A Farewell.....

The 28th September was a significant day. It was his last admission to the hospital. That day, after lunch and after my brother bade him farewell, he complained of aches and slight bleeding and it was making him anxious. At his insistence, Alang drove him to the hospital again. He was rushed to the scanning unit to see whether they could insert stoppages to the holes in the intestines. The doctor could not do it because according to her there was insufficient bleeding. Insufficient bleeding indeed! When he came out he could still jokingly told Alang and I that it did not matter, the doctor was a beautiful looking lady! 

On Monday, in the ICU unit, he was very subdued. I knew he had already made up his mind for an operation. The doctor contacted his former professor at the University Hospital and arranged for a more thorough scrutiny of the condition of his intestines. We failed to get consultation appointment at the Selayang Medical Centre and my regret here is that I failed to think of seeking assisstance from friends to get an appointment. Everything was happening so fast around me that I failed to grab moments to think through on whatever decisions or actions taken. Personally, I could not agree to his decision. The 50/50 chance and his age minus point disturbed me and in my mind he should not opt for it. But each time I voiced out my hesitation and concern for it, he would quickly dismissed it. He was so positive of its outcome that he would talk cheerfully about the post operation to friends, like Jun and Kem, when they came to visit. If he had any worry he hid it very well. After each visit friends and relatives felt confident that everything was going to be alright.

The scanning procedure at The University Hospital went well. He was a referred case. The professionals were very nice, polite and proficient. The administrative staff, the receptionist and the clerks were very rude! One in particular made me feel like a beggar. I asked one of the surgeons who attended to him what could be the cause of his problem. She said that most probably it could be the term taking of pain killers. We in the family knew that he had been taking lots of pain killers for whatever ailments and he loved self prescribing himself. There were occassions he prescribed medications for my ills too.

Before his operation scheduled on Friday, the 2nd of October, the surgeon came to discuss the procedure. He began with the caution but he was optimistic that he could do it and everything would be okay. Then came the visit of the cardiologist who did the echo test and concluded that his heart could take in the operation. Lastly came the anaesthetist. The colon cleansing regimen was the most tedious and pityful. He was bleeding so much that made him lifeless. He was growing more quiet and preferred the room to be dimlighted. He was obviously listless and showed no interest in what was in the news. Before this he would listen intently on the news I read to him in the newspapers. On the morning of the operation he was perky and sounded excited after his early morning bath.