Lend a helping hand

World meet Rusty. Rusty meet world. Game.

Rusty is a little mongrel who laid sadly by the drain of a house with her other siblings and her slutty mum. Little did she know that she was going be saved from the ravages of street life : the random sex, the birth of a million puppies after another, and flees. Yes, fleas.

Rusty is fortunate to have been given a better life, a little princess kinda-life. She lives in an air conditioned room, has a cute little tee, and savours only the best - Pedigree Puppy Delights.

She now sits when ordered, shakes hand and fetches. She also mended the broken heart of a little boy. She brought joy to his life.

Taking her in was a huge responsibility; but it was worthwhile.

Immunisation only costs RM20*. Grooming only costs RM20*. Food only costs RM 24-Rm30** a month. Spaying only costs RM70*.

Many unfortunate dog's lives can be made better if we lend a hand. We can always neuter the canine and send them to SPCA for other dog lovers to adopt. Life on the streets isn't easy. Life is not worth living for them, and life is a terror for the folks' as their rubbish gets dragged away every night, leaving a mess in the mornings.

You can make a difference.

* in a government veterinary clinic
** varies with different brands

The End of A Wonderful Journey

Tales of A Little Boy has come to an END

Well, many must be wondering why (or not) I haven’t been writing anything here. Just so you guys know, I have been in IMU Clinical School Seremban now for about 21 weeks, and that’s a pretty long time. I guess I have to say I sorta lost the passion to write for a while, despite all that have been happening so far.

Clinical school has been a great experience thus far. You feel so close, yet so far from becoming a doctor. Life here is COMPLETELY different as compared to Phase 1, for starters, Self Directed Learning has a whole new meaning when you are actually here in CSS(Clinical school Seremban).

Being here, it’s not about studying anymore. It’s all about applying. If you thought that all those interviews with simulated patients were going to be the same when you start practicing, well, hell you’re wrong. Never mind the fact that most of the patients here prefer to speak in their mother tongue (which is hardly English,), what’s most important is that it’s not all the same, it’s not all stereotypical. Every single patient (and I mean, EVERY SINGLE one of them) has a different way of presentation, and you have to deal with all them in a different manner too. No two patients can be dealt the same way. Trust me.

You enter the ward with expectations, to get a case for your Case Presentations, to get a patient for your case summaries and case reports, etc, but the patients are there, with their own set of expectations. Problem is, can you even fulfill half of what they are expecting? Most often than not: NO.

Having a strong foundation is of utmost importance. Having compassion is another. You walk around the wards, and you see how the doctors behave, the nurses, the relatives, THE SPECIALIST, and you wonder to yourself, you wonder, and you fear if one day, just one fine day, if you will become what you see today.

Hell no. That will only be a curse.

I think I would have spoken to about 100+ patients until today. Each and every one of them worry if they are actually going to die, despite having the mildest abdominal pain. Never mind them, what about the ones who are really gonna see the gates of heaven (or hell) very soon? How about the ones with the big C? You are there, clerking and happily noting all your physical findings while they worry every second if they will be able to see their children get married, if anyone will be there to take care of their kids once they are gone...if the child that left them once will come back to see them just once, just once…

Many broke into tears in front of me, leaving me dumbfounded; speechless; at that time you wish you could just do something to make them feel better at that moment of time, or just wished that they die and put their suffering to an end. All I can offer is a hug, a pat, sit there and just listen to them. Nevermind if I have to go for a class in 5 minutes, they probably need me more.

When months pass, and you get used to what actually happens in the ward, you start to question if you can really blame the doctors, nurses etc for being the way they are.

But no, I’m not going to succumb to that. Not going to succumb to the fact that we will all get all too numb with that that happens in the ward and just be the same as others.

Anyways, coming back to the real reason of this post, I decided to stop, as it feels pretentious. You tailor to your reader’s needs and wants. Maybe if you don’t write about the latest news commenting about it, you are lesser a debater, or just being the bimbo that you are. I guess a blog is there for you to express yourself, 100%, but it ain't the case here.

So, bubbye Tales of A Little Boy

By the way, to those who are heading to your clinicals soon, don’t be discouraged. Clinical school has so much to offer, no matter where you go. It’s a whole new experience, worthwhile, every single minute you spend here. Medicine, it’s just a great field to be in. Seriously.

Looking back at what I have written here, I realised that this blog holds great memories, that with my friends, my fellow debaters, the darker side of me (he he he) and much more. Good times.

Butterfly

" I wait for the postman, to bring me a letter...
I wait for the good Lord to make me feel better....." -Confessions of a Broken Heart, Lindsay Lohan

" Things change, people have to change with time. It's only normal" - MLHZ

" I guess, all good things must come to an end.." - JRJJ

I remember the days, the early morns that wouldn't start till I received your zany message. How a perky little message lit my day as it would any other day when you were around. All the lame jokes, they seemed smart, the distance our imagination would go when we exaggerate the 'happenings' around us, still leaves a smile on my face. Remember the times we ran for burgers? Such pigs!! Talking under the moonlit bench by the pool, boy, didn't that just take the worries away as the wind blew pass our face?The times we spent together were priceless, the laughter shared, with nothing I would trade. Do you still remember?

OR

Was change too much of something you have been thinking about it marred every single memory you once had?

You once made promises, but the mirror of the future ,they seem to have shatter right in front of my face as I innocently gaze at them, with love, yes, wih love.

You said you missed me, but you didn't show it one bit when I met you. Maybe I expected too much.
You said you'll be the same. Maybe I lived in an illusion.
I once never wanted to speak. You made me. Now, I wish I never said a word. Nothing about myself. -but I remember all you that you did-

The songs we listened to once, they still strike the same chord when it plays on MtV( remember? The dumb people's channel? Ha ha)
If you tell me what's bothering you, I really would listen. If you had something to say about myself that you don't fancy, I would have faced it. But the tone you used, that hurt me more that the words you spoke.

A walk by the beach wih you I wished, but not even close to me you were. Maybe , new friends you have found? I wouldn't know, now would I? The week passed with such agony, I was ignored, almost felt like I was not there, glad you had fun though.

You see, I never expect anything from anyone. Really I don't. But I'm only human, with a sensitive heart that not everyone has. It hurt, it still does.

" I will not let myself cause my heart so much misery..." -

Because of you , Kelly Clarkson

I enjoyed every single time we had. I had a butterfly, it once had spread its wings like it never had, it flew across borders, it left me with good thoughts, warm feeling , and love. Now i wonder if it will ever come back. I miss it. So much.

Another Excuse to Procrastinate

Guess what? I'm still alive!

Darn, it's been ages since I last posted here...right now,i've just had dinner(lasagna) and well, it was kinda horrible....can you say "BLAND"??? Considering I havent posted a single entry in the past forever, i thought i'd just drop by and post something here...after all, vasan hasn't been posting as often as he used to anymore...consider this a favour i'm doing pro bono here, vasan! haha.. no, really, i'm just here 'cos i'm looking for an excuse to procrastinate.

where do i begin? classes have already started here since last monday...we're doing microbiology and immunology for sem 5....and i gotta say, they take their PBLs and practical labs very seriously...how serious? let's just say the end of semester exam has questions devoted entirely to PBLs and prac labs....i am under serious pressure!!...and i haaaaate pressure...don't they know i've had my fair share during MSK and NS?????????

on a somewhat brighter note, i'm so glad i received the original CPR certs and letter of good conduct this afternoon...my mom had sent it off last week and it was taking forever to get here (yours truly completely forgot to bring CPR cert along!). I honestly thought it was lost in the mail...i'd hate to take the CPR course again, 'cos they make you pay for it here...and it's conducted somewhere else outside uni....oh well, thankfully everything has arrived intact. Now i'm expecting a parcel to come along as well, containing my good old table lamp...yeah, i'm not used to the table lamp they provided here,'cos it's got a yellow globe bulb..it gets really hot after several minutes under it. If you were wondering why couldn't i just study in the library,it's because the uni lib closes at 6pm...apparently labour is expensive. Also, the biomed lib is closed till next week cos of faulty air conditioning..research for PBL has been tedious without any books handy..

everyone here has been really really nice so far..in uni, as well as here, in the college. Nevermind the fact that there's an issue here in Intl House that bothers me...i'm glad i got it off my chest last night to someone back home in m'sia...i actually felt much better today! But still, i haven't made any progress, thanks to my lack of guts (or the complete absence thereof).

and how i miss the heady imu days...all of a sudden, i'm millions of miles away from my comfort zone....no more:

• lame jokes (*sob sob*)
• laughing out loud
• sharing "opinions" (wink!)
• lying about National Coffee Day
• imitating ChuWanLoy
• toxoplasma-ing
• pony-ing
• diva-ing
• bimbo-ing
• pony sarcasm
• general bellyaching
• the occasional misunderstanding ( it was bound to happen anyway!)
• more toxoplasma-ing...hehe!
  

Oh well, it was good while it lasted. And now is just the beginning of what I hope are bigger and better things to come!

Deep Thinking?

Your Scholastic Strength Is Deep Thinking

You aren't afraid to delve head first into a difficult subject, with mastery as your goal.You are talented at adapting, motivating others, managing resources, and analyzing risk. You should major in: Philosophy Music Theology Art History Foreign language

What Should You Major In?

That's funny, I did not get medicine!! Ha ha....

Chronicles of Vasan - The Dolphin, Hair, and the Hospital.

In case you did not know, Im having a holiday. Nevermind that. Each and everyday for the past 3 weeks, heck, it's almost a month, I have been in and out of the hospital. But I'm not complaining. I think. =)

My aunt had been admitted for recurrent peritonitis. A little history, my aunt is chronic renal failure patient- had a transplant 8 years ago- failed about last year again- was on CAPD- peritonitis 4 times- So, after the forth time , it was crucial that The Tenchoff tube be removed and my aunty has to begin haemodialysis. Then again, she has to use the neck line ( which is dangerous, in fear of thrombosis), so the need to make an AVF ( arteriovenous fistula) using an artificial graft. Long story aside, she has been discharged, and will be on medication and follow up. You medic students out there (IMU) who are interested in this (rather interesting ) case, can e-mail me. Here, I would just like to thank all my dear Darling friends who have been praying and visiting, to name a few, sheen, Sheena's MUM, Anne, Daphne, Amelia, all you guys from CSS, and all the rest who have been supportive. Thanks!! It really helped!

Just two days before my aunt was discharged, My relative had to go to the same hospital. He was referred from another clinic. If I'm not wrong, he is suffering from Cervical spondylosis. I had a look at his MRI, he has an intervertebral prolapse at C5 C6, C4 C5 . The bulge at C5 C6 is quite, well, big, so its close to he spinal cord, which is causing radiculopathy. Just came back from the hospital, he will need a surgery in another couple of months, but not before they send him (and me) around the hospital to every department lining up for numbers to perform various test ( of which , some, I thank is totally irrelevant!). Anyways, things will be fine, that I'm sure.

So, what is it about the hospital that is tiring? It's the walking. lining up. waiting, and tolerating ill- attitudes of the people working there (well, not all of them!) . Most of the staff have been extremely nice to me ( esp ward 8TE, you guys rock!!).
Communication is really important. Some of the nurses and attendants (hell, doctors and medical students) just take it for granted that patients know everything. For example:

Nurse:" Ahh..you go there tomorrow first floor.."
Me: " By 'there' did you mean Menara Utama, Timur, Klinik or?????"
Nurse: " There la"
Me: Menara Utama?
Yes yes

What the??!!!

Nurse: " Go home and put the hot bag on"
Me: " By that, did you mean wrap a towel around it before putting it on?"
Nurse: giggles.." Ah, yes..."
I mean , come on, my grand dad has never used it, what if he just put the bag without wrapping it????

Next:
After waiting for a long long time, we were called in by a medical student who wanted to take history ( from my grandad). Boy, was he so repetitious. He kept asking the same questions, and did I mention his questions were all over the place? He was trying so hard to speak Bahasa, when all the time, my grandad could have conversed in English. Point here is not about how the medical student was. It was about how dis-concerned both the doc and med students were. They made my grandad stand, bend, this and that , took the MRI and he started teaching while my grandad was just seating there. Mind you, WE WERE WAITING LONG, and my grandad is really worried bout his health.

NOW, It's not wrong to teach, hell, I'm a medical student , I know.

The least they could have done ( esp the Dr.) was to tell my grandad to be patient, or maybe ask his permission before taking such a long time, which didn't benefit him at all. Worst, after all that , he did not explain what's going on until I had to ask him the relevant questions, probable follow ups, etc etc. Now imagine if this was just a quiet patient. The doctor left before I could get him, so I demanded that the medic student ( who had earlier examined him) to at least thank my grandad, assure him ,and apologize. Note, that I was polite and at no time arrogant when requesting that he does so.

The hair
My hair has been attracting ( too much ) attention. Just this morning, an elderly lady with red hair kept looking at it, I gave her a smile, to which she then asked how I got it done. Later, before she left, she asked if it was expensive. Then she briskly walked away saying she is gonna do it.
Other comments:
" Oi, tengok..orang Negro.."
" Wah...."
Look look stare stare... No end to it

Do I like the attention? What do you think? I'm used to it! I didn't need the hair..ha ha ha