COAMS #14 - allow God to do his magic

(May 04, 2006 at 02:46 AM)

I visited my piano teacher’s brother’s mother-in-law this afternoon. She was admitted to HUKM with bilateral stroke- cerebellum infarction. Mdm Chong, 72, had a history of chronic hypertension, on medication, came in to the A&E department with stroke, hemiplegia on the left side, with history of severe headache for a week.
When she (Mdm Chong) was first admitted last Monday, she was paralysed on the left side. The condition worsens, as yesterday, she couldn’t move both her right and left lower limbs. Luckily, sensory is still intact, only motor and co-ordination is affected. She had dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing) and had been fed through a Ryles tube (nasogastric tube). Her systolic blood pressure shot up to 200 yesterday but managed to be reduced to 160 today, still elevated though…

Really, what a medical student can do is very limited. I was shocked when my teacher called me for help. She had so many questions, answers which some I could not provide. I did wonder whether have I not studied enough… So, I just sort of accompanied her there, tried to explain the situation to her. Sometimes, I feel helpless…

Sometimes, I hate the doctors when they don’t take some time off to explain to the patient, talk to them,.. Sometimes, they take the patient for granted. ‘Arghh, she’s lucky to live till 72’ one of the doctors commented. Patients worry, their immediate families worry… they live in fear, they felt lost…

But, really, I can’t blame them, the doctors. They are busy people. They have to go for ward rounds, make important life-or-death decisions, go to the clinics, and even give lectures and classes to annoying students like us! (note: I haven’t touch personal space and time). I fear that one day I might be one of them. One day, I might eventually learn to hate myself…

I told them to expect the worst and pray for the best. Don’t think of how terrible the condition is, instead, think of what can be done… what can be done to improve the condition and prevent other complications… Emotional support, physiotherapy, etc… The doctors will always try their best. We, on the other hand must be strong and never give up.

“Keep praying and give her support,” I said. “We do our best, God will do the rest” – at this point, I allow God to do His magic, though I don’t really have any particular belief. I think all medical students eventually will learn to believe in God (I SO must convince Shu Juen, a friend of mine who is an atheist), it makes life easier. No, I don’t believe the monkey story (evolution). Doctors sometimes cure, comfort always. God decides and heals. So, really, there is no right or wrong.
My teacher’s sister-in-law is taking care of the patient now. Sometimes, I think we should have a profession ‘specially made’ to explain situations and conditions to the patients. Telling them, what to expect, and what can be done. Maybe, that is what I find lacking in the public sector.

I like to follow Dr Nafisah during ward rounds. I enjoy watching her work. So far, she’s the only doctor I knew who talks, listens and care for her patients. She’s my role model. ^_^