The three heroes

Monday, March 3, 2008

TO AFIQ, FROM BAK

It's twelve midnight. Something woke me up. I'm lying on my bed coughing my night away. It has been like this for the past few days. Beside me are my two eldest sons. On my left is Abang Ngah (Danial) with his light green Popeye pyjamas and on my right is Aiman my eldest son with his current favourite pyjamas Superman.
Abang Ngah is sleeping in his usual unusual position, with a pillow tucked under his stomach and raising his buttock. His eyes are closed shut as is his mouth, whereas Aiman is also sleeping in a similarly unusual position (with both his legs dangling down from the bed) but his eyes are partially closed or partially opened (depends on which way you interpret it) and his mouth opens and occasionally snores.
Something is missing, something is not right. Where's my wife? where's my youngest son Afiq? I suddenly realised that both of them are not where they are supposed to be. I'm trying to fool myself, i knew that both of them were at the Hospital Baling where Afiq was admitted today. This is the second time that Afiq was admitted, with the first one is due to Physiological Jaundice when he was only 3 days old. This time, he was admitted due to bronchopneumonia or in laymens term, a lung infection.
My dear little afiq had been unwell for the past few days prior to his admission when he suddenly developed a fever last Wednesday. His fever gradually progressed into a cold and cough. After 2 days, my wife and I decided to start Afiq on a course of oral antibiotics. His fever seems to be settling but his phlegm is getting worse along with his blocked nose.
Then, the turn of event got worse when suddenly my dear little Afiq refused to feed. His last proper bottle was on Saturday night. I tried to feed him, my wife also tried but to no avail. He just lost interest in feeding. We thought it might be due to the phlegm so we brought him to Baling Hospital Casualty department for a suction to be done to Afiq as a supportive treatment to clear his phlegm. A decision I later regret. We only managed to suck out a small quantity of phlegm as his phlegm is so thick. Afiq later vomited a few more phlegm along with partially digested milk and a lot mucus. It is so easy (as a doctor) when you had to do to someone else's child but when it comes to your own, it is not.
Being a sweet little Afiq, he seems normal. Kept on smiling when he was smiled to, kept on laughing when played to. As if he was trying to tell us not to worry about him. but the long period of semi fasting is getting into him. By Sunday afternoon he looked tired.
When we got back that afternoon, he was looking lethargic. I felt his anterior fontanelle had sunken (an area just above the forehead which is situated in the middle) and his pulse rate is also increasing. Both were the signs of dehydration. I suggested to my wife that we should bring Afiq to see a paediatrician later that evening in Alor Star. My wife insisted that I call my ex-boss. Dr Teh, wether she is available today. I immediately called her and consulted her. She advised me to do a chest xray and then to send the image to her by MMS. We wasted no time as we rushed to Baling Hospital Casualty department to get an xray done. After the xray was done, we were waiting for the film to be ready. when we saw the film, my worse fears were confirmed. I knew that Afiq had pneumonia but I had to be sure. So I sent the images of the film to Dr Teh. She tells me that it is pneumonia and it is best if Afiq is to be admitted for further treatment. Later in the evening, Afiq was admitted again in the space of 5 months. Afiq needs to start on an intravenous antibiotics and intravenous drip (for his dehydration).
This is not a dream, this is real as I thought to myself again that night. I pray to god for Afiq and was thankful that it is not worse than this.
TO AFIQ, BAK PRAY FOR YOU TO GET WELL SOON, AND BAK MISSES YOU TONIGHT AND OF COURSE BAK LOVES YOU VERY MUCH.

12 comments:

tiffany said...

i'm hoping n praying that aiman will get better n show some good progress within days... i can understand it, to treat others is much more easier rather than seeing our beloved one suffers from any disease... pneumonia can be very mild for elders yet can manifest badly, but for a lil baby like aiman, i believe hospitalization and intensive care is the best to figure out the treatment until it is cleared...

warm regards to kak nat k, shieda will be praying for aiman too...

tiffany said...

oops, i suddenly tertukar aiman and afiq, so sorry.... hope afiq will get well soon...

fajar said...

didoakan agar afiq akan cepat sembuh. berat mata memandang berat lg bahu yang memikulnya. moga tabah dan sabar menghadapi dugaan dari-Nya. Insya Allah, kasih sayang ayah dan ibu akan memberi erti dan seribu harapan.

natrah said...

Shieda,
thanks very much for ur concern.Afiq dah discharged today.We started him on C penicillin (ops! I said 'we started' sbb doc yg incharge paeds ward masa tu bercuti..so utk memudah kan kerja my hubby-who used to work at the same ward-ordered the treatment and the on call doc just came and review..hehehee cepat lah sikit and kesian kat doc on call tu jugak)and now on oral Pen..he is recovering well and feeds well too.btw, he received almost 2pt of quarter saline half dextrose while he was in the ward to improve his hydration.

anyway, I dah agak lega lah bila dia dah nmpk ceria sikit after kuar wad ni

natrah said...

Terima kasih fajar..
Harap2 Afiq akan ingat mak dan bak nyer bila dia dah besar nnti..

Pssssst: thanks for visiting!

Noushy Syah said...

Sorry to hear that Nat..well I hope with the IV antibiotics and infusion should treat the dehydration too..hope his B'pneumonia is not that severe.Wish Afiq a speedy recovery and to you and family will dua and wishing you the best yea Nat.

Take care yea.Muahhss to Afiq.get well soon sweedie!

natrah said...

Noushy,
Salam to you...
Thanks for yur well wishes.Afiq is doing great after discharged from ward.hydration improved and now he left with minimal cough and phlegm!(very difficult to clear his phlegm as he doesn't know how to spit it out!)hopefully with antibiotics it will clears up)
Again my family thanks you very much for ur concern..
muahss hugs and kisses for you from afiq!

LadyJava said...

Oh Nat.. I am so happy to hear that Afiq is doing well after his discharged. It must be a very scary and worrying time for both you and your hubby.. luckily you both doctor so knew what needed to be done immediately.

I pray for Afiq continued recovery and in the meantime make sure you take care of yourself as well ya :)

Much love
LJ

Salt N Turmeric said...

Sorry to hear about your son's condition. My doa for him and hope he'l recover soon.

natrah said...

LJ..
thank you my dear. he is doing great and I guess he is catching up with feeding these few days(mkn byk betul!)

psssst:when do you came back from SG?

natrah said...

Farina,

first of all thanks for visiting my blog...also thanks for ur concern and doa to my Afiq...he is doing well after discharged..

do come again!

LadyJava said...

Ohh that is fantastic news Nat...Alhamdullilah...

Pstt.. I came back yesterday night.. dah active berblogging balik ni...hehehe

How are you coping dearie?