A modest Aidilfitri 1441/ 2020

Salam Aidilfitri from the MDQS:)

It was a moderate Aidlifitri. We are in the midst of CMCO. The earlier ruling allowed husbands to go back to their families but the recent rush of balik kampung by families who were trying their luck made the MKN to void the earlier announcement. That made me a bit worried if i was to denied my travelling back to KL. I book my flight on the even of Syawal!! However, knowing how Malaysians can be I had my permit done earlier on the last week of Ramadhan. Alhamdulillah, I was let through with the police permit but not without tight and strict filtering. Redha je if they did not allow me to go back because they are just doing their job. I had my papers done so officially I've done my part too. 

On the eve of Syawal we continued the traditional routine of family takbir in Taman Tun. This was very significant this year as there were no mosque activities since March and the whole of Ramadhan. A very weird Ramadhan for me to experience in my lifetime. Perhaps, for any muslims in the last few centuries!
Alhamdulillah, it was enlightening to see my son leading the takbir and prayers. I have always

 encouraged him to do so since his younger age and of course my 9 year old boy! Haha Mizan has always been disinterested but i reckon he realized how in this family, as a male he will always be obliged to be the leader. And alhamdulillah, he recited it well (as he had practiced vigilantly under Qayyum in the last week of Ramadhan) 

Again, Aidilfitri prayers was a first for all Malaysians to be performed at DJ home. Either the HEad of the house or the most learned male to lead it. I had Qayyum to do it and it was very encouraging to see him fairly comfortable in this role especially the sermon post prayers. He is ready to go out there! 

A simple Raya: just close family gatherings and no ziarah. Alhamdulillah, eventhough it was modest but it was a very meaningful CovEid 2020 :)

Reaching half way 2020

2020. What a surprise it has been. Who would have thought in 2019, what is currently happening at the moment. Thw whole world has changed with the introduction of Covid19 - a smart bio terrorism agent impairing all including the superpowers of the world. The war that the whole 8 billion human population had to endure with ;- silent but very damaging maybe not so much on the mortality rate but more of the uncertain future it has pose to the next generation.

I glanced through my blog from 10 years ago. The content was very raw- honest life experience as how I felt there and then. How I have progressed and am at where I am at the moment. Still relatively young, there are more years to come godwilling. I reckon its very unfortunate that I may not have been active in the last few years on the blog ( I blame it to other social medias! FB, twitter, IG) as these medium may have occupied my time in browsing rather than expressing myself.

I used to blog during my calls, in between patients as it was pointless to try to sleep when your mind was very active even in the wee hours of the morning. Nowadays, I guess its age factor as well, I don’t seem to sit down and throw my thoughts in this space of mine. I wonder why.. is it that my life has gone plateau that I don’t find it interesting to pen my thoughts anymore?

One good thing I reckon I achieved through blogging was somehow it improved my written english. Eventhough there’s no teacher to correct my grammar or pinpoint where I can make my writing more interesting, it has evolved so much. My flow is definitely better than what it was 10 years ago. I was very surprised the other day when the story that was published was my own. Ie the editor did not change much my sentences and flow! Interesting!

It has been a very eventful year for me too. My Aconcagua trip to the unlucky short visit to Egypt for Meng’s wedding; and then the MCO with my Covid fellowship in Sungai Buloh. Who would have thought we are banned from going to the mosque to perform Friday prayers and the ususal ingredient of tarawikh in mosque has since become a distant memory. No wonder the keyhome message from the China Medical team (during their visit to our country) was cherish your time.. cherish your family. Its true because I have a feeling, things are not going to be the same again post Covid19 era. 

Covid fellowship tales 3

Covid fellowship tales 2

https://www.hmetro.com.my/mutakhir/2020/05/573974/pesakit-covid-19-tiba-tiba-kritikal-sekelip-mata

https://www.bharian.com.my/berita/nasional/2020/05/684604/covid-19-pakar-bius-kongsi-pengalaman-bekerja-24-jam-stabilkan

We have yet to win the war

We have yet to win the war.
#Kitamestimenang #Frontliners #Sentiasabersediaberkhidmat #Hipnotis

Ended my Covid19 “fellowship” in Sungai Buloh ICU. There were few of us from the private sector who answered DG’s Hisham Abdullah SOS call for help to combat Covid19 with KKM. The projection then was we were heading for an overwhelming surge of cases in mid April.

Thank you to Hasbe Zuraina Abu Bakar (CA Setapak) and Intensivists Aliza (PPUKM) and Kamal Basyar (KPJ Rawang) for coming in together in such short notice. There were other KKM Anaesthetists too from around the country who came over to join the team in HSB.

It was a very fulfilling April. It was great to be amongst old acquantainces and new generation colleagues (my previous HOs and MOs are now specialists😊 sudah tua lor...) ; the last line of defence in ICU. I really admire the dedication and hardwork that was put in by all of them. It was a good refresher to remind myself why I decided to join the anaesthesia and intensive care fraternity many years ago. Alhamdulillah, the expected surge was dampened but it was not an easy task to manage something unknown.

My kudos to the HOD of Anaesthesia & Intensive Care Shaiful Zaman for his leadership and meticulous planning of manpower to ensure that the care given at the national centre of Covid19 to be the best that any centre can offer. If we were stretched, 100 ICU beds were ready to be activated. My hats off to Intensivists: Lee CK Chew Kiok and Eng Kar Seng  (Ismail from HKL in early April) for their astuteness and dedication which lay people may not realize their contribution. A very stressful responsibility as the whole country was watching us.

To the department’s Anaesthetists and Medical Officers, thank you for your hospitality and I had a great time working together in a very dynamic youthful group. It made me feel young again to be there with you guys. Hahaha last but not least the pillars of the system, ICU nurses and MAs who without them the ICU will collapse. Their sacrifice are legendary and unmatchable whilst looking after the sickest of the sick. I’ve learnt a lot from all of you.

The 2nd wave came and we prepared ourselves for the worst. Alhamdulillah, the graph did not peak as how it was projected.

The early morning handovers were legendary as we went through the progress of each case in detail. Plans of extubation and discharges brought smiles but reintubation and deteriorations were perplexed upon as we were looking for positive solutions. Practicing social distancing was a challenge but that is the new norm that all of us have to endure. Im not too sure if I’d miss the donnings and doffings; Ive never felt so clean in my life having multiple showers daily! At times it was mind boggling handling the complex cases but thats our line of work. Being the person to update the next of kin everyday can be an emotional roller coaster ride. We only aim to care to the best of our ability.

We have yet to win the war against Covid19. The battle is ongoing. Lets all do our bit from wherever we are.

P/S Labour day has always been a public holiday but there will be an oncall team covering actively the hospitals all over the world.

Covid19 fellowship tales

https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2020/04/23/patients-can-take-turn-for-the-worse-in-blink-of-an-eye/

2020.. it has been very colorful so far

Its March now and it has been a hell of new decade! Who would have thought a sudden game of throne power struggle and in the end the most unlikely candidate became the Prime Minister of Malaysia? :) or we were made to think that way?

On another point, the COVID-19 has really took the world by storm. Since January- that has been the talking point and one can imagine at this time of human civilization we are under a virus threat. Its not just medical related issues but the economy as well. Things are looking gloomy and as China having to take the biggest hit make us wonder as well whether this was deliberate? *Conspiracy theory again*

On a personal note which I hope to blog soon enough before I forget the details would be my trip to Aconcagua. I literally celebrated the new year 2020 in South America and a lot  happened during the expedition.. Alhamdulillah I am glad that I am still alive to tell the tale :)

Its only March and I guess there is a lot of uncertainties in the coming months. May Allah bless us all.

Madrid Liverpool Champions League Finals 2019

I was there. I was in Madrid when Liverpool became the champions of Europe! Another berani mati act of going to where it matters and should be there because we dont know when will be the next time! hahaha Unfortunately I could not get into the stadium because of the atrocious price as compared to Kiev! Well, its Liverpool, the greatest football club in the world :) 

 with Fiqar (Liverpool loyalist)

St Bernabau 

5th Mission Cambodia - Siem Reap 25-27 October 2019

Insha Allah our istiqamah and it has been ongoing strong. This time we took a location faraway from Phnom Penh as the GA machine is not working at the moment if we plan for surgeries. hence the mission this time is much more relaxed with only circumcisions to be done. I brought with me Syafiq my long time accompliced in Perth and it was a good reunion for our craziness. hahaha It is such fun to have him around as he is one creative person who is very intelligent and wise. 

 We had our programmes in two different places. One was right in the mid smack of Siem Reap CBD and the other at least 7 hours journey by bus. This was the biggest contingent ever with another NGO (besides Muslim Care) Dana Kita with Tauke Baloon Nasron to be amongst us. A group of students from SAS volunteered as well to be in the group. (for obvious YDP reasons hahaha)

 This time around it was 180 plus kids - i got to do a few. There was a different contrasting population that we served - town vs kampung and it was obvious. The town one, it was a war with sounds of agony going around from the first second! The kampung- we get to see small kids but brave and resilient! I guess the upbringing certainly affects a child's strength and mentality. I had one kid who was sucking his lollipop while i did my local anaesthesia and I chose him as my subject for sunat hahahaha

Alhamdulillah, the event went well. There is always lots to learn from each programme with different participants. I enjoy this a lot and really happy to continue this again and again. 

Happy 43rd Birthday

This year it was a low key affair. 2018 was a blast because I peaked Da Feng and had a birthday celebration there last year. 

Alhamdulillah, I am 43 years old this year. A year older and circumstances has made it that it is the most challenging year of my life so far. But hey, no regrets yeah! Alhamdulillah, Syukur for all his blessings and I would not ant my life to be any other way. 

Its ironic when you thought you've settled down but the fact is you are challenged with the most fundamental reasons to live life. Allah is great; there will be no time where you are not tested to your cores.

Got myself a cool pulut cake. It was just not nicely designed but at the same time nice! Thanx to my staff for organizing it.

43 and beyond and may Allah bless :) 

AOSRA Kochi.. Part 2 after a long time

I'll just post some pictures from the trip justto complete the post i wanted to write earlier hahaha

 first dinner in town with sushi special

 Conference centre

 Manoj preferred to sit with us lot haha

 ponteng event

 with founders of SIGRA

 jalan2 pantai Jepun

dinner in Indonesian restaurant