Steve Jobs 1955-2011

Arrived at work to learn about the passing of this great man. He has been unwell for a number of years. We were sort of like wondering if the end was near for him.

It seemed that he managed to keep his personal live off the limelight as there was not a clue on his condition despite the launch of iPhone 4S yesterday. There was no tribute or even a mention of the great man. And I suspected that that was his wish.

In every generation there would be a person who symbolised the period. JFK for instance before him. In my generation thus far, I can unashamedly say that it was Steve Jobs. I would always remember the day I learned about his passing for the rest of my life. Rest in peace Steve .....

Of another mortality

Just after midnight earlier, I received another phone call. This time it was from Institut Jantung Negara where Anita's aunty has been admitted since Monday. she has a history of heart disease and has recently been ill. She was initially admitted into another hospital in Ipoh but due to complications, was transferred here.

She was doing fine until yesterday when her condition took a sudden sharp deterioration. The family gathered yesterday, but she was still fine. Apparently she suffered a stroke, details of which was rather sketchy, and something I would rather not dwell on. She drew her last breath after midnight, and I just returned from IJN where at this very moment, her body was being driven back to Ipoh. My in-laws would be traveling to Ipoh later today, but I don't think that either myself or Anita would. Therefore, in the space of 24 hours we had a couple of family members passing on. Alfatihah.

Of mortality

I just learned that a family member passed away earlier this afternoon. Alfatihah. He was diagnosed with liver cancer at the end of last year and by the time the diagnosis was established - in UMMC as he was originally from Kuala Terengganu, it was already too late and all that could be offered was steps to increase his quality of life. He was put on an expensive medication to help curtail the spread of the disease. He had a good 4 months period since taking the drug. He was able to return to Kuala Terengganu to spend the last few weeks of his life, to say his last goodbyes.

This took a turn for the worst a couple of weeks back. He turned jaundice and his children asked him to return to KL. He was admitted the day after and it was established then that the end was approaching. He was started on pain killer. Some fluids were taken off his lungs to ease his breathing. He did not suffer at all in the end.

How appropriate that I heard the news about his passing while I was attending a kenduri arwah, held 40 days after a death of another family member. This lash had relapse of her breath cancer. She was first diagnosed with it back in 1989 at the then University Hospital. She was operated on, following she had radiotherapy. She had almost 20 years of near-normal life. But time caught up with her.

Being an Oncologist, sometimes I disattached myself from the subject of mortality in order to function. But it still effects me if it were to happen on somebody I know personally. That was also the reason why I went to distance not to treat any of my family members - sometime they even accused me of not being helpful. But I guessed that was my coping mechanism .....