met by our building’s security who helped me put him inside the cab,” she said.

READ: PH Internet pioneer Jim Ayson, 53 | Tech pioneer Jim Ayson remembered as ‘vocal, persistent communicator’

Chette said the doctor at the hospital where she rushed Ayson found fluid in his lungs. The doctor tried to remove the fluid, but Ayson’s heart stopped beating while undergoing CT scan.

“Doctor said fluid usually means heart attack. She looked doubtful. I asked why. She said she discovered Jim recently had a 2D echo and everything looked good. His other tests, cholesterol etc. were also good,” Chette said. “Doctor asked if he complained about anything that day. I said no. It was a good day. We went to work, and went out on a date.”

However, Chette said her husband particularly complained of his new medication for atrial fibrillation.

“But he had a medical incident last May and the doctors didn’t want to take chances. From zero medicines (diet was his “medicine” for the longest time), he suddenly needed to take almost 7 pills a day,” Chette said.

She went on by saying that Ayson became inconsistent in his medicine intake and told her of breathing and blood-pumping irregularities.

“Sometimes he would stop taking his meds so he’ll feel better. Then he will get guilty and take them again. He would feel ‘something’ — like he couldn’t breathe, and that his heart was being artificially made to pump slower. That’s the best way he was able to explain it when I bugged him,” Chette said.

“Ergo, for the past few weeks, we were regular visitors to the ER and his other doctors. But they would just make him undergo more tests and end up prescribing similar medications,” she added.

Ayson, head of Smart Communications’ Internet and Media Partnerships, was once named as one of the Internet’s 10 most influential Filipinos by The Web Philippines. He also created PhilMusic.com, the country’s longest-running music website.

Ayson had also been actively blogging at “The Ayson Chronicles” (jimayson.wordpress.com), where he posted his accounts of how the Philippines first connected to the Internet in March 1994.

His wake will be held at the Heritage in Taguig from Nov. 11, 3 p.m., to Nov. 13.

Ayson is survived by his wife Chette and daughter Gabby.

“I wish I could’ve done more. A lot more. I have failed him,” Chette said.