Mourn

Received a bad news few hours ago. My friend passed away of acute exacerbation bronchial asthma yesterday. I was shocked. So shocked.

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He rode himself to a clinic and collapsed while he was waiting for his turn to see the doctor. What a tragedy.

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We last met on 31st Aug. this year. He was happily showing his band's photo album, explaining his plan to change job to me. I did not talk to him enough. The last SMS left unreplied...

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To him who can no longer read this:

"Thanks for being such a great friend. Your cheerfulness and encouragements will remain in my heart. See you again in heaven."

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Life is so unpredictable. Treasure the person around you before it is too late.

Three days of mess

My room was finally tidied from 3 days of mess!

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Post-holiday hang over had no time to manifest itself. I am glad this week has only 3 functioning school days. I am still in a piece after been through the first 3 days of the well known busiest obstetric posting, with concurrent research project and presentation.

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As predicted, I got up late on the first days. The alarm clock ring tone seemed more hypnotizing to me. Luckily my housemate did me a favour of knocking my room at 7.45am (Briefing at 8am!) right before she left to uni. Guess what? I reached uni at 8am sharp! *Proud proud* I didn't wash face (I did brushed teeth!), didn't make bed, sped and cut line like crazy, illegally parked my car but the doctor-in-charge was half an hour late! Duh!

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Had been coming back home late from covering ward, slept late for the next day's preparation, and got up late again. Rush hours repeated. Presentation powerpoint couldn't be completed in time. Research data got problems. Got no food left in the fridge. One pimple is popping. Everything was so messy!

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And now, it's time to tidy up my study. End of semester exam is 6 weeks away. Gambate!

This Christmas

This year's Christmas is a little different. The first Christmas away from home, singing the same carols but in a totally new place with new bunch of people. Reminiscing the good old days I had with my churchmates back in KL, meanwhile, enjoyed being in a new group! This Christmas is indeed a unique one for me...

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"Joyful joyful we adore Thee..."

My favourite carol was not sung this year. The first carolling took place in my uni's Christmas celebration on 12th Dec night titled "Hope". A night with a few programmes that were being upheld by prayers. The strength that gathered us despite all weariness and exams was awesome! Practices for the carols might not be adequate but every song was sung to convey the true meaning in it. That's what distinguishes carolling from singing ;)

The skit of that night was superb! Simple yet meaningful, depicting how the temptations of the world have brought us through but the ultimate satisfaction can only be achieved by God Himself.

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The process of making. Back drop preparing and skit practice simultaneously. And the choir too, at the back of the hall.

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At the end of the day as a result of 6 hours singing. Our facial muscles were just gone paralyzed...

The part that I like the most was this fire place. The fire wood was real tree trunks sawn from a tree. Good effort huh...

A part of the skit...

Group photo. The night was successfully held with the effort of each one of them. Glory be to God.

Dropping a visit to a patient's house in Lukut on 19th Dec right after exam with my examiner, Dr. Lee (^-^!) and Dr. Choo. There we carolled and fellowshiped with around 15 of them which included their neighbours. Dr. Lee did most of the sharing with the kids, which I saluted her for being a passionate paediatrician. They were attended with prayers and some presents but I think what mattered the most to them were, the care that was being showed and the time spent with them.

The next day was Haji public holiday and we continued to carol in an old folk's home in Sikamat. It was a non-profitable organization accomodates around 29 old folks, 3 handicapped and a separate place for a few orphans. We prepared a few carols in Mandarin and Hokkien knowing that most of the folks there were Chinese speaking. However, many of us could hardly speak Chinese but kudos to them who articulated the han yu pin yin well, what more in Hokkien! The song "We are the reason" was mimed. The practice for it started only an hour prior to that and every move just seeped out of my mind when we were right in front of the crowd. Ended up with some spontaneous movements on the spur of the moment *sweat*.
It was a courage to see them clapping and singing along with us. I was touched especially by a handicapped whose all her muscles were spastic and tried to mouth with us when a Mandarin song was sung. Many of them were cheered by our presence and our ears to listen, though some conversations required a lot of straining on ear drums to comprehend. And of course there were some grumpy folks too, who refused to smile and rejected handshake *hurt*. But all in all, it was a good experience, a good time to share our loves and joys with someones who have been neglected by their own family members. May the joy be with all of you not only during Christmas but always!

Merry X'mas &

have a wonderful year ahead!

The mother and son

Overheard a conversation between a 4-year-old son and mother in the ward while I was reading bed ticket.

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Son was admitted for fits and mother was taking care of him. Mother poured water into a cup and handed over to him. Spoken in Mandarin:

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"Mummy, you drink..." The son lifted the cup to his mother.

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"Mummy doesn't want to share with you, I cough seriously." *Aww... how sweet!*

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Son took a sip, gurgled and threw it back into the cup.

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"Eh, you do it again! I beat you ah..." Mother warned.

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She just sounded exactly like my mother, with a similar tone and expression. I miss her.

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Paediatrics has just over. Next comes obstetric posting. I am exciting :)

Diwali Night

Able to update finally, after a few busy and eventful weeks. Proudly present to you the Diwali Night dated 6th Dec 07. It was a night with plenty of performances resembled different Indian cultures. Not everything is posted here though but I would say that it was a satisfying one, a night worth all hard works and time!

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It started with the light dancers igniting the lights, a symbolic of good over the evil one.

Dhoom, a modern dance which enquired rapid movements. It acted as a way to burn my calories for the past few weeks :) Kind of miss the practice. When are we going to dhoom again? A big thanks to my last-minute-partner, Yeang Wee who picked up the steps only a day prior to the performance. It was fun having him! And of course to the coordinator, Raju for squeezing his brain for steps. Good job people!

Vimi was well dressed up till she could hardly recognize herself. Here she is with her solo...

The dance performed by children from Rhema Charity home, an organization where all ticket profits went to.

Followed by the stick dancers in sarees.

Erm... I forgot the name of this. They were of the same dancers as the stick dance.

Bangrah dancers with their pyramid.

Kampung dance with a dramatic ending by Rahul grabbing a girl away...

I must say the drama was one of the best I'd ever seen.

The appearance of Prof. Harwant as a judge in the drama won a big acclaimation from the audiences.

And the fashion show, with many types of Indian costumes.

The wedding attires...

Gabriel (left) won the best dressed prize from the amcees. Even the amcees were so well dressed in Indian costumes, fulfilling the theme of the night, "The night of colours...".

And the happy ending. Appreciate all the put together hard works, patience for the never ending waiting time, the sacrificed dinners, sleep and book nerding. Thanks everyone for all efforts and time spent from the people on the stage to the people behind the scene. And of course to the audiences who made this night a successful one!

? Pulmonary TB

71-year-old Chinese man presented with cough with white sputum for 6 months, lethargy and lost of appetite for 2 months, marked weight lost and generalized skin itchiness for a month. It was associated with gradual reduced in effort tolerance as he had shortness of breath with 100m walk. There was no fever, night sweat, chest or abdominal pain, jaundice, dark urine, pale stool or pruritus. Systemic review, past medical and family histories were not significant. He quit smoking for more than 30 years and drinks beer occasionally. Physical examination was not done.

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Below is his posterior-anterior view chest X-ray. Sorry for the bad quality. Just wondering if there is a cavitation on the left apex of the lung?

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Was bringing my grandfather to a nearby private clinic. Rather disappointed with the quality of the doctors nowadays. When I started telling my grandpa's history by mentioning cough, she scribbled "URTI" (upper respiratory tract infection) on the record card without waiting for me to finish. Well, she did ask further about the signs and symptoms of URTI and prescribed him antibiotic.

"He never had fever, why is antibiotic indicated?" I asked.

"So you wanna do a chest X-ray?" She replied.

I agreed and requested liver function test to be done. She did, but with a lot more tests such as renal profile, thyroid function test, lipid profile, blood glucose, Hepatitis and HIV screening. Some are totally not indicated but it came in a "package", and of course the consultation fee was sky high! I left with no choice but to agree as weekend is the only time when I am home and government clinics are closed. On top of that, my grandpa is a typical traditional Chinese old man who refused to be seen by doctor regardless of how sick he is. We could hardly drag him there what more to spend hours waiting in the government setting.

She ended up to still prescribe him amoxicillin, cough syrup, anti-histamine, folic acid and multivitamins. I seriously could not think of any reason why some of the medications were prescribed except to make more money. The only wise thing I did was to ask for a referral letter for hospital admission. And her referral letter was the worst one I'd ever read. It comprised only ~10% of what I have just mentioned! And she said if everything was done completely, the hospital doctor will not investigate further. Gosh! What a lame excuse!

Guys, it's time to raise the standard!

Hope my grandpa is willing to be admitted for investigation and further treatment. By the way, I suspected TB, but what explains the itchiness? What do you think?

Sorry to say that he did spit everywhere along the roadsides. If it is truly TB, the germs are in the air! :(

Two become one

Congrats Shannon and Mario! It was truly my pleasure to have shared your joy with you in this big day. Happy for you :)
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Sat in one of the pews looking at them marching in. It was a matrimony filled with much happiness and thanksgiving.
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"For better for worse, for richer for poorer, for health for sickness, to love to honour. Till death do us apart..."
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Heard this vow many times. Wonder when is my prince charming going to say this to me, and of course to mean it ^-^ What a sweet promise that binds two together as they begin to share their lives. Hmm, I am aging...

Was not being able to catch up with my long lost friends due to time constrained. It had been a while since I last met them. But it was still lovely to just say "Hi" and to give hugs. I miss them!
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Few aunties greeted me:
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"Hey you have grown prettier and taller!"
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Ermm... I reassured them that there won't be significant increased in my height at this age. I guessed they never notice I wore high heels haha... So after a while I just anticipated them by saying "Oh is it? Thank you thank you..." *Fake*

The nicest hard cover invitation card I'd ever received. With a poem goes:

An answered prayer he is to me,
My greatest blessing she'll always be,
And so this day we'll pledge our love,
in front of friends and God above.

With the bride, Shannon in Istana Hotel. Every blessing to you as you continue to serve the Lord.

Careless heart

Clerking patients has been a routine for medical students as well as doctors to know more about a patients' diseases. It gives a brief outline of their personalities and general well being too. Supports and cares can sometimes be shown by speaking to them.

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I like Psychiatry posting. Many may think people with psychiatry illnesses are hard to talk to. But I enjoy talking to them, realizing that talking to them is also therapeutic by making them ventilate their thoughts and feelings. The atmosphere in psychiatry ward is so much different than that of medical ward. Patients in medical ward get irritated when you're around, while psychiatry patients are overjoyed by your presence with an opened ear. And of course bearing in mind that medical ward patients suffer from physical illnesses, therefore not expecting them to put on a smile still after being questioned repeatedly!

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Having said that, I feel sad after knowing a person that is closely related to me was sent to Rumah Bahagia 2 months ago, by force, out of no choice. I noticed his disinhibition long ago. He is socially withdrawing, was seen with a sad face most of the time. He has been coming to my mind ever since I came across with schizophrenia. We feel sad for him. With his poor insight of his illness, the prognosis isn't as good. I feel sorry for not approaching him earlier, never bother to care for him and intervene. It's all too late...

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Many a time it is the persons whom we are closer to, that we forget to care for. What's the use when I say I have compassion for people but it is only limited to the hospital?