Chapter 3 Beyond Expectation

Chapter 3   Beyond Expectation

On the 19th.October 13,I had to be accompanied by my son to meet with an appointment for a medical ckeckup at the University Medical Centre,Petaling Jaya.We were there quite early as we wanted to be in front when it opened up for treatments.That was why immediately I went in straight to register myself on arrival.

Thereafter I went in for the  measurements and weighing.However,the attending nurse stopped shot at me on seeing my condition of health.She insisted that I see the doctors with immediate effect.Nevertheless without hesitation she alerted the doctors.Further I was placed in waiting room for immediate treatments while waiting for the doctors in come in. This actually had caught  me by surprised as I was going in for  a simple checkup.True myconsidtion was not that impressive at a glance.

See,I was wheeled chaired into that room by my son.This being so because I could hartdly walk on my own and would also often ran out of breath.My whole body had swelled terribly.The attending doctor came in almost immediately.A simple look at me the doctor ordered that I be put under oxygen and after more examinations he explained to my son that I was in extremely bad condition and  oredred that  I be sent to emergency ward.

We were told how really bad my condition was and must treated immediately.I was also asked to make my decision on dialysis.The whole affair seemingly so sudden.There was no time even to say "no".There apparently no other way  out either accept it or ignoring it.Ignoring it would mean certain death for me or worst installed for me.

For me the doctor he said I was quite tough for I could still run around in my so bad condition.Some others could could collapsed long ago.Seeing neither way out and as I still wanted to live on I gave instruction that I be ready to accept dialysis.With that I was straight away warded  at the emergency ward.

Fate has been cruel to me.I had long planned to stay away from dialysis.I thought my kidneys could survive d the ordeal at 12% funtionabilty.How wrong I was  and actually there was nothing I could do I suspect was a breaking down process by the kidneys because of aging.Well I think you cannot fight that can I ?.As a consolation I think I had the better of life as I had been given by the Lord an extended twelve years of life.

I had long planned that should I not survive any longer I should not be a burden to any one let alone my own children.Not that I had doubts in the duties of them.With my getting sick so suddenly only proved the fate I survived in them all along.Now that my plans had been dashed what should I do?.My staying alive will now certainly caused untold miseries to them.Dialysis cost money and with much of my hard earned cash gone or depleted by now since I retired because of illness.

This will mean that my cash for my own treatment has reached its limitations.With that gone the rest will have to be dependent on my children.A thing I had dreaded for years is coming to reality,a thing I had never wished for.The idea of having to be a burden to anyone of them never crossed my mind.In any case they have their own family to care for.To rely on them would be quite unfair not that they are not reliable.So far it has proven beyond doubt that my children have not neglected me.

The Dialysis at the University Centre would be for two weeks only,thereafter I would be on my own.There are many such dialysis Centres around town but to seek a correct one is quite a challenge.I was fortunate this time as my son secured a Centre in Kepong not far from our home.However it was to be on a temporary basis only costing $ 180/= per dialysis.The arrangement is valid for two weeks only and after that who knows where I be.I will be having my first dialysis with starting to morrow evening.,

Going about the processing to this Centre alone were some hitches.There was to be a transfer letter from the Univesity Centre and a holiday could delay such .Then there was to be another blood test  privately as the Centre does not yield its report to anyone.So I had to undgo another round of blood test at a private clinic.All these cost money and delaid time.Thus my dialysis this time around is delaid by a day.

There should not be any delay especially for senior citizens.According to our law senior citizens above sixty years of age ought to be given free treatment at all government hospitals but sadly not so as patients for the dialysis exsisted places for treatments by many folds,The position is getting worst by the day.Thus everything is so opened to abuses by unscrupulous people.

Fortunately there were many good and kind souls still lingering around to offer free services to the needy.Such mostly non Governmental bodies offered free if not partial remittance of fees

For me these prices are beyond my expectations.I had wanted to abstained from all these to levy such burden on my children but fate had therefore been cruel to me.I had slogged  hard all my life working in plantations of private companies.The last company I worked for never paid me any graguity and their insurance nothing to shout about.What to expect from a company whose medical insurance for me was worst than that paid out by SCOSO.Well, one cannot cry over all these split milk.In any case we have gone passed all these and survived,so no point looking what had transpired.

Now presently must concentrate on the future,how not to be so dependent on anyone let alone my children.Is that possible?




to be continued