Well, my birthday was yesterday and despite those pining thoughts, it started on Sunday with my 2 of my closest friends going out to have Satay for our suppossed lunch at 3pm. It was like a double celebration as one of them celebrated her birthday on the 11th November. Happy belated birthday Achu! Thanks Kuah!
Then my sister and my niece and nephew took me out for dinner. They got me some presents which was also shared by my parents. Then my sis took me to TGIF. Food as usual was great with my favourite drink the lemonade. All ended well until the TGIF guys decided to make me stand on my chair and blow the candle on the cake which was on the table from where i was standing without bending at my waist – managed it was followed by some songs they sang. Luckily nobody I knew were there in TGIF. Thanks Sunu. That somehow made my day especially seeing my niece, Pattrena, eating so well – something she hardly does well.
Strike midnight, my parents called. They stayed awake just to be the first to wish me and they were.
On the 13th morning life started pretty much as usual with me having my operating theatre(OT) to run upto 8pm. The cases went well and in between my phone kept giving the sms signals. Then suddenly a call came through and my OT attendent took the phone to answer and was suddenly made silent. When I asked, he said ” Mr George, Celcom panggil tengah nyanyi lagu Happy Birthday” Habis, now the whole OT has found out. After my second case, I get a call saying that one of the patients have sent me something — great now the ward also knows.
After having finished my list and feeling drained on my birthday, I headed for the ward.
My nurses were all starring intently at me and I knew it was more than a surprise. Wow! A surprise did I get – in front of me a bouquet of fresh red roses in a fruit basket. On it a note of Happy Birthday from a patient I operated a year ago. She had a colostomy(Hartmann’s) which was done for a perforated diverticula disease, and in the process of recovery sufferd a below knee amputation from diabetic foot and an episode of heart attack. She was determined to have her colostomy reversed. No surgeon wanted to operate on her as she was deemed high risk. After two months of counselling and assessment, i saw her determination and I decided to proceed with a high risk consent informed. She took it bravely but was so scarred just before surgery. She trusted me wholly and that made me worried. Since, she has given me confidence and believe in return made me realise not to label someone too easily. Assess and decide for yourself and listen to what the patient has to say.
Overwhelmed, I called her to thank her. My spirits were renewed and I learned another personal lesson. Patients are your best teachers!
The day ended with calls from my other sisters and their family, Susan and Saji. Thank you all – family and friends and Aunty Kana(as she calls herself)! A flower for each of you!
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