I received a call from my mom at 10pm on the 6th of August 2010, she told me my father was not feeling well and need medical attention. I rushed back to my hometown, just 45 minutes away from where I live. On the way back, I had a mixed feelings about the situation. What would be the best thing I should be doing upon reaching there? I took the highway instead of the trunk road. I knew I would be making few calls along the way before reaching there, taking the trunk road would be riskier as the road is not really smooth and full with unexpected cows along the roadside. I called up few friends to ask for opinions. I knew that my father had some medical history related to heart problem. That was the only thing that bothers me up. What if he really in need of immediate medical attention? There were few options, whether to wait until the next morning, to observe and monitor or immediately call an ambulance to bring him to the nearest hospital. I dont really favor the third options as to me it appeared to be a bit frantic. After getting few opinions from those who had gone through the same experience and also from a doctor friend (Dr Firdaus) in KL, I decided to observe and monitor the condition. Upon reaching my parent house, I immediatety checked on my father and assessed his condition, it seems that he had difficulties to walk due to the gout illness that had attacked his both feet and knees. He had difficulties even to move few inches to past motion. I called up my brother that since there was no sign of heart related pain, we should wait until the next morning before transporting him. He had few cases few weeks back due to chest pain and tiredness but that night the situation was a bit different. My mother was helpless and could only talk to my father. I sent a quick text message to all my siblings, in Penang and KL. The very next day, my sister flew from KL. My brother who live nearby came along and we decided to take our father to the nearest specialist in town. Its easier for us to manage him instead of warding him in an earlier proposed hospital in Penang. That was a quick and firm decision we had to make in order not to delay the treatment.
Day 1 : Saturday 8/7/2010 The hospital was quite comfortable , and of course a 5 mins drive from where we stay. We were all clueless on the type of treatment, whether it was cardio related or some other issues. We let the hospital handle it. It was Saturday, there were no doctors in charge, just few nurses and some Medical Officers. The nurse gave a jab to stabilize my father as was having a slight fever. They had to give him water drip immediately. My father was then warded in a 4 sharing per room as I thought that it would be better to have some peers especially during night time. The first night was my turn to take care of my father. Having both feet in pain, he had to be assisted in order to move around or to go to the toilet. Couple of my friends came for visit. Alan, Azizi and Zallman. We had a long chat until 3.00am in the morning.
Day 2 : Sunday 8/8/2010
The following days, my father was a bit energetic. I could see he had some appetite to finish a loaf of bread , it was better than the day before where he refused to eat anything. My mom , as usual , is the loyal companion & soul mate to him. She used to prepare lots of food /dishes before but my father would vomit upon seing those food in front of him. That worried us badly as he was getting skinnier and weaker day by day. The doctor came along and monitored the situation. I was preparing to go back to my hometown as my father had recovered. Anyhow, in the evening, my father vomitted again. The doctor had no choice than to remain him at the hospital for another treatment. The doctor claimed that he needs to perform the endoscopic test the following day. My father was then tranferred to a single room. The sharing room was too noisy with other patients visitors, insurance agents etc. I went back to Kulim to fetch my wife and kids and then came back to the hospital. All of us overnight at the hospital. It was like a holiday in a hospital.
Day 3 : Monday 8/9/2010On the third day at the hospital, my father was a bit weak compare to the second day but the water drip probably supplied him with energy. But still better than the night I first saw him. The Endoscopic procedure took place in the evening. After accompanying him to the operation theatre , I took my wife and kids for lunch in Sg Petani town. We came back around 6pm . My father was a little unconcious due to the sedative effect. After Maghrib prayer , I took my family again out for dinner, my brother also left the hospital leaving my mom alone with my father. I took my wife and kids to Tesco and around 9pm, I had a call from my brother saying that my father was having difficulties to breath. I couldnt get through my mother handphone. So we rushed back to the hospital. Upon reaching the room, I saw they put oxygen tube through the nose and all those breathing and heart monitoring equipments. It was the first time I saw my father was in a such critical condition, pretty weak and helpless. My brother came along and it made up two families of eight people , overnight in that room. I saw my mother in tears as she could not help while my father was having difficulties to breath. I decided to stay next to my father, monitoring the beeping and very annoying device that monitor the BP, heart pumping rate and also the oxygen level. I laid some newspaper and some pillows on the floor. Everyone else was too tired to stay awake i guess . I had a very strong feeling that my father was not fully recovered even though they gave him nebulizers treatment and some oxygen tube. I called up the nurse to check on the monitoring device. I was curious on the beeping sound. One of the nurses taught me how to read those indicators on the equipment. At around 11pm, I could see that the device keep on giving strange beeping sound. The oxygen level was dropping below the control range. I called up the nurse again and they came in to monitor. Few minutes after they had left, I could see my father was still in an uneasy condition, his movement indicated his discomfort. Something was botheirng him. I asked him what was wrong, he responded that he had problem to breath and had slighth chest pain. I called up the nurses again but this time the medical officer in charge came along. Upon checking, he found out that the oxygen tube was not properly attached. He escalated to the doctor in charge (Dr Amir). The doctor arrived within 30 minutes, the doctor came and checked. He told us that he suspected that the breathing difficulties was due to the water/liquid level in the lung was beyond the normal rate, it could be due to the over dripping or some other reasons. My father had to be transferred to the ICU for close monitoring. I had a chat with the doctor until 4.00am and slept nearly 8.00am.
Day 4 : Tuesday 8/10/2010
I left back to my hometown as my brother from KL just came by to take care of my father. I had to work the following day. My father was released from ICU in the afternoon. I came back again that night to monitor his condition and he was a bit better than the night before. My other sister Ana also came by from KL to be at the hospital.
Day 5 : Wednesday 8/11/2010
I went to work as normal. Called up my brother and he told me that my father was again having diffculties to breath but the nurse manage to increase the oxygen and it resolved the problem.
Day 6 : Thursday 8/12/2010
Day 6 seemed not much issue - I was not at the hospital , my brother and sister were there to look after my father.
Day 7 : Friday 8/13/2010
My father was supposed to go through angiogram procedure to check for the cardio related issue. Anyhow, it had to be postponed since the fluid level in his body was below the normal readings, the procedure had to be postponed for a week. He was discharged in the afternoon for a week rest at home.
Day 8 : Saturday 8/14/2010
I visited my father at his place He seems to be weak but much better than teh first time I saw him during the first night. He still having appetite problem but now he could walk a little bit. My sister Roslinda flew back from KL again and to check on my father's condition. We discussed on the next step of the treatment. Having to know some of the errors happened at the hospital, my sister was not comfortable and planned to move my father to other hospitals. She had done some homework and already engaged a heart specialist in HUKM. Earlier we were thinking of Institut Jantung Negara as the first choice, Kubang Kerian as the second and Penang GH as the third choice. She eventually had made the groundwork much earlier and made arrangement with HUKM, in Cheras, KL.
Subsequent days :
I alternatelty take charge to be at the house with my brother - it took me 45 mins drive from where I Iive. My son adam , a six years old was my loyal companion throughout the weeks. He would accompany me wherever I go, but of course , he will ask for some rewards in terms of toys, as usual. At least he kept my father smiling with all his nonsense questions.
My father was admitted again on Friday for the angiogram procedure but again , the body liquid was still low and the doctor didnt want to take any risk as it could ruin the kidney function. The following day, they made another endoscopic test to check the ulcer and the bleeding was gone and it was reported that 70% of the bleeding ulcer had recovered.Since we plan to go to HUKM, the doctor decided not to proceed with angiogram in that hospital.
Monday : 8/16/2010
Tuesday : 8/17/2010 My sister already arranged the appointment with Dr Oteh Maskon ( Heart Specialist in HUKM) - after checking through my father medical history, the doctor advised us to admit my father immediately , not to delay on the diagnosis. My father was warded in a single room in Wad Songket, 7th Floor of the HUKM hospital. The room was not as comfortable as the hospital in Sg Petani. But that was not the main reason we brought him here, we believe that the doctors and medical facilities would be better in HUKM. But the room was considered comfortable as it has private bathroom & some basic facilties. My sister Ana who is staying in Damansara accompanied my father on the first day.
Wednesday : 8/18/2010
I took my mum the following day to visit my father . She accompanied him on the second night together with my sister. I planned to overnight there together with my whole family , my wife and two kids, but unfortunately, kids under 12 are not allowed in that hospital. So we had to go back to my sister house in Mutiara Damansara. I realized that I have a friend who works as a Doctor in HUKM, Dr Azwa. I called him up the following day and manage to meet him. I also called a close friend of mine, Zallman stays nearby the area. He came along to visit my father, thanks my friend. My Indian neighbour in Kulim also called up her daughter who is living in KL to visit my father. Thanks to all of them who came by to cheer my father up.
Thursday : 8/19/2010
I left to Kedah the following day.It was a taxing experience but I appreciated every single moment of it. It has opened a new door for the real life experience. 2010 is a really challenging year for me in deed. At work , it was the most challenging period so far, having tones of work need to be done and changed of working pattern. In personal life, my father's illness has brought me to be dealing directly with life and death situation, decision making and articulation of the ambiguitiness. I was lucky that I happen to have friends who are doctors that could guide and advice me on the conditions & possibilities.
My father was warded nearly a month in HUKM, he had to go through the pain of blood samples (lots of them) , biopsy and those kind organ sampling test. Again, we were lucky to have good doctors attending to our beloved father. One of the doctors was Datin Dr Norela - I was told that she was one of the best Kidney doctor in the country. There was another Doctor that took care of my father , Dr Rizna. An ex-patriate from UK. It was Ramadhan, and my father had made it through the series of treatment and tests. My friend , Dr Nurul Azwa called me up to describe the condition of my father. According to the blood samples taken, he said that my father might potentially having a disease call Multiple Myeloma, one kind of blood cancer that rarely happens. But it was just a first cut information and analysis. I didnt really understand what Multiple Myeloma is all about. I checked out in youtube and did some study in the web. Well, from the reading, Multiple Myeloma is part of blood cancer that may lead to death. It developed in the bone marrow and spreaded to all part of the body. My father's blood sample indicates high in calcium. Treatments like chemo may be required. I was shocked to know all these. First we thought was heart problem, but then they suspected kidney,, and now its blood cancer. After 2 days , Dr Nurul Azwa called me up again, he told me the good news, the final blood test has revealed a negative result pertaining to multiple myeloma. So, it was a false call for cancer. But the bad news was, my father had to further stay in the hospital to continue the diagnosis and blood sample test.
Few weeks after that, my father was given treatment & medications. A week before Raya, I decided to go and visit my father. I went with a friend, Iffil. We departed after breaking the fast. We reached KL around 3.00am, just nice for sahur time. We stopped by Pelita Nasi Kandar near KLCC. I had my sahur around 4.30am at my sister's house in Mutiara Damansara. Had a couple of hours nap. I went to HUKM at 11am the following day. Good news again, my father had gotten the discharge note from the doctor. Thanks to Dr Nurul Azwa again for helping me up to speed up the discharge process.
My father was so relief to have finally able to discharge from the hospital. Most importantly, he wanted to celebrate the Eid Mubarak in Sg Petani. I guess he missed his house and friends in Sg Petani. We left KL at 5pm, reached SP nearly 12 midnight.
Eversince, my father was almost back to normal, he had lots of friends and relatives visiting him. His feet and knees were not fully recovered from the gout issue.y mom nurses him everyday. Eventhough he is not at the best of health, I would say the recovery was about 80%. And of course, he had already had plan to travel.
I am used to traditional massage. To be honest, any kind of massage will do. I feel relieve and relaxing. I offered the same method to my father as I know a person who is really good in this. I brought Pak Omar, a traditional massage practioner from Kulim to Sg Petani. Pak Omar lives near where I live. That was the first time my father had a full body massage in his entire life. dI could see he valued that kind of treatment as the following day he claimed to feel much better in terms of muscle pain and arthritis pain. Recenty, my brother Azham had an open reception for Eid Mubarak celebration at his office at Jalan Ibrahim. I was told that my could walk up the stairs of the 3 storey building. It was an achievement, in deed , he had gone through a transformation in his golden age. At 77, he managed to get through (with Allah will) all the hassle and taxing times. I guess he should be proud of the accomplishments and thankfull to Allah SW. We all should be thankfull to Allah SW.Recognitions / Credits: (not in ranking order of course)
Hajjah Mariam bt Zainol = My mother who has been the best nurse/Personal Assistant to my father - even though she is vocal , and I mean really vocal, but I guess my father would appreciate her services & companionship throughout their marriage. My father is 78 and my mother is 72. My million of forgiveness for being a vocal son, stubborn, aggresive etc, I am just being a Jedi Knight in analogical term, I want to get things done effectively. I dont like discrimination to any kind of beings. I value environment , human and animals right , regardless or race & status & shape. Sometime I dont agree with some of your policies and action, but I do respect your supremacy as the highest being that I should hail. I believe most of my siblings had gone through such an experience with you.
Haji Ahmad Kayat = my father who has been very cooperative throughout the treatment/difficult times , thanks father for not being fussy about most of the thing except food. . Even though we have a very contradict personalities / characteristic (eg: I like Slash/Kurt Cobain but you dont..hehe...I dont even know what kind of music you like since you dont really play the radio in your car/in the house) , that does not mean we are different. Thanks for being there for me all those days. You are one of the most patience person in the world that I have ever met, relax and cool. I envy you as I dont have that kind of traits. I wish I could someday, but not now of course. I know all your grandchildrens love you very much. Ahaa...one thing that we have in common, we both like Mercedes & Busine$$. Finally I can find some similarities. I will be a businessman like you one day.
Azham / NorAsiah / family @ Laguna Merbok Sg Petani = my brother/sister in law they have been a very responsible people to have taken a good care of both my parents during the difficult periods. And thanks for being so understanding upon my behaviour. I am stubborn & do it my way, kind of person. Please dont get offended , its just because I am a big fan of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. And also I inherit some characteristic from "mama"...so what, like mother like son....
Mohd Adam Fariz = my son who has been my loyal companion throughout the time, with condition of buying him toys , he'll follow me anywhere. Thanks son. At least you make me smile.
My wife Jamishah & daughter Intan (Haruan Villa Kulim) = who have been very understanding about her husband / father rare behaviour - again, I am not crazy / evil, I was just trying to get things done effectively, and sometimes with vocal kind of aggresions, so be it, I inherit my mom's skill of scrutinizing & bombarding. And the dictatorship of Tun Mahathir.
My sister Roslinda (adek) / Abg Sarifuddin/family @ Mutiara Damansara = My wealthy sister/husband who had sponsored the hospital bills & taking care my parents while they were in KL. Million thanks & proud of your success !! Thanks for giving me the opportnity to drive the Toyota Harrier (obviously much better than my Nissan Sentra) , but actually i wish you could offer me to drive the BMW/VW instead. Thanks to Danial for assisting me at the hospital.
Ana / Abg Anis / Family @ Damansara Utama - Thanks for being there all the time (since my school time) , you guys are like the American sitcom couple, always welcoming people to your house & with the fullest hospitality. Food served is always great . Abg Anis full of stories and jokes. Thanks for the Garmin Nuvi GPS you gave me.
Ruzita (my eldest sister @ Bukit Gambir, Penang) /Family - specially for Yani/Iwan (my nephew/niece) - Thanks for the help while abahwan in hospital, I havent met Iwan/Yani fr quite some time, again, the difficulties have its sweetness. I was glad to have a reunion back with all of you, my Kurt Cobain team mates. You guys are really great & Uncle Uda will alway be there for you. Thanks to my eldest sister or Mak Long Ta for being the food experts, sharing the best food for curing the illness. My son Adam always like Mak Long since mak long likes to take him for a ride to the nearest shop to buy toys and candy.
Azuan @ Shah Alam(Nini) - my long parted/rarely met brother , thanks for coming along , i realized that all these diffciulties had finally bonded us to a certain extend if not regular basis. All of us are busy in our own way and work , wish you the best and we will always be family from far , always be there for you and your cute daughters Arisa/Ariana.
Friends & Relatives that came by & contributed : Abang Li / Kak Kristina in Jeniang that provided the Horse Grass to cure gout disease, Maksu Kassim - Taman TAR/Nora , Kak Faridah Shah Alam, Cik /Badin - Titiwangsa , Mak Nab/Pak Non Bunga Raya , Pak Harun/Makcik Juriah, Pak Talib/Mak Mah many more of their peers.
Zallman - my childhood friend since standard 3, we had gone through all the dark ages/ funs & adventures - thanks for coming forward & help me throughout the diffculty/taxing period while I was at the HUKM and Metro Sg Petani.
Dr Nurul Azwa - my scout mate, school mate, camping mate, after SPM golf caddy mate - proud that you are now a Doctor , Orthopedic Specialist - keep up bro...ride your superbike carefully..sorry couldnt make it during Raya gathering , I was on self curfew !! Mahathirsm again.
Hanif Mirza/Husaini Seman/Zaki/Kamal/Syahrul Effendy - who had spent their personal time to meet me at the Pelita Nasi Kandar Desa Seri Hartamas and Uptown Food Court.
Dr Firdaus Effendy - my scout mate, school mate, camping mate, fishing mate, and great pal all the time- thanks for your free medical advice. I will always be referring to you in future.
Norman Firdaus - my caddy friend - who has been so proactively concern about my father , you have made them feel honoured - thanks brother Man...
Iffil / Sara/Marsha - thanks iffil for accompanying me to KL leaving your family behind, thanks Kak Sara for visiting my parents couple of weeks ago. Again, you and Iffil reminds me of Dharma/Greg...a happy couple full with hospitality & adventures.
Indra /Chandran/family (my 1Malaysia neighbour) - Thanks for your concerns & visit while myb father was at the hospital
My friends in Intel, Norly, Prem, Alan, Azizi, Jit, CY Kaw , Poh Ai, Kar Lock, & not forgetting my boss , Mr Tee who have been supporting me throughout the diffciult period, my dad is fine now, thanks you guys for covering my work back in the office. Thanks again Azizi / Alan who be the first to come visiting me in Sg Petani Hospital (oohh..you guys got big superbikes, no wonder)
