My First Palliative visit

Today was especially exciting for me as this is

my first palliative home care visit with Emily

(palliative nurse). The patient is a 70 year old

woman who has been diagnosed with cervical

cancer. The tumour according to record has

metastasized and she is residing at home. She told

me that she has three sons and one daughter.

This patient appears to be cheerful and in good

spirits. She tells me that she is not in any kind of pain.

Upon examining her, Emily and me realised a

strong stench coming from area where she has

drainage tubes. Emily decided to give the patient

some fresh dressings....Oops I am not trained in

this area but I can help out in sorting out her

swabs and gauze.

Emily is seen here teaching the patients daughter how to do a
dressing.



" Thou shalt treat thy patient as thou wouldst thyself be treated.”

In Search of Ancestral Roots

While holidaying in Hainan my husband had little intention to look
for his ancestral home. His late father hardly spoke about his family
back in China, and my husband's only clue about his past was his
village name called Lok way and of course his father's name.
My guide insisted that he could help us find his ancestral home
through the help of his own father who works for the Government.
While researching at the Library he found that the name of
this village had changed to Zhong Hai.
It was not an easy task as we don't even have the
grandfather's name. Despite the odds we decided to try
look for the village on the last day of our trip.


My guide Siew Wang enquiring this small town folks for direction to the
village .

Looks like we have a lead at this village shack.

The road ahead lead us to a stop and a kind lady says she

knows the Goh family. She comes into our car to point out

the farm house

It a small enclosure consisting of sheds doing some farm work.

A Goh family who happens to be cousins of my husband! Notice the parabolic

dish....not bad. The handsome guy on the right took my husband by

motorbike to the ancestral house which is further in only access by foot.

I am offered a seat, their most comfortable chair under a

blue fan while my husband gone a-searching . They don't seem so

primitive after all, with a TV, VCD player and a hi-fi system.

A firewood stove. I received a call from my husband saying he has

found the ancestral home and the relatives are asking me to go

meet them. Well, the only way was by foot and the pics shows

what I saw as I make my way through the narrow pathway.

I freak out when I saw this water buffalo , I quickly sms my children back

in Malaysia in case I get gored or lost in this remote village. The young

man was sent to collect me and my guide on his motor-bike. Can't believe

I rode a 3-passenger ride , but with the scorching sun this ride was a saviour!

Pay your respect to ancestors first...... the elders insisted.

The house where my father-in-law lived.





The elders of the Goh clan, the one on the right has a strong resemblance

of my late father-in-law.

My husband completing the bloodline that was lost. The house is abuzz

with relatives and it was quite emotional for my husband. Quite

daunting I must say, most memorable and fulfilling .

A mission accomplished!

"Like branches on a tree, our lives may grow in different directions yet our roots

remain as one." - Author Unknown

Hainan Holiday

Was holidaying in Hainan Island from 19-25 Feb. I don't rave

about going China mainly because of their spitting and toilet

issues but this trip was slightly better than my former trips.

An amazing beautiful island worth a visit, as it has abundant

islets, seafood, well preserved tropical rain forest and activities

which was abit too tiring for two seniors like us.

The skyline of Haikou city.

Steamboat served in two flavours. The one on the right side is

HOT!

A pumpkin dessert .....so yummy.....

A sand islet between the sea and the river mouth.

The Bo ao Forum for Aisia International Convention Center.

A wonderful way to snooze under these shady coconut trees.

A mountain goat doing monkey tricks on monkey island!

Oysters my favourite seafood.

Strange Deity ....a tortoise with a dragon head

Roots centuries old.

Not a caveman .....he is a rootman! Remarkable old roots enough to

make a home.

A suspended bridge in a tropical forest.

Ethnic handicrafts done by the Mao and Li aborigines.

Cool Gadget

Do you need this for your washroom?

Thought of the day

Valentine's Day gift?

A chocolate heart for Valentine's? Ugh! Believe me this is one of
the most creative valentine's gift if you want to get dumped!

Talk on Cancer

Emily the palliative nurse, who was visiting my late
mum-in law has recruited me as a volunteer and today
she has invited me to go to Mawar to listen to some
talk given by oncologists on different types of cancer.

I was late by an hour, and when I walked into a
packed room of mostly ladies and teen aged school
children I realised that the talk is conducted in Bahasa.
definitely not strong in that area...
I found my way to where Emily was seated,( with
other palliative volunteers). The talks were interesting
but nothing new to me as I basically know most of the
cancers through reading. What strikes me most was
when one of the doctors showed a live coverage of
an operation done on one of his patient suffering from
ovarian cancer. The tumour weighed 15 kilos and
the sight was enough to make anyone puke! My
instincts tells me that whoever she was, she must be
suffering advance stage of cancer.

The reasons for these talks is to emphasise on
early screening and to bring an awareness of
how some of these cancers can be prevented.
The good news is more people are surviving
cancer and the bad news is more people are
suffering from it.

Tan family re-union 2009

The Tan family re-union is especially eventful as it

is the only time I get to see all my siblings , nephews,

and nieces. Every year my eldest brother Francis will

make the arrangements for a big "makan"and this

year our luncheon was hosted in the Chinese restaurant

at Subang Golf Club.

My nephew Eugene played host for the dinner at

Mandi Mandi situated in Ampang, a captivating

restaurant with semi-outdoor lounge with surroundings

of a jungle forest. The ambiance was amazing as the

walkway to this restaurant is lighted with tea-candles

and decorated with an exotic effect. The dinner served

is a fusion of Malay and Thai delicacies.

The stairways are meant for hyperactive legged people!



The bunch of foodaholics! Skinny diets after this.