Grannie’s 9th Day at Rafflesia Medical Centre Part 2

At 3pm we rushed to the medical centre after receiving a call from the nurse saying grannie has to be on the oxygen tank. Calls were made to Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, United States of America and London to update everyone on the latest news.

Grannie managed to hear voices of Aunty Shirley, Uncle Peter, Uncle Phillip, cousin Chui Chui and my brother Jeff. They told her to wait for them to come back.

Since today is Sunday and the laboratory is not open, Dr. Kiew gave grannie a blood transfusion of Type B blood. If she rejects the blood, he is on stand by to give her injection.

Her blood pressure can range from the vicinity of 80 to 130.

Right now mum is there to look after her while we came back for shower and to have dinner.

Jeff and Chui Chui are on Air Asia waiting list to come back to Kota Kinabalu. Aunty Shirley and cousin Alan Chong will come back from Kuala Lumpur tomorrow. Uncle Hoi may be coming back tomorrow depending on the availability of air ticket.

Grannie’s 9th Day at Rafflesia Medical Centre

This morning I drove the younger maid to the medical centre so that she could look after grannie while her aunty (grannie’s maid Maria) can come home to rest.

When I arrived the lights of the room were switched on, Maria told me that grannie had been having diarrhoea all throughout the night and therefore both of them did not sleep much. She tried to give some porridge we brought to grannie but she did not want to have any. She looks worst today since admission and she’s in a lot of pain.

Finally for the first time since grannie’s admission, I met Dr. Kiew Chik Sang. He should be in his 50’s, slightly above 5 feet, slim and wearing glasses. He spoke to grannie in Cantonese.

He also confirmed that grannie looks the worst today eventhough for the last two days her condition was improving. He explained to me that grannie is having two problems right now.

1. Her stomach is bleeding because of stress. This stress comes from not being able to do what she wants. As a result, the nurse administered an injection for this.
2. Since old people have delicate skin, there is a sore at her buttock caused by wearing diapers and from not being able to move much. He advised us to get a bottle of Vaseline and to apply it when changing diapers.

Furthermore, he explained the following.

1. Her diarrhoea is caused by the reaction to the antibiotic. There was also blood when she passed motion.
2. He took some blood from her left hand for blood test to ascertain whether there is any drop in her blood count. If yes, then he would have to give her a blood transfusion. (I just received a sms from Aunty Linda. The doctor is giving her a blood transfusion in 2 hours’ time since she has lost a lot of blood).
3. Eventhough she has not been sleeping much, he cannot sedate her because that will stop her from coughing. By not coughing the mucus in her lungs will get worst. He will give her something to liquidify the flame.

He advised those who want to come back to see grannie to come back. She may get worst or get better.

Grannie’s 8th Day and Night at Rafflesia Medical Centre

The maid gave grannie porridge three times today because mum put it into a vacuum flask when she went to visit grannie this morning. When I was throwing away the leftover just now, the flask was still slightly half full.

Grannie could recognise mum and I but called Aunty Linda Ah Wai (my late sister).

Tonight she talked a lot. Among them:-

1. I want to go to Singapore to visit my sister. (Aunty Linda had to pacify by saying we will decide tomorrow because the time is already 8 something to 9).
2. I want to die.
3. I want to get out of the bed.
4. I am in a lot of pain.
5. I can see Jesus. He is very tall, beautiful and is wearing a beautiful robe.
6. I can see angels.
7. I can see white light.

Before we left, Aunty Linda prayed for her. We told her to go to sleep and pray to Jesus. She nodded her head.

Weida 2008 Planner

For the last few years I have been using the Weida Planner both at work and at home.

Today a friend of mine from Weida Environmental Technology Sdn. Bhd. delivered two 2008 Planners for me.

I like the Planner because I can see one month calendar at the same time. I can jot down events for the month and plan for my holidays as well.

Grannie’s 7th Day and Night at Rafflesia Medical Centre

Aunty Linda looked after grannie the whole day today while grannie’s maid came home for a rest.

Tonight when we visited grannie, she looked the worst since admission. She was still eating her porridge when we left. The weird thing is Dr. Kiew Chik Sang said grannie’s condition is improving.

Grannie’s does not have teeth anymore because all her dentures were taken out. So now it is harder to hear what she is talking about. Aunty Linda said she did mention something about she can see Ah Wai. But when aunty asked grannie whether she’s talking about my late sister or a distant relative of the same name, grannie did not answer her.

Before we left the medical centre, I took a photo of the two newly born babies at the ward.

We went to have dinner at Win Lap Coffee Shop in Kepayan and ordered 'sayur manis' (local Sabah veges) with shrimp paste, stir fried beef with ginger and shallots, mango chicken, ‘ko lo yuk’ (pork) and five barbeque chicken wings. Every dish tasted nice except the veges. Just because we do not want it to be too hot and spicy, the cook omitted the shrimp paste totally.

Awal Muharram 2008

Yesterday was Awal Muharram, a Muslim public holiday. Awal means beginning while Muharram is the first month of the Muslim calendar. That means yesterday was the Muslim’s New Year. There is going to be another Awal Muharram on 29 December 2008.

I managed to clock in seven hours of sleep. I had two mini croissants with a cup of Milo for breakfast.

I drove and parked the car at Sunny Garden so that Lily Tan can fetch me and we went to Fook Look Siew Funeral Parlour to pay our last respect to Sharon Lai’s younger brother and chatted with her for a while.

I proceeded to Karamunsing Shopping Complex and parked the car at the carpark next to the Sabah Electricity Sdn. Bhd.’s Building. Eventhough the time was only slightly after 11a.m., there were not many parking bays left.

I went to McDonald’s and took away a beef burger to eat at the hair saloon when the saloon worker was washing my hair. At first I only wanted to trim and steam (treatment) my hair. But when my hairdresser Maggie was trimming my hair, I asked her whether I have a lot of white hair and she answered in the affirmative. So I decided to colour my hair as well since Chinese New Year will be in exactly four weeks’ time. I do not wish to go back to the hair saloon between now and then. After my hair do, I had a bowl of ‘Pan Mee’ at Nice Café located at the First Floor and I did some shopping before going home.

I managed to have two hours of sleep in the late afternoon. We had dinner at home before going to the airport to fetch Aunty Linda. I went inside the arrival hall to check whether she arrived. I felt so foolish when my brother called to say that aunty had come out already. I must have missed her while I concentrated on making a call to her which she did not answer.

We went to Rafflesia Medical Centre and grannie recognised Aunty Linda. Before we left, aunty prayed for grannie.

Aunty had a plate of noodles near the medical centre and together with four glasses of herbal tea, the bill came to RM12! Unbelievable!

On the way home, mum told aunty that we will bring her out for dinner tonight to ‘sai chan’ (wash dust). Haha This is a Cantonese term which means to get rid of all the dust from her and start anew again in Sabah.

Grannie’s 6th Day and Night at Rafflesia Medical Centre

Tonight Aunty Linda Chew arrived from Tanjung Malim. We went to airport to fetch her before going to see grannie.

Grannie recognized Aunty Linda. She looked tired again tonight and the maid said she has been sleeping at night. Grannie ate a few spoonful of porridge.

Dr. Kiew Chik Sang said grannie’s condition is improving.

Grannie’s 5th Day and Night at Rafflesia Medical Centre

Tonight when we arrived, grannie was half asleep. She looks weaker than last night.

The maid had to wake her up to eat a few spoonful of porridge.

While she was half asleep, she said the following in Cantonese.

1. Tomorrow I want to go to Hong Kong.
2. I want to eat ‘tong yuan’ (round dumplings).
3. I am very cold (spinxie adjusted the air-conditioner for her).

Grannie’s 4th Day and Night at Rafflesia Medical Centre

Tonight when we arrived, cousin Victor Chong and his wife Rowena were visiting grannie. Grannie ate almost half a bowl of watery porridge, which was a great improvement from a few days ago.

Doctor recorded that her condition has improved a bit. The maid said she might be on the 7th drip since admission.

Grannie’s 3rd Day and Night at Rafflesia Medical Centre

Last night when we arrived, cousin Victor Chong was visiting grannie. Grannie looked slightly better than the previous day. When we asked her whether she wanted to eat watery porridge, she said yes. But after only one spoonful, she did not want to eat anymore and said that she’s full.

Her hearing is still excellent because she could hear what we were talking about. She also told us to go home and sleep.