FIRE

I was getting a talk on fire safety on the very first day of a new firm. We were told to sound the alarm if we ever spot a fire. Don't be a hero. The only exception to the rule is that if someone's life is in danger because of the fire then we can interfere before sounding the alarm.

This is what the guy said. "If a patient is on fire, put it out first. Not just patients, if it is a consultant, put out the fire first before sounding the alarm.... If it is an F1.................. well, I'll let you guys decide."

We all laughed. He was a funny guy.

But wow, imagine when I'm an F1 and I'm running around with my hair on fire and other people will have to think first before saving my life.

Fine, some F1s can be worthless and annoying, but we all do our best.

IKHWAN

Chinese eyes strike again! This is the first cute photo of him; honestly he looked like a mouse when he was born. If my sister asked, I did not say that.

This is my nephew Muhammad Ikhwan Mirza bin something something (?). I really don't know his full name. But my sister and her husband did name him Muhammad after all =) That was my idea.

Before he was born, my sister tried so hard to find a middle name that is not typical but at the same time not too unusual. I have no idea how she came up with Mirza. I have to agree I love the names put together though. Somehow they work.

I think my sister picked a good one. Dennis wants to name his firstborn Luke just so he can say, "Luke, I am your father." So no, naming is not an easy job.

COURAGE

I feel like the lion in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Things will have to change from now on.

ARRESTED

When she came in, she was so shocked they could hardly get blood from her even with a femoral stab. She was already down for so long her colour’s all funny. And it didn’t help that I managed to crack at least 2 of her ribs during chest compression.

Why do we try even when we know all is already lost?

Not so much because we can then tell the family we have done anything we could possibly do. Believe me, it’s mostly legal.

HITTING A NERVE

I think I’ve hit a nerve. Literally. We were warned that one day we will hit a nerve while taking blood. I was doing an ABG and I made the patient suddenly jumped in pain.

…

I was quite sure it was nerve. Ah well. The more stuffs I do, the more experiences I get. Things happen even when I sure as hell don’t want them to happen.

And I’m quite sure a needlestick injury is just lurking around the corner, waiting for its turn. Plenty people around me recently got it.

Sigh.

ONE OF THOSE

Not everyone is a model patient. There are two things you shouldn’t do when you’re putting a cannula in a difficult patient and he/she decides to pull his/her hand away causing blood to spurt and spray in the air.

First, don’t scream.

Second, don’t swear for example ‘shit!’ or ‘fuck!’

Guess which one I did. Honestly, it was reflex response.

BOY JOY

I am officially an auntie, not just because I feel old, but I actually have a nephew. My sister gave birth to her firstborn round noon Malaysian time. She’s had quite a, umm, challenging pregnancy (siap pre-eclampsia lagi) but that’s all in the past now. Alhamdulillah, we’re all very glad.

When I rang her, little Ikhwan was crying in the background and it gave me such a headache that I cut the conversation short. He’s clearly their bundle of joy, not mine.

Nevertheless, I’m sure I’m going to love this little guy. I’m going to buy so many toys for him; and cool clothes as well. It’s so much easier to love young children especially when they’re not yours.

COMING HOME

Once or twice I have wondered what it is like for my parents to come home to each other for the last 30 years. 30 years of coming home to the same person.

I’m so glad they’re happy. I wish I could have the same one day.