Monthly Archives: May 2006

May End


Last day of May today, and it also mean the last day of my rotation in the geriatric ward. And you know what, I think I am going to miss it.. a little bit. I know I have griped about working there a lot but at the same time I recognise that this ward has it’s purpose; just like every other discipline in my department.

I don’t have the desire or inclination to be a geriatrician but those that are, are doing a wonderful job. In fact, the thing that struck me most when I first transfered into this hospital was the passion and dedication the specialists here have for their work and patients. These I seldom see in the other places that I have worked in.

Tomorrow, I join ID for good. ID is my own passion. I hope and pray that God will help me work with equal passion and dedication in this field that I have chosen as my life career. Amen.

Culture of Silence


I just came back from attending the monthly department meeting. This monthly meeting is usually a boring affair, mainly to discuss issues as ancient as the Jurassic Park (and as unresolved as well).

Today, it was slightly different. Today I spoke up (rather emphatically I’m afraid). I won’t be writing about the issue here. It’s not important. What’s important is the fact that I personally know very few people who will speak up for what they believe in. Mainly because it will make them unpopular and it may even jeopardize their career should they voice their contra-opinion on issues that their superiors are advocating. I call that cowardice.

I believe in standing for what I believe is right. I believe in speaking up when injustice is done or imposed on others. I do not subscribe to the culture of silence….of keeping quiet, hoping the issue will just blow over; or just swallow your pride and go with the flow, even if it meant more work, more burden, more responsibilities, and therefore even more risks of error and the vicious cycle goes on and on. This has to stop somewhere.

So, today I spoke up. I don’t feel proud about it. I am just defending my conviction. I may well have offended some people and I don’t feel good about it. Yes, my career may be jeopardized, my 6 more months here not be all that pleasant and my popularity rating may have taken a drastic dip; but I have peace and my conscience is clear.

I doubt that by voicing my stand anything will change but at least I voiced what I believe is in the hearts and minds of the silent majority. I do not subscribe to the culture of silence. Never.

We’re out of Salt Water!



I think it’s totally laughable that while we are sending our SMART team to Yogjakarta to help the quake victims (and I think it’s a noble cause); on the home front, my hospital (I am told) is running low on Normal Saline Infusion Solution! It seems that the contract with the supplier has expired. Now all my patients are on either Dextrose Saline or Paeds Solution, regardless whether they are diabetics or the fluid regimen is woefully inadequate (for instance, to correct drug induced hyponatreimia). :-(

Someone should be made accountable for this.

501!!!!!!!


 

No, not the Levi’s label (though I have always dreamed of owning a pair of Levi’s….even the fake ones are expensive! Sheesh!).

Drum roll…

Today, I hit my target! Rather unexpected actually. The cardiac clinic just finished and I have reached my target of 500 patients! The one extra was a “What the heck! Just see one more -la” patient.

I feel a sense of great accomplishment and I am a little proud of myself. Heh heh! 6 months of slogging in the cardiac clinic is finally over! Praise the Lord! Inside me, I am just jubilating away! YooooooHoooooooooooooo!

Actually that’s only half the work done, albeit the tougher half; now I have to sit down and ‘clean up’ the data, organise them and finally analyse them and then write about them. Anyhow, half the battle is won and I really, really, really feel good about it.

To reward myself, I shall not go to the gym. I am sipping some hot Milo now, it’s pouring cats and dogs outside; I am going to wait till the rain stops, then I shall take a slow drive home and eat home cooked food (mum is in KL!).

Thank you Lord.

Last Day of School


Driving to work was a breeze this morning. It’s every motorist’s dream! It’s the school holidays, which means traffic is cut by more than half (for the next 2 weeks anyway). My personal dream is that the authorities should relocate all schools out of the city and have special transport to ferry the students to and from the schools. But then again, the parents would not be too pleased right? :-)

Btw, I found the picture above on the net. Looks like bad English isn’t just a local problem. I certainly wouldn’t want to sit for an anal examination! Ugh!

Another Bad Sign



Another example of a badly produced question, confusing the students. I mean, do you even notice the arrows (I highlighted it); if you don’t then both answers can be correct. Right?

Ok, ok, I confess I am a little miffed over it. Kiasu parents are allowed that. :-P

Anyhow, I am very proud of my girl. Here’s her full tally:

Maths : 100/100
English : 99/100
B.Melayu : 93/100
Science : 90/100
Moral : 83/100 (gotta work on this one…)

Well done sweetie! And enjoy our school break! :-)

Faulty Signs (Science)


My daughter got back her Science paper last week. She scored 90/100. I believe she could have scored better had the teacher taken the trouble to produce better quality pictures.

The teacher probably thought that her students have telepathic powers (ala Jean Grey) that would enable 7 year old kids to decipher what all the arrows in that ink smudge above point to!

A formal complaint lodged with the teacher had her saying that she had pasted a larger similar picture (I am not sure whether by saying it’s similar meant it was equally bad?) on the black board and she had in fact, instructed the students to refer to the black board when answering that question. I wonder how big was that picture and how many students (there are 40 of them) could see it clearly (my kid said she couldn’t and she wasn’t even myopic).

Well, as I was saying, if only she has done a better job in the beginning…

A Very Long Month


I think the month of May is the longest so far. I wonder when is it going to end!!! It seems like I have been in the geriatric ward for ages! :-P

The patients are generally wonderful and pleasant. It’s just that I don’t think I am cut out to be a geriatrician (which makes me really respect those who can be one!).

5 more days and counting…..

Parent’s Day


My church is celebrating Parent’s Day this weekend (I declined an invite to the Langkawi Island for a weekend meeting for this….a tinge of regret but I think it’s the right move). I am not sure what’s the program will be like but there will definitely be ‘makan’ (food!!!). If anything, my church is big in a few things..FOOD and FELLOWSHIP! :-)

In fact, that’s what attracted us to the church in the beginning, the overwhelming sense of love and concern for each other. It’s hard to find this in most churches these days.

A kind reader has sent me a song which will be sung by the Sunday School kids in her church. I think it’s appropriate to post it here. It’s a love song to the Father. Btw, she thinks I am a great dad! Blush blush! So pai-seh la…

Daddy You’re My Hero

Father You’re the best, my delight
Father You’re so sweet
Sweeter than honey on the rocks
Father You’re the light in the night
Father You’re my strength
and my forever friend

Ch:
Abba Father You’re my hero
You’re there when I need you
You sent the greatest gift
of love into my life

Daddy You’re the best and you’re mine
Daddy You’re so sweet
Sweeter than anyone I’ve met
Daddy You’re my song in the night
Daddy You’re my strength
And my forever friend

Ch:
Daddy Daddy you’re my hero
You’re there when I need you
You are the greatest gift
I received in my life…….

Song writer: KB Chan