My youngest brother has been complaining of having frequent headaches for the past year. Recently, he was sent for check up and the brain scan revealed a tumour! WTF! At his tender age, 16 and god has to sent him through this shit!
He was scheduled for more check ups at different hospital. We tried TTSH, NUH and SGH, thinking that government hospital would offer the operation at a cheaper cost. No doubt its true (but at minimal differences!! PUuUiI!!!), and we gotta wait damn farking long. Any moronic idiot will be able to tell that such an issue CAN'T and shouldn't be delayed, I cursed those DOGtors. End up, we bo bian, consulted a private hospital (Raffles). The fees difference isn't really a WOW! Lots of time and most importantly, a LIFE can be saved.
For example, a blood test can be done in the morning with results out by noon, this is efficiency and what the patients need. Other hospitals need an entire god damn two long bloody weeks! Another stunning thing is, one government hospital actually said they will let us speak to the surgeon only if we have decided to let them conduct the operation. What is this man? Is he some kind of god or celebrity? Can he guarantee a 100% success? They ain't gonna "entertain" us if our money isn't getting into their pockets? What we wish to find out is if the surgeon has confident of curing my brother. Whats so difficult? Is this how the doctors are being taught in whichever fuck shit medical school? Isn't it their duties to save lives? Is money all they care about?
He just had a brain operation on 270705 to remove the benign tumour. Let's pray that everything goes like a breeze for him and that he will recover asap.
The sight of him being pushed into the operation room is so saddening, the guy lying on the bed is no other but, my brother! Imagine a man opening up your skull, focring your left and right brain apart to remove something. Yucks! How about using metal rivets to fix it back and staples on the outer skull? Mum was crying, with dad and aunt comforting her. I couldn't take it and joined in. *Sob Sob*
We waited long, hours after hours and he isn't out. As the time passes, my mind was coming up with thoughts. Would the operation be smooth? Is he suffering in there? How much blood has he lost? How painful is it to have a knife pierce into your skull? Freaking god knows... ... But as a way of comforting myself, I said that no news is good news.
I went to surf net (amazed they have this facility, I'm a mountain tortoise) while waiting and checked on my blog. I was shocked, upon entering my address, I didn't get to see the usual page, instead, I was linked to a porn site! I was like freaking out, holy shit! This can't be happening to me, I didn't offend anyone, who would hack my site? Got this thought from Wendy Cheng's blog. Her site was hacked recently and had gone through much troubles to retrieve it. I off that PC immediately, hoping and crossing my fingers that its the computer and not my site. Today, I checked on it and VOILA! My site isn't hacked. Hehe! I'm so thankful and glad.
Finally he's out of that god damn room. We (relatives and parents) jumped at the doctor, flooding him with questions after questions. He was quite stunned to see such a big group. I sincerely thanks all those who turned up for the company and support... ... Doctor said, the operation was a success, he managed to remove 50% of the tumour. And my brother is out of danger. However, he needs to be kept in ICU for two days, afterwhich he will be transferred to a normal ward for a week of observation. That calls for a celebration, maybe... ...
I did wonder why didn't he remove the other 50%. Waiting for it to grow so we will get back to him for another operation? And pay another 20+, close to 30K? Or maybe he can't touch the remaining as its somehow linked to the brain or nerves, perhaps by removing it may turn out fatal? I don't know... ... Perhaps I'm biased against doctors, but tell me how not to? After witnessing how those bastards work. Money seems to be the only factor which "motivate" them to save lives.
He also mentioned that there will be complications after this operation. My brother's sight may be affected for weeks, he may also feel giddy. I wonder what "better" news can he tell man. I know this can't be helped, but I'm just farking pissed, he's so young and innocent. What wrong has he committed to suffer this pain? And for my parents, its such a torture. They rushed down to Raffles hospital after work everyday, without fail. Somedays, dad didn't even go for work but accompany DiDi the whole day. He spends his night there too, worrying for my brother, sitting there not knowing what to do or what more to expect. Seeing my own parents getting more haggard each day, my heart hurts too. I don't know how long more can they endure with such torment. What would I do if they break down?
All I can do is to pray for him... ... To those who suffer frequent headaches, do head for a check up. Touch wood lah, but gotta take precatious.
Today, 010805, doctor told dad he has has three alternatives for my brother, only pathetic three!
1 Go for another operation (all the pain and blood lost AGAIN???), take out all of the remaining tumour and risk of becoming a retard.
2 Go for radio-theraphy which he may not have any sexual desire in future, which means he won't have kids. Eye sight affected plus hell lot of other complications.
3 Let it heal by himself, whereby chances are slim. Slim is such a nice word... ... Will the tumour disappear even with God's (if he ever exist) touch? What if it grows instead of becoming smaller?
4 I hope there is one... ...
5 I really pray for more opinions from the doctor... ...
Tell me what to do man? What to do? Any of the above solutions seems feasible to you?
