A story of 4 mothers - Third Mother

Biliary atresia,

in simple words, it means the bloackage of bile duct, congenital type.

Undergoing HIDA scan a few weeks after born,

the child was sent to operate under Kasai surgery.

This times was his second admission after discharged about one week ago.

Came in with the same problem, ascites (with distended stomach).

Mother looked pale.

The child did not sleep well these few nights.

Innocent yellowish eyeballs of the child showed a severe jaundice,indeed.

We optimised every treatment.

An afternoon while doctors and me are having grand round,

mother cried.

Pathetic. Hopeless.

Specialist explained to mother the condition.

The child had to stay strong in order to survive. It solely depends on his condition.

Mother asked whether should she try traditional medicines.

We all gripped in silence.

For sure, we did not encourage.

Yet, sometimes, it may give placebo effect.

Another way to comfort the mother.

After discussing with other specialists,

a stronger antibiotic was given for one and a half months.

Concurrently, the other medications were continued.

Thanks god,

we saw good result.

The stomach get smaller with normal looking eyeballs.

Eventually the regimen was finished and the child was discharged two weeks ago.

I remembered his big big eyes, exactly like the cat in Puss in Boots.

I witnessed his growth, from lying to sitting without support.

I guided him to learn walking.

Mother made her hard decision to move over here just in case his condition worsens at anytime

where he needs the same regimen again.

I felt empathy when I listened to doctors' discussion that

the recurrence is unavoidable,

he just needs the antibiotic whenever until.......

What the child suffered was much more than what we could actually help.

Sometimes,

as a medical professional,

we are not only focusing on the treatment

but also their development and growth.

We might be able to take care of the child as his or her mother,

but we assists.

To help whenever necessary.

What hope that

the child would never admit to ward again

though I believe there is high tendency.

but we pray.

HB to the child of Second Mother

The story never end.

Just one day after her discharge,

she was readmitted again due to fit.

Unexpected episode.

Yet, mother never panic.

And I knew the next day was her birthday. (the mother kept on reminding me before...haha)

Anyway, I planned to celebrate with her.

It was Friday and we had a long time for lunch.

A good time to search for her birthday cake.

Finally, we got it.

Princess birthday cake!

My two colleagues and me gathered after 5pm.

Bringing the cake and walking towards her room.

We managed to give her a surprise.

She indeed happy.

The moment continued with the singing of birthday song and photo taking session.

The sad side was we could not light up candles for her.

You know that she was on oxygen concentrator.

A room full of O2.

And it was late after the celebration.

we rushed back home for dinner, especially me, thinking what to cook for dinner. hehe...

We brought happiness

We cherished her moments.

A story of 4 mothers - Second Mother

Another noble story...

Frequented to hospital since 2008.

A mother gave up her work and started to concentrate on taking care of this little cute girl.

A girl with an extraordinary disease named: Rapid Obesity with hypothalamic dysfunction, hypoventilation and autonomic dysregulation,

in short, ROHHAD syndrome

I bet you never heard of this as I think she is the only one in this country diagnosed with such disease.

Just a few being diagnosed worldwide and she is one of the unlucky guy.

Sadly,

she cannot breathe as normal people.

She depends on oxygen supply from oxygen concentrator, a bulk machine that her mother has to carry to anywhere she goes, school, hospital, home, just to name a few.

With her permanent tracheotomy for breathing purpose, she frequented to hospital due to minor infection. But it is serious to cause her ill as nobody.

You could not believe that mother was moved to KL

and stayed inside hospital KL for 2years when her child was sent to KL for very first diagnosing and treatment.

A hard time for mother for these past 2 years.

Giving up job and fully taking care of her child.

Mother told me, ' I'm bored to being isolated inside the room. I could not go anywhere.'

but yet I could see form her eyes that she was not blaming for anything.

In a morning after ward round finished, I went to her room checking her medications.

And we started conversation.

Mother shared her stories with me.

Mother spent a lot of money and time, buying the feeding machine and learning everything she needed,

Suction-helping to reduce the phlegm and food particles which may block airway

Feeding-mixing milk, blending juice and putting them into the feeding bag before operating it

Giving medications-administering the right drug and dose, especially during crisis

Operating oxygen concentrator-learning by herself in which doctors do not even know how to switch it on...haha

just to name a few.

Basically, mother learned to be a nurse,

a pharmacist,

a physiotherapist,

a doctor, perhaps

a multitasking mother! Thumbs up!

Mother knows medications well.

She knows her child developed allergy to a few medications.

She knows what to give at the right time.

During the conversation,

I noticed that mother suddenly slapped gently at the child's cheek when the child was lazy to give response to mother.

I was surprised at first.

and I knew how stress the mother was.

She was not intended to hurt the child,

soon she hugged the child tight, saying: Sayang ('Oh Dear' in Malay)

with tears

Without her notice, I leave the room.

Sometimes,

we could not understand their feeling

we might feel empathy

but this is true love between mother and child

Cherish your every moment with your dearest mother.

A story of 4 mothers - First Mother

Life isn't simple

isn't as simple as we encountered

this is perhaps the common thought among us

but what these 4 mothers encountered are really not simple

I hope we learn to appreciate what we have and never demand for more

Mother love, I believe, is the greatest love everyone ever feel.

The story of First Mother:

I believe so far she broke the record for the longest stay in the paediatric ward.

A mother with a 1year-old child diagnosed as tuberculosis since 6 months ago, coming from an isolated place in Sarawak.

It isn't surprised to have patient coming to stay for such a long time as we know that only rivers connect those isolated place hidden inside Sarawak.

And most of them could not present to pharmacy counter to collect medications which expire every fortnight.

For the sake of patient health, specialist would choose to retain patient until the whole regimen is completed. You should know that TB would have high chance of recurrence if patient misses out the medications.

She is a mother to 6-7 children and this child is the youngest, perhaps causing the most headache to her.

Yet I believe, she never blame or complain.

Perhaps she might felt lucky for free stay and food in hospital.

Taking care of patient daily needs would be her everyday work.

And sometimes, the other children would come over to pay a visit to their mother, even though they pretended sick and skipped the school.

The story is getting more interesting when another mother joined in her isolated room.

Another mother with TB children, knowing each other in the hospital and befriended since admission.

This mother would pay occasional visit to her, bringing her some food and accompanying her killing time.

So far, the child looks well with good compliance to medications though he may encountered fast breathing and airway exacerbation aka asthma attack.

Not to forget that the child faces global development delay. Not yet able to sit without support even more than 1 years old.

Pray hard for the child for rapid recovery and always in the pink of health.

HB

Another half an hour

I would call it an end to my 24th anniversary of my life

16.12.2011

Jolted from slumber by a super early 'morning' call at about 12am

the earliest ever phone wish I received

Thanks, Hoo SM for surprising me!

16.12.2011

A usual working day for me

until I found it interesting when

I received a slice of cake from a group of PRPs

with wishing card

and

I was surprised by my two colleagues,

one distracted my attention from

another one that was trying hard to light up candles on birthday cake.

But they in vain.

Anyway, I appreciated a lot for their efforts, making a big surprise for me!

Thanks, Cindy, Corinne! Not to forget dude that shared the cake, Alex and Siew Ping!

16.12.2011

Another call here

right before I finished my movie in cinema

from my secondary school mates

Lee CH, Yong KL, Ong MY, Mah YS, Wong TS, Cheah KH, Cheng SK

(Hope I didn't miss out anyone of you!! Sorry if I did)

unfortunately, my phone battery died

Finding so hard to get phone lending my friend around

Receiving wishes one by one from them

It reminded me the same memory a few years ago

where the almost same group of them called to me

just like today

16.12.2011

I was waiting

waiting for phone call from mum and brother

I felt frustrated after finishing my movie

I phoned mum purposely

yet, she didn't know it was my birthday.

I hinted her only then she realised

Brother called a while after I ended call to mum

'I wished in FB and SMS already.'

Anyhow, I appreciated his call in the end as

he gonna work for night shift and had to rest in daytime

16.12.11

It was over.

Finished my reply for wishes in FB.

Another brand new day is awaiting me.

For the moment

I still remembered how reluctant I was when obtained posting in Sarawak

and it was last year.

People

play

eat

drink

and

grow up together with his or her companions

This is how people develop relationship (of intimate one for friendship) among each other

And there is such a feeling that

makes me to give up my appeal going back West

It appears to me that I started to accept the reality of staying back here

I miss my friends here

I miss every corner of this hospital

I miss anything and everyone here.

Yeah, for the moment, it seems so true for me that

it is a good opportunity

to spend the time before I am leaving for postgrads

at here

Perhaps,

I am not ready to leave my group of friends and neighbour here

for the moment.

Life=Work

Getting slowly that

my work has integrated into part of my routine life

Working more than the usual

even on public holidays and weekends

I seemed not really care about my personal time

rather,

I put most of my time on work

helping the others when necessary

It is a good thing

which I do not find it annoyed

but I feel willing to do so

as I believe I have the obligation & responsibility

to play a greater role

Our profession

yet not recognise as profession in public

And it is high time to wake us up

to stand for our profession

Let's not to be too calculative on any extra work

you may not get to see the results after your intervention

Yet, patient himself will really appreciate a lot in his own heart

and you may not know this

Let's cheer every moment you sharing with patients

and to let them know, We are ready to help them

I found somehow I am in this stage now

a workaholic - not the typical type

but really appreciate our profession

and contribute your love for the sake of patients

So far

What is wrong with me recently?

I can feel the groggy self-conflict

I should avoid it

Yet, why am I so concerned on this matter?

I asked myself again and again

I think my biggest problem would be

the fact that I can't face the reality

and I always count the chickens before they hatch

Shall I sit still and wait the haze to go off by itself?

Or I should take initiative to disclose the secret behind the curtain of haze

Again,

I lost my way

I always need guidance

yet I don't like to others to intrude into my private insight

So far

am I so good?

Of Angry Bird

I think I am slowly developing or transforming myself to

ANGRY bird

not this usual type

but of fierce one like this

Cute :) though

I just can't control well myself

when I am getting angry

I will release it out stat.

though I know I should not do that.

I feel sorry to those people

if I yelled, shouted, or by any means which may make you annoyed

I should think of a way to take well control of my temper

Wanna get rid of turning myself into the so-called angry bird

I would behave myself better,

I promised.

My days ahead

Ultimately, it comes.

going to start my clinical attachment soon

which has been long being tagged as the most busiest station in PRP life

And IELTS, too, is awaiting me in August.

gonna get my english polish within these few months

The story doesn't end here.

BTN course (Biro Tatanegara), a must for those local going for postgraduates

in foreign country and taking government scheme

Anyway, gonna get my application stuff being done asap.

Long path to go!

My first Apple

Soon I gonna have my very own Ipad

Rather

I would call it *Ipet*

Anticipating

and ready to bring my first Apple product

into my life.

Call

It was a deep silent night

my phone rang

and realised it gonna be a big deal!

Without hesitation,

I picked it up

It was hospital operator!

What came across my mind is PCM toxicity

Yet, the doctor started to say:

'Hello, may I know who is on the line?'

'Pharmacist Goh here'

'We have one patient here need to do TDM. Patient took 25 tablets of PCM'

While our conversation had not finish yet

my worries came in

'Am I going be alone walking down to hospital?'

Oh NO!!

I started to tidy myself

and hesitating to call for accompany

Yet, I ended up by going alone

It was scary

anyway, it was a great experience for me!

I didn't even wonder I would have such a big courage..

Kuey teow and Mee

It was a really annoying yet funny situation I encountered this evening

while I was ordering for my dinner in a hawker center in Sibu

Looking at the menu hanging on the wall of the stall,

the conversation began with:

来老板，你要吃什么？ 'What you want to order?'

炒粿条面 'Fried kuey teow mee.'

She suddenly stared at me and stopped her work in hand

粿条面？ 'Kuey teow mee?'

你要粿条还是面？ 'You want kuey teow OR mee?'

I insistingly said

粿条面 'Kuey teow mee'

She felt a bit annoyed, me too

你要mee kahwin是吗？ 'You want mee kahwin orh?'

'Mee kahwin?' -- a new word in my own 'dictionary'

是不是粿条掺面？ 'Keuy teow mixed with mee larrr'

Ok。。。Ok。。。给我一盘 'Okay...okay...give me one'

I went back to my seat

and started thinking back

'Kuey teow + mee is not kuey teow mee?'

From here, you can see the differences between West M'sia and East M'sia

the same thing may

have different name

or

totally have different look/presentation

I want my Kuey teow mee goreng!!

Pending trips

It was a fantastic week though workload for this week was a bit heavy.

Staying back till 4am for booking air ticket was really an unforgettable experience

Still remember this Tuesday very very early morning

together with me is my colleague here, Charles

stayed alert together in my place for booking air ticket

Yet, Airasia really makes our dreams come true with offer of cheap air ticket

where EVERYONE can fly!

I was one of the lucky guys

who able to book for two trips:

To Yogjakarta-Bandung-Jakarta

and

To Cambodia-Vietnam

And, there was another trip to Hong Kong and Macau awaiting me this June

which I booked earlier, a family trip

Hope to gain some experience through these trips

which would change my perception towards the world

in which I would able to close to two of the seven wonders of the world

Angkor Wat and Borobudur

I need a plan

I have a lot of things to do

I need a plan

Back to school

The posts in facebook remind me about those old time

I do have the same feeling as what my juniors have it now

while I was still in their age

Well,

with what I am now,

I wish I can go back to join them

to study,

to have fun,

to go out together,

to laugh,

to do everything

I wish I could

What makes your life satisfied?

For most of the society

people seem feeling unhappy with their life

'I am very busy today, very tired'

'I cannot do that lah'

'I got no money, how I gonna buy it?'

I would say these are lame reasons

How you view your life aspect is of utmost important

Of course, everyone is not perfect

not excluded me as well

We cannot have everything being done with 100% of satisfaction

as we are not perfectionist

You might somehow find some little things

that make your day a good day

become significantly important

Not to say that we are not ambitious

but stand at your point

and think again

: Now, I am in such condition

What should I hope for in order to turn my day into a satisfied one?

Do list out five things that make your day a happy day before you sleep,

even some little things that seem not significant.

It does helping you feel better.

Whisper to your heart:

What makes my life satisfied?

Immiscible

Immiscible

a term sounds so scientifically

Well, you may right

we learned about miscibility in lecture

As simple as,

water immiscible with oil

while,

alcohol miscible with water

Relationship

among people

works in the same way, somehow

One might mix well with a group of people

but it might not happen when he or she meet a second group of people

And in the latter situation,

the one who being ignored

usually be neglected in

a talk,

chit-chatting,

discussion......

How would you feel when you are the person?

Socialise

Working

means meeting people

socialise with people you may know or you may not know

I would say too much worry for me

Everyone is wearing their mask

you could not guess what is behind a smiling face

Would it be the

evil side

or

really the

angel side?

You would not know that you are actually being

fooled by them while you are treating them well

No choice

I have to face the reality, there is no other way

Not to avoid but be alert

Simply Sibu

Time flew

Two weeks past silently

Well, I think I am getting adapted to here at Sibu

My reluctance of coming here

seemed to be not a burden to me

I would say I am finally relieved

Sibu,

a small town

yet, people here are simply kind

as kampung folk

the couple of householder for the house I'm renting is not excluded

my house here is almost, I would say is 99.9%, fully furnished

you name it, I have it here

TV? Yes

Air-cond?Sure

And how about fridge, washing machine, gas stove, sofa.....?

Of course, I have them here.

Now, you may think the rental fee must not be cheap

I would say: you are wrong, totally wrong,

It only costs me RM500 for the whole house with 3 rooms inside

Expenses over here would not be a problem for us

as a 4k-income government servant

you can spend like you are living in kampung area

RM2-3 you can get your stomach full

Yes, RM2-3...unbelievable

It would an advantage for me

as I can save a lot, hopefully is A LOT, of money

for travelling, my favourite hobby

However, Sibu is a boring town

no activity over here

Shopping? There are a few shopping complex, but the size.....

can't compare to West M'sia

Mostly consist of supermarket selling daily use

Hiking? Yes, so far I went for once

quite interesting, somehow

Beaches? Waterfall? Picnic site?

Nope.

Arghh!!

I get a shock response when my Sibu friends told me that:

Sibu people eat a lot,

spend weekend at home sleeeeeEEEPPP!!!

Haiz...you can imagine how my weekend past

mainly with drama and FB

Yet, not to forget to mention about cooking and painting...