Menacing Weather

It hasn't been a good Monday. It started with heavy traffic heading to SJMC after dropping the boys at school. It was supposed to be my day off sorting out the conference coming later this week but it turned out to be a long morning session.

As I was preparing to head to KL Tower to settle some arrangements, Anita called to say that her cousin's wife passed away earlier this morning.

After settling my affair at the gower, I headed straight to PPUM just in time to avoid the heavy downpour. All the way to UMMC the sky looked menacing. I wonder what the weather would be like during the burial later ...

Manage to meet a few old friends while I was there before going back to SJMC for some review. By the time in was done for the day, I was actually quite tired. Had a nap before getting up again for more emails and letters. So much for a day off ...

One after The Other

2018 began with some bad news for me. First of all, on the evening if the New Year, I received a call from one of my cousin Uncles about his mother being ill. I dropped by at his place later that evening to visit. Things wasn't looking good but my Grand Auntie still managed to muster a smile and asked Anita a couple of questions.

Apparently she didn't talk much after our visit. She passed away the next afternoon.

The morning after, while I was planning to attend her funeral after my morning round, my Mum called. This time one of Ba's good friend - one of Julia's witness during her akad nikah - had just passed away.

Plans was changed and I joined my Mum and Julia in Keramat to pay the family a visit.

So, two death in as many days. I wouldn't say that 2018 started with great news. But things happened. They were both suffering from cancer and their passing would've spared them from some suffering.

Alfatihah.

A Sad Monday

I finally made it to my bed at 3 am after a quick stop at McDonald’s on the way home from the hospital. Typical of Sundays, the admissions tended to come during ungodly hours after they had enjoyed their weekends. After going through the admissions, I was peckish and decided for a quick burger on the way home.

The sleep then also wasn’t a particularly good one, being interrupted every half an hour or so. But the call just after 6 am woke me up. My Mum rang to tell me that one of my Aunt took the turn for the worse overnight and was fighting for her life in Intensive Care.

I made plans to visit her later that morning, since I had to sort out my post-call chores. Anita went to pick up my parents after dropping Irfan at school. They plan to go earlier. Then the news broke that she was no longer with us.

My parents and Anita arrived as the body was being cleaned. I couldn’t finish my work in time and by the time I reach the apartment, they were already transporting my Aunt in the hearse heading back to Penang. They plan to lay her to rest later in the afternoon. My parents then drove back to Penang, but I wasn’t able to go at such short notice, especially on the day post-call.

It was only a couple of weeks back that her son - my cousin - got engaged. The wedding was planned next month in Terengganu and Penang. It looked like it would be a sombre affair. Alfatihah ...

Good Night Sir

The passing of Dr Ahmad Kamal was felt at all levels at SJMC. The kindest of colleague, always jovial and knew when to press the right button. Very welcoming when I started off in Subang back in 2011.

My Facebook feed was filled with throwback photos of the smiling gentleman and even towards the end, all he thought about was coming back to work. His patients, colleagues and nurses held him in highest regard and we will continue to cherish the memories.

On a personal note, I first met Dr Kamal in 2006 when myself with Dr No Soo Chin and Dr Alan Teh attended a research course in Sabah. We went for a nice seafood dinner one evening, just the four of us. And half a decades later, we were colleagues in Subang.

His passing would also meant that I had to step up and put up the bill for the yearly Cancer Centre berbuka puasa event that he hosted with Dr Matin Mellor every year. We also felt amongst the Doctors that we should rename the Cancer Centre in Subang in his honour. After all, he helped set the unit up.

From now on, it looked like it would be only me using a fountain pen in Surgical A North Tower - at least until somebody else decided to join in. We used to talk about his own collection and his professed love for Audi. I was sure he would be sorely missed by his wonderful family.

Alfatihah.

Rest in Peace Sir

This morning, SJMC mourned the passing of a truly great colleague, Dr Sabri. A pioneer Neurologist, he lost a long battle against cancer although he was still at work last Ramadhan.

Unfortunately I was on call today and was unable to attend his funeral scheduled for this lunch time. Many of his colleagues attended to him during his last illness and he was still a gentleman even though we realized that things were not going to plan.

He met his Maker this morning and the mood during the morning round was a somber one. He was much loved at the hospital and everybody wishes his family condolences, and Dr Sabri to be in Jannah. Alfatihah.