It has been an eventful week an the turn of the year for me as we got into a new decade. A number of things happened, planned and unexpected.
My wife had lined up 2 dinners on Sun and Mon to catch up with old friends. They were enjoyable as we have good company, nice wines and food. On Tues (eve of New Year, 31st), it was lunch at a well known Italian establishment with my group of good friends to celebrate the end of the year.
Shortly before that lunch, I learnt from my sis that my mom has had a bad fall overnight while overseas. She had travelled to Malaysia for her annual trip to Ipoh with her regular group of seniors on Sun. There were little details then except that she was warded into the A&E hospital department and awaiting the results of a CTI head scan. A friend will take a flight back with her that evening if possible. For a senior of 85 years of age, a fall could be very harmful.
I was on a number of calls during the whole lunch as we scramble to make sense of it all. The senior doctor later determined that there was blood in the scan and advised her to spend another night in the hospital for further observation. Her fall was on Monday night after dinner and she had vomited a few times after the fall. She had hit her forehead against the door and then fell backwards, landing on her butt before the back of her head contacted the floor.
We decided that I should fly to Ipoh on the next available flight to oversee things as it was crucial to have a family member on the ground. It was late afternoon by then and the next direct flight was the following morning, hence there was nothing we could do but wait. I attended our regular annual year-end party that evening with a knot in my stomach the whole night, wondering if there was anything I could have done better and how her condition was developing.
On the first day of the new year of 2020 morning, I went to the airport to take a flight to Ipoh. I did not have any sense of expectation on how things will turn out. Landed at 1135 and her friend plus a couple based there picked me up to head directly to the hospital. Visitation hours were from 1230 and so we were just in time to follow the rest of the visitors to the wards.
Upon seeing my mum in person, I had a sigh of relief to see that she looked physically alright except for some bruises on the face. The doctor on duty had determined that she could be discharged immediately and gave his approval for her to fly home. I immediately booked the 5 pm flight that evening (only 8 seats left) and we settled the hospital bill before heading to the airport. We landed home safely at 1835 and went back for a quick dinner before getting her to rest for the night.
The next day, we brought her to the clinic to see her regular doctor who could do an examination of her. The doctor said she was ok and that a blood test can be done the following week to check on her sugar level. The 48 hours ordeal finally came to a close positively. We will watch her closely over the following days to ensure that there are no delayed reactions to the fall.
That evening, I had a small primary school classmates reunion of sorts which was planned a few weeks ago. Only 3 out of 5 turned up, but we still had a good time talking about the old times more than 41 years ago…
The week turned for the better as we head to my younger son’s school on Friday for his IB results. Though he was not his usual self and feeling nervous the whole morning, the final result was better than he expected. We are so proud of him. This stage of his life is over and he will be moving very quickly to the next stage very soon on Sun as he enlists for his compulsory national service in the army over the next 22 months.
He just had his Kojak haircut moment this afternoon and is getting all his stuff ready for tomorrow. It is nostalgic for me as I see myself in him 35 years ago as I was getting ready to do the same too as a young 18 year old…
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