The week had been hectic and tiring. After my budget meeting, I took an inter-town bus (Orchid Express) from Melaka to BP. The fare was only RM 7.00 compared to what the taxi driver had asked for (RM150.00). Hui Min met me at the bus station and together we went straight to the hospital.
Dad was lying there listlessly and he seemed to perk up when he saw us. I hugged him and explained why I was not able to come earlier. He nodded in understanding. Hui Min and I refreshed him and gave him a few sips of water. He asked for orange juice but the nurse said no but agreed to ribena. We promised him we would get him ribena on our next visit.
Then I went to YK's place to refresh. Alicia was there, resting, having done night duty, mum was there too. We discussed dad's condition, he was still weak but showed visible signs of improving. We were hopeful he would be better soon. That evening, he seemed more cheerful after we gave him the ribena. He tried to talk but the tube in his throat made it difficult. Liquid food was fed through this tube. Unable to taste anything, he seemed always hungry. Hui Min volunteered to take that night's shift.
The next day we went to the hospital to relieve HM. Dad looked strangely listess. He was unable to respond. However the doctor who come on his round said that dad's condition seemed stable and wanted to discharge him. Alicia pointed out that he seemed worse than the night before and suggested the possibility of a minor stroke. The symptoms seemed to suggest that all was not well despite the doc's prognosis. Finally, the doc agreed to send dad for a CT brain scan. When the results came, true enough, there were images of blockages in the minor arteries. He did had a minor stroke.
That made me wonder - we are so dependent on the doctors and nurses that the are often regaled to godlike status. Their diagnosis seemed infallible - yet they had erred and overlooked certain signs. What if Alicia were not there ? As lay people, we would have meekly accepted the doc's decision to discharge dad. I am just thankful Alicia was there when the doc was on his round. Meanwhile we will pray that dad will continue to make good progress. He was a good patient, never complaining through out his stay in the hospital, and being very co-operative. He had the will to get well again.
Dad was lying there listlessly and he seemed to perk up when he saw us. I hugged him and explained why I was not able to come earlier. He nodded in understanding. Hui Min and I refreshed him and gave him a few sips of water. He asked for orange juice but the nurse said no but agreed to ribena. We promised him we would get him ribena on our next visit.
Then I went to YK's place to refresh. Alicia was there, resting, having done night duty, mum was there too. We discussed dad's condition, he was still weak but showed visible signs of improving. We were hopeful he would be better soon. That evening, he seemed more cheerful after we gave him the ribena. He tried to talk but the tube in his throat made it difficult. Liquid food was fed through this tube. Unable to taste anything, he seemed always hungry. Hui Min volunteered to take that night's shift.
The next day we went to the hospital to relieve HM. Dad looked strangely listess. He was unable to respond. However the doctor who come on his round said that dad's condition seemed stable and wanted to discharge him. Alicia pointed out that he seemed worse than the night before and suggested the possibility of a minor stroke. The symptoms seemed to suggest that all was not well despite the doc's prognosis. Finally, the doc agreed to send dad for a CT brain scan. When the results came, true enough, there were images of blockages in the minor arteries. He did had a minor stroke.
That made me wonder - we are so dependent on the doctors and nurses that the are often regaled to godlike status. Their diagnosis seemed infallible - yet they had erred and overlooked certain signs. What if Alicia were not there ? As lay people, we would have meekly accepted the doc's decision to discharge dad. I am just thankful Alicia was there when the doc was on his round. Meanwhile we will pray that dad will continue to make good progress. He was a good patient, never complaining through out his stay in the hospital, and being very co-operative. He had the will to get well again.
1 comment:
Wow... thankfully indeed Aunty Alicia was there to question what the doctor said. It really makes one think as you say about the so called infallibility of doctors' diagnosis. jia gong is in our prayers, as are you and the rest of the family.
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