Bedridden: where danger lurks beneath the blanket!

Bedridden: where danger lurks beneath the blanket! ( Haiku)

Bedridden (Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com)

Clots in brain removed,

blood in condom drainage seen.

Head bandage intact.

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Two nurses sponged him.

Doctors checked his head dressings.

He’s neatly tucked in.

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But right leg swollen!

Three times the size of left leg!

Who noticed his legs?

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There are many complications of immobility. The case above was noticed ten day after brain surgery. It is called deep vein thrombosis ( DVT).

DVT can also happen when sitting for a long time, such as, driving or flying.

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Cancer And The Doctor’s ‘Crystal Ball’

Cancer And The Doctor’s ‘Crystal Ball’ (Photo by EVG Culture on Pexels.com)

Cancer And The Doctor's 'Crystal Ball'


How many years have I left? 
At my stage of cancer, 
and according to statistical studies, 
the doctor said that I had about two years left! 

Mr. Despondent cried. 
I cannot afford to be admitted. 
For each day without work 
would mean no food for my family! 

Mr. Suicidal mulled. 
Cancer means death. 
Cancer means a lot of pains. 
My family will worry about more hospital bills! 

Mr. Pious calmly accepted. 
It's not for the doctor to decide. 
Only GOD will determine when he takes me. 
Meanwhile, I will continue to do good. 

Mr. Philosophical stated. 
My young colleague died, 
on the spot, in an accident, 
and another two, 
of heart attack and dengue. 
With cancer, I have time to plan 'my future'. 

Mr. Fighter scoffed. 
That was twelve years ago! 
Look at these two scars on my tummy. 
I challenged each time the 'Big C' returned! 
It’s interesting to note 
how some people have greater will-power
 to live compared to others. 

It is important to have 

a nurturing of hope, positive attitude, 
stronger determination, better coping skills, 
with good family support and love. 

Each physician should not look at 
his or her own ‘part of the elephant’ 
but at the client as a whole. 

Are there sufficient supports 
from nurses, palliative team, social welfare, 
counsellors and religious personnel? 

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“The cure of many diseases is unknown to physicians
because they are ignorant of the whole.
For the part can never be well unless the whole is well.” 
– Plato.

Oh, my kids’ English! – Bananas

Oh, my kids’ English! – Bananas

I grew up in a family where all my siblings were Chinese-educated. But my children grew up speaking English, Malay and Chinese dialect (Hokkien). I started reading the “Peter and Jane” series to them at the age of two. Oh, my kids’ English is about some of the amusing words they used as kids!

Bananas (Photo by Daniel Dan on Pexels.com)

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“Mum, mum! Are these bananas cooked?” as they ran in after the evening outdoor games with their neighbours.

“Yes, dear. The bananas are ripe!”

“Dinner will be ready soon. The rice is cooked!”

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Learning English is like duck takes to water for them. They usually scored distinction, even my youngest and special child!

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Fasting: can serve food or not in public?

Fasting: can serve food or not in public?

Fasting month- can eat or not in public?

It is fasting month now.

Some local eatery owners were distressed having to police Muslim patrons in Ramadan.

In a multi-cutural society here, some dark Chinese look more like Malays or Indians, Eurasians, and vice versa! Who dares to pop that rude ‘question’!

I had experienced a patient asking a question to my Malay female colleague in Hokkien. She was standing next to me then.

She replied, “Ah Po (granny), I don’t know how to speak Chinese. She is Chinese!” …pointing to me! I was fair skinned enough. She happened to be fairer than me!

Back to the topic above, I would like a signage like, “Muslim not allowed to dine in here during fasting”. See? They ought to be responsible for their own actions.

Would this be a better signage? “If you have a valid reason not to fast (such as illness or menstruation), please opt for take-outs or discreetly, ‘the back room’!

So,

to serve the food, or not, to eat or not in public?

Oesophageal cancer: “… wanting a taste of food.”

Oesophageal cancer: “… wanting a taste of food.”

Tasting food (Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com)

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I read “The Taste Of Chocolate (Flash Fiction #35)” by Haoyando. It reminds me of a person with oesophageal cancer who suffered from dysphagia and could not swallow food.

A feeding tube was inserted through the nose straight to the stomach. Liquid food was fed several times a day.

Sometimes, the carer would feed him small spoonfuls of porridge with fish or minced meat. Slowly he would chew and roll the food inside his mouth with his tongue. Then he would spit the chewed food into a bowl.

The carer would strain this mushy food through a siever. This was mixed with the remaining liquid and fed through the naso- gastric tube.

That way he got to masticate the meat with his teeth, stimulated the taste buds on his tongue, and mixed the food with his oral salivary enzymes.

We must grateful for the ability to savour the little moments of joys satiating food!

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Quotes:-

Food is not just eating energy. It’s an experience. – Emoovio

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Breast cancer incidences now the most common…

Breast cancer incidences now the most common…

Cancer (Photo by Ivan Samkov on Pexels.com)

According to WHO, in 2020, cancer is a leading cause of death.

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The most common NEW cases were breast cancer (2.26 millions)! It has overtaken lung cancer’s place!

New cases of lung cancer is in the second place (2.21 million cases), followed by colon and rectum (1.93 million cases); prostate; skin (non-melanoma); and stomach (1.09 million cases).

Cervical cancer is not in this top list. It used to be higher than breast cancer decades ago. Have systematic screenings and HPV vaccination played a big role?

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The most common causes of cancer DEATH in 2020 were: lung (1.80 million deaths); colon and rectum; liver ; stomach; and then breast (685 000 deaths).

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Breast cancer incidences is now the most common… displacing lung cancer.

Have increased awareness and early screenings increase the number?

Have these strategies conversely lower the number of breast cancer deaths, as compared to the other cancers?

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Big pie, small pie matters…economically

Mum, I want a piece of the pie, too!

Big pie, small pie matters…economically

In a Town A, there were five bakers. Each employed five apprentices. So there were twenty five apprentices in employment.

Two bakers were not happy with the town mayor’s new rules and taxation policy. They decided to go to another town B to set up their business. So there was less opportunity for employment in town A.

Now in town B, there are eight bakers, creating more job opportunities there! So the youths from town A moved to town B to seek employment.

This is a simple analogy of businesses, job opportunities for the youths, and supplies meeting demands economically.

Don’t kill the geese that lay the golden eggs, then there will always be enough pies to go around for everyone!

Tell the universe

Tell the universe

Many people suffer in silence. The excuses are shame, taboos, ‘don’t wash dirty linens in public’, or ‘ you are weak’. And so, they ‘drown’!

Speaking up here refers to talking to someone close to oneself or a counselor. A meditation guru once suggested “meditating and telling the universe”. In peaceful solitude and self-reflection, one may find the answers or solutions.

Tell the universe (Picture courtesy of Ruzita Mohd Dan, Gp 2/92)

Two emergencies of bleeding

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Two emergencies of bleeding

Injured her foot. (Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com)

Little Tom fell from his bicycle.

Everybody at home panicked.

“He is bleeding a lot … a lot! Can you come home, mum?” the older brother cried.

“Listen, boy. Go get a clean towel from the cupboard. Cover the wound. Press to stop the bleeding. Just press. Daddy will be back in a few minutes. I will meet you all at the emergency department.”

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Nurse Chen went back to attend to her two patients. The doctors and nurses were hanging blood, pack after pack, only to see more blood being vomited and passed out. The resuscitation went on for these two regular patients who had cirrhosis liver and bleeding oesophageal varices.

Nurse Chen informed the ER staff to expect her son. He had five stitches on his foot.

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Both are emergencies. The amount blood loss varies. But the perception of ‘a lot of blood loss’ is very real in both contexts!

Silent supporters

Silent supporters

Silent supporters (Photo by RF._.studio on Pexels.com)

I put a lot of effort into drawing cartoon for this video post. Then…

“Hmm, so many are viewing my video on “Fitting mental chips…” The traffic seems to be increasing of late!”
Then I stumbled upon a few bloggers who had been sharing my posts on other social media, no wonder!

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I am amazed with this blogging community!