Private Hospital crap....

The other day, I took my daughter the private hospital for a medical condition and it was already late night. Exhausted from the tedious outstation travels I had to make for my work that day, I quickly showered, plunged some food in the mouth and sent her to a private hospital for her gastric problem. It wasn't a complex problem and she had had this before. Usually, the gastric problem came because she had not eaten on time as she should be or regularly as she should. 

In my state of exhaustion/tiredness but still very alert in the mind, SLing and I decided to take her to the nearest private hospital for some treatment as she had complained of stomach ache and so on. Afterall, most clinics are closed by that time. If I had a choice, I wouldn't have picked this private hospital and that's a FACT! Upon arrival at the ER, we were attended by a nurse who took SYuen's BP and so on. This was normal and there was a  good 5 or 6 nurse drooling over the "doctor" on duty. I just thought it was a normal thing for them to "drool" and do small talks and whatever they wanted but service was really slow that night. BTW, the so-called "doctor" wasn't a Tom Cruise or a Matt Damon either. So, I really don't know what the attention was all about.  SYuen was asked to lie down on the usual ER bed and it was minutes later that the "doctor" went in to check her. I nudged SLing to go to SYuen's side and get some explanation from the so-called "doctor" dressed in maroonish purple attire with white word across which read " Medical Officer". Within minutes too, he was out and SLing was out and I had asked SLing what had happened and what was the diagnosis. SLing replied she did not know either and the "doctor" was writing furiously on the pad at the Nurses Counter as the nurses laughed and spoke to themselves. 

The next minute, I saw them walking to SYuen's bed and started to do some procedures and so on. I was startled and my blood temperature started to hit the ceiling when I saw them preparing drips and even telling SLing that they will be taking some blood samples for analysis. This made me mad indeed. I told the nurses to stop the drips and I will get an explanation from the "doctor". I told the nurses that it was a simple gastric problem. It wasn't a death -threatening problem or a serious problem. For crying out loud, she had a gastric problem! A simple gastric problem. One of the nurses spoke in BM in a harsh tone that if I don't want this procedure it is okay . It is just the doctor's orders and so on. I told the nurses that this is a gastric problem and not some complicated case. More so the doctor should have the courtesy to explain to us what he is trying to do instead or just ordering this and that to be done without even consulting/explaining us. I mean, I am no uneducated fool nor a pompous educated clown but at least have the courtesy to tell us what you are trying to do so that we could understand it. One of the nurse then called the doctor who came out with his pompous little ass attitude and told me straight in my face that if I don't want the drips, he can take it off. and mumbled something incoherently. I asked him why does my daughter need the drips and what has he administered or recommend for treatment. I even told him that this was a simple gastric problem and not some life endangering situation. I asked him to explain to me and SLing. He took one look at my face and started to change his tone when I gave him the "dead man" face.  He then explained that the drips are for the vomits and he would be administering the painkiller and so on. He mumbled through his surgical mask as if I wanted to see his face but I could not hear what he was saying. Later on, he went to the counter and wrote some prescription for my poor daughter whom I would call a guinea pig of the medical system. Such irresponsibility and he calls himself a doctor! I wonder , just how many patients and family had suffered under such irresponsible doctor!  

I was short of telling him that I have the privilege of knowing some of the finest doctors in Melaka who would not treat their patients that way. At least, the ones I know would take the trouble and have audicity to explain to me what they are trying to do and how the medication would be administered. It is just so embarrassing and frustrating to meet one who is a stooge to the private hospital system and an embarrassment to himself, who made a real ass and fool out of himself. 

The worst part of all was that the bill came to an astounding RM 300plus which included the charges for the ER bed, the drips which was open but not used, consultation fees,  hospital charges, charcoal pill, Gaviscon bottle, paracetamol pills and one more type of pill! PLEASE , tell me if this is fair to our family. Does private hospital ever care of saving lives or just another money garnering/pocket filling medical institution whose charges exhorbitantly for their services? You be the judge. If the night was still young, I would have gone to Klinik Pandhu or any other clinic for that matter and got the same medication for a fraction of that cost! Probably, I would have gone to the ER of the General Hospital.At least, the doctors there still take the trouble to speak to you and explain to you on your situation,right?       

Yup! The FUN awaits!

It is LIVES that matters!

They say confession is good for  the soul. So, I'm taking that step to "confess" up, actually. I've been out cold of ministry for about 10 months now and I kinda like the slumber for a while now. By slumber, I mean, I need not do any planning, have more time for myself and my family and do the things I've missed all this time. However, honestly, I still find that I needed more time to do the things I want to do but it is still always chasing the time. I do have to admit that I have become nicely acquainted with "some" newly found time but somehow, it is always not enough. 

As I found a little success in my career, the new position and responsibilities, somehow sucked up every little time I have and also, I had to deal with much more complex works which practically drowned me back to the tables. Good sleep escaped me as usual and soon, silly panda ring eyes appeared. This irked me a lot -physically, mentally and socially. I guess, the One Above always have something planned for me. BTW, who am I to resist His call? As they say, resistance is futile, I guess, it all started with the pizza and waffles fun for the youth.  There was kinda a rush of joy and blessing as the activity was held. Though I made the first few  pizzas, I have learned to pull back and let the rest finished up the activity. I was happy with what I saw and experienced. There was a welling up of joy and blessing that I had not felt for such a long time. The joy was really different. I guess, the fact that I availed myself gave SLing some uneasy time. She was just worried of my enthusiasm and was just afraid that I would be hurt again knowing my level of craziness. So, I was also cautious that I did not excite myself too much and held back a bit. But still, my heart was longing for something but I could feel the tingle of joy. 

Recently, I kinda was nudged into planning something when SYuen was put into some camp planning plans. Though I was agitated at first and planning for camp is something I really like, I didn't help out SYuen immediately. Instead, shamelessly, I got agitated in a way but God really rebuked me good, I tell you. Like I said, it's confession time for me. God just rebuked me one fine morning as I poured out my frustration and "anger" as I fell on my knees in the wee hours of the morning. God simply said this to me, "Ivan, you know this. You know what to do. It is what you do." I was stunned for a minute and yunno what, God is right. I do know what to do and how do it. It is that very gift that He has given to me. I was very ashamed of myself and I wanted to do what is right. So, I agreed to help SYuen and I started to offer my help to SYuen and the team. I did the ground work and I know that the "spanners" will come. I prayed hard each day that He would protect me as I carried out the ground work. I prayed for His favour as I spoke to leaders and the young people. I shared from my heart out as I tried to inspire the young people and the leaders in regards to the youth outing. I must confessed that I did not plan what to say that day but I know God put those words in my mouth because I really wanted to inspire the young people & leaders. That day, it may seemed a small thing/normal  for the leaders and the young people, it was a milestone step for me. It was a step of faith for me. It was good to be able to inspire, speak passionately and feel good inside. That was so important to me.

That night, as we settled down in the room, I enthusiastically shared with SLing what I had done at the meeting. I shared how these leaders encouraged me unknowingly and how their responses were  tremendous plus heartwarming. SLing asked me to slow down. Later, she said to me " If God wants to use you in His Kingdom, who am I to stop God or you. But please, take it easy and go slow, Ivan. I don't want you to be hurt anymore." I must admit that SLing has always been my greatest supporter and I really appreciate her support all these years. I thank God too that He has put the fire back in my heart to be useful in His Kingdom. I hope to start slow and I hope to take bite sizes of things as many good friends had reminded me. Thank you to the many who had prayed for me, spoke to me, encouraged me and prayed for the fire of serving back in my heart. YES! I do feel the fire and I know too that someone ain't gonna be happy but what the heck - It is  young lives that matters! It is GOD that matters! Amen!