D'Eye - Another Operation

It was 9.30 am when we arrived at the Tun Hussein Onn National Eye Hospital on the appointed Friday, 19^th January 2007, when Ram had to submit her right eye to a minor operation. It was scheduled for 10 am. All tests, usual ones before an operation is performed, i.e blood pressure, glucose level and others, electrocardiogram and so on, had already been done. We went straight to the Operating theatre waiting room and had all the paperwork and formalities (deposit and bills!!) done and we waited. Tessa came a short while later. We were still waiting at noon as the doctor apparently had an emergency operation to perform that morning. Soon I had to leave for my Friday prayers at the mosque and left Tessa to accompany Ram.

After Friday prayers I went straight to the hospital. Ram had just been wheeled out of the operating theatre then. Her right eye in bandage and covered with a plastic shield. It was reminiscent of the day she had her first operation, the cornea transplant procedure, on the same eye three years ago, coincidentally on the 19^th January 2004. Only that three years ago she was wheeled out on a stretcher, heavily sedated but this time she was sitting in a wheel chair and not sedated.

She was asked to rest on a reclining sofa and after a while the bandage was removed while the plastic shield left on. Her right eye was a little swollen, partially closed and red around the eye lid. She still could not see well with this eye yet and she slowly began to feel pain on the right side of her head. She had to take a pain killer and continued to rest. Tessa meanwhile left us as she had to prepare for an official trip to Zurich and Davos.

By 5.00pm Ram was feeling a lot better and she was allowed to go home. She rested the rest of the day. Sita, Fahrul and little Najla were at home. Little Najla was at first cautious with her grandmother seeing the plastic cap covering her right eye but soon she got over it and readily came close. I prepared all that was necessary for treating the eye and to get into the motion of the six hourly cleaning of the eye and applying the eye drops (steroids??). We had very light, soft dinner that night and Ram slept quite well. She woke up the next morning feeling a lot better.

We went back to the hospital the next morning to keep an appointment with the doctor. The doctor was satisfied with it but prescribed an additional oral medicine for Ram. Another steroid? Ram was to come back for another appointment on Thursday. Ram could see quite clearly and could even read fine prints. However she has to take care not to expose the eye to direct light source and to cover it well to avoid contamination. So begin the routine of six hourly washing the hands, cleaning the eye, applying medicine and so on. Hopefully, and by the grace of the Almighty, her vision will come back. We are full of hope and we submit to Him for His grace and guidance.

Tess, remember the 'crochet' skirt Najla is wearing? Two generations now!!

MKI Ramblings Unlimited,

Petaling Jaya