Last Thursday morning I went to see my patient, whom I wrote about in my angst-ridden article earlier, in the orthopedic ward. He looked frail then, running a temperature and I discovered that he has not been operated on and that the doctor who was in charge of him was on leave and that there will be no doctors covering him! What that basically means is that it is highly unlikely my patient will be operated on. Another day’s delay will mean a step closed to death’s door for him.
I confess I did raise a bit of a ruckus then, very unfortunate for doctors from another team who listened to me in, what I perceived to be, a mixture of sympathy and fear.
That afternoon, I received a call from Mr. F, the orthopedic surgeon in charge of my patient. We had a bit of a chat, very cordial and polite (I find conversations between specialists to be generally pleasant, but not so, when dealing with Medical Officers ~ not sure what the reason is). He wanted the patient ’stabilized’ and I told that it is not realistic to expect stabilization of all his parameters as he is in sepsis. We ended the conversation cordially and he said he will operate on the patient if the anaesthesia team has no objection.
Actually I had very little hope of the operation ever going ahead.
But it did!
On Friday evening, I discovered that the patient has been operated on the night before and under GA too! 
On Saturday morning, I went to see the patient and he looked a lot better, the fever has settled and though he looked a bit pale (from blood loss I think), he was definitely better and even managed to smile.
I requested the patient to be transferred back to the medical ward.
I wish to say a big THANK YOU to Mr. F and his team and also to the anaesthesia team who, despite the risk, agreed to take the patient into the OT in what I would consider a life saving procedure. Thank you, thank you, thank you very much. You guys have done what very few others would be willing to do and as a result, my patient has been given a fighting chance in life. I cannot thank you enough.
On Friday night, when I went to the Petronas station nearby to pump gas (yes, CNG), I happened to walk into the convenience shop there. The purpose was to buy a loaf of bread but I took some time and looked at all inspirational posters that were displayed for sale there.
You know, I never expected it, but standing in front of the rows and rows of plastic covered posters, reading each inspirational verses printed on them, below magnificent pictures, I felt very encouraged and inspired. I felt strengthened and I found a new resolution to carry on. It was a very good and personal moment.
One particular poster caught my eye. The title is ‘PERSEVERANCE’ and it has a picture of a high mountain peak.
Perhaps I might buy it when I visit the station next time and paste it on my office door to encourage myself and anyone who passes in front of my office!
Yes, there is light at the end of the darkest of nights.
Sun, 170808 @ 1927, praying desperately that Malaysia will win its first Olympic Gold Medal ~ God knows we need some good news in this country!
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