An Eye Opener

This week beginning Monday 11 August is an eventful week for me, not because of my elation following a successful meeting of my family association in Rasah, Seremban the day before, but more so due the current developments connected to my father's eye surgery. The appointment for my father's eye surgery was supposed to be last March 2008 but due to unforeseen circumstances it had to be rescheduled to 12 August 2008 and the surgeon was initially to be performed by Prof. Dr. Mimi of the UMMC. When I took my Dad for the preliminary eye examination following a referral from the specialist clinic of UMMC(Univeristy Malaya Medical Centre), the doctors told us that my father was afflicted with AMD, or age-related macular degeneration, meaning the slow process of vision loss would take place due to his age (presently 88 yrs old ) and it could only be slowed down with special vitamins intake, but still there's no guarantee. My father begged them to operate his right eye to remove the cataract because he was getting disturbed by it but to no avail. By the next appointment, Prof. Dr. Mimi took over and she had a different opinion. She told us that surgery is recommended and when I told her what had transpired, she told us that at least we can take a chance and see whether it works. Now that's what I called an " Eye Opener" because this Professor obviously knows what she's doing and good at that too. Come the day for admission to the ward the day before the operation( surgery) my brother dr.Hazim and I brought my father to the admission counter of the Hospital and we had to go through the rigmarole of something like a "Banduan" going to jail, with us tagging along with the other patients who were to be admitted on the same morning to Ward 7E at Menara Timur. I went early on the day which my Dad was supposed to be operated on. After parking my car in the basement, I went to the food court and bought breakfast for the maid who stayed back to attend to him, because he's somewhat dependent on a pair of crutches to move about the ward. It was the second time I was at the food court and this time I knew how the system works once you have made a selection. The queu was fortunately short at the cashier's counter, and I seemed to be one of the early birds. I waited for about close to an hour outside the OT(operation Theatre) and then I went to my Dad's room in Ward 7E because I felt tired. Then, about half an hour later, my father was brought back to his bed and I was greatly relieved to see that all was well. Now my father is with me, waiting for his next appointment on monday 18 August 2008 at 9.00 am. As for those who have eye problems, are advised to go to the Specialist Eye Clinic ( not after 5.00 pm) because it's worth your effort, time and patience which you must have in the plentiful. My gratitude to ALLAH S.W.T. for making the "Eye-Opener" possible.