My Parents' Proudest Moment

Last week was a hectic week for me, a week with many walking that is. As you know, I am still "handicapped" after my surgery. The recovery has been very very slow. Thus till now, I still had to limp while walking. This makes my walking experience unpleasurable. Nevertheless going out and walk beat staying at home and get bored to death. At least its an exercise for my dear knee.

Got myself involved in NTUMS Freshmen Orientation Camp. Not a major role, just a handicapped station master. In fact I think I didn't do much except for the night walk probably. Reason for going was more of meeting friends than to help around cause seriously, there is nothing to help. There was more than enough hands and legs to assist the FOC adhoc committee. In fact from my observation, the amount of helpers that were around during the FOC could have been used for a camp with participants of about 100 people but there were only 30 participants. Nevertheless I had enjoyed myself and I thank the FOC adhoc for inviting me and giving me the opportunity to contribute in promoting good and forbid evil.

Smacked right in the middle of the FOC was my graduation ceremony a.k.a. convocation. Objectively and personally, I think convocation is a waste of time and money. Nothing was given out during the ceremony that was important. All certificates and transcripts were given out prior to the convocation. What was given at the stage was just an empty folder. Having said that however, I feel that it marks an important day for family and friends. For parents, it was the proudest day for them to see their son or daughter wearing the robe and going on stage to receive the so-called certificate. It marks the greatest achievement for them and also a sense of satisfaction that all their efforts in bringing up their son or daughter had paid off. One incident that really touches my heart was when I saw an old lady assisted by her son slowing climbing down the stairs probably trying to get a closer look at her grandson or granddaughter receiving the folder. To think that such effort by the old lady really shows that the convocation is really an important ceremony. It is actually not for us but actually for our parents.

The Day of Pain and Endless Pain

Anterior Cruciate Ligament(ACL) Reconstruction. That is the name of the surgery that I had underwent last Tuesday. So why do I need the reconstruction surgery in the first place? Well, it all happened around 2 years ago. I was playing soccer with my friends at Sentosa after swimming with the incident happened. It was the most painful situation I had ever felt. I had to limp all the way back from the beach to the monorail to the ferry terminal to the harbourfront and taxi back home. At home I iced my knee for a few hours then went to sleep. Next day went to doctor and what did the doctor say? "I think it is just a sprain. It will recover in a few days time. Just don't exert yourself." What a good dignosis by the doctor and see what happened 2 years later?

Well the surgery was, somehow, quick. The waiting was however torturing. I reached the day surgery centre at 8am. Got admitted and change into the operation gown. Waited till around 11 plus then, the nurse came to bring me in. It was a very funny feeling being pushed lying down on the bed thtough the ward and everyone was looking at you. The expression on their faces makes you wonder if you will ever come out in one piece. Once inside, it was a different world. Everyone was busy. I was push to the area outside my operation theatre. Came Miss Anaesthesist trying to explain to me the whole anaesthesia thingy. Then guess what? She poke me with the big needles for THREE times! Gosh! The first 2 times was not successful and she had to pull out the BIG needles and poke me again. Then I realised that she was a young doctor when a much older doctor came to help her. Thank God. The older lady doctor was also an anaesthesist and she told me she is going to numb my left leg and to do that she will need to inject my groin area. Oh man! That was super duper painful. Then something happened that cause my leg to shake uncontrolably. She used a electrical equipment to shake my leg unwillingly and that was a funny sensation. When its time to go in, I only had like 1 or 2 mins before the nurse puts the breathe apparatus on my mouth and made me went to sleep.

Wake up ard 3pm and found myself on the bed with a heavy, numbed leg. Then I knew that it had been done. I wasn't in pain yet. The whole painful experience came when I wanted to go back home. I vomited and vomited till I got no more stuff in my stomach to vomit. I just want to get home and sleep. I reached home fast because the hospital was near my house and thank Allah for a wonderful family that I was settled into my bed quickly. Did my prayers and went to sleep immediately.

So yup, that basically sum up my ordeal on last tuesday. Will talk more later. Need to rest now. Cannot sit up for too long. My leg is bloated.