Life is fragile - continue

The result of the test on my 2nd brother came out today and his arteries were confirmed blocked. Two is not so serious but one was almost blocked completely. My sister, Chee call me to tell me the news. She asked me what shall we do ? The heart specialist have recommended a by-pass and he had no confidence in ballooning treatment for my brother’s case. I was not sure of what to recommend as I need to consult a friend who have had this experience before.

I called a colleague of mine ,R. His recommendation was to get a second opinion and it is better to do it soon and without much ado, I called my sister Chee to get my brother’s test result and to consult another cardio specialist. I remembered a cardio specialist in Burma Road and I get my friend, S to help to talk to the specialist. I make a mistake not talking to the specialist and called my sister chee to bring the test result to see the specialist. It was futile effort as the specialist sent my sister chee packing as he refused to comment any further without seeing my brother. His second opinion will cost another RM700.00 and this message was rally to me and I was given the task to get permission from Lam Wah Ee Hospital to allow my brother to go out of the hospital for this mission. Luckily, I talked to the Customer service officer , Jana and she was quite helpful in the matter. Permission was granted.

I was told that the by-pass surgery will cost RM25,000.00 and it was quite expensive so I called Jana again to her advise to get some discount on the fee. I was told to write to the Hospital and also to submit a form to their welfare department in the Hospital for such discount. Now, I am aware the medical expenses of aging folks is getting more expensive by the year or in time. Who ! this is the reality of life and I was recommended to sent him to a General Hospital which could be less expensive but there will be a long wait at the Government Hospital and the memory of my elder brother who died while waiting for his turn to do his by-pass. This memory continued to haunt me and torture me to this day. What if I have requested him to do it earlier at private hospital, he maybe saved and could be living today.

There are a lot of “what ifs” and it will be never ending and we keep regretting every decision we make if we judge from our hindsight. So let it be… there is a Chinese saying “ Fate end, love die” . what has happen will only be memories and we cannot do anything more. Better to live in the present moment.

Namaste.