Day +55

I am well today. Just continue my story…

After doctor confirmed I had AML on 29 November, 2005, I was moved from the general ward into a double bedded room. But they squeezed 4 beds into the room. The room was so congested until the beds almost touch each other. There was no curtain fixed between the bed either, so the patient had to do everything including passing urine in open space. Apart from this, the room is not air-conditioned. Worse still, there was renovation work going on somewhere nearby my ward. So the room was congested, hot, noisy and without privacy. I believe I came in at the wrong time. The condition should be much better after the renovation.

Despite this undesirable environment, the doctors there were very good. At that time, there was no hematologist in SGH. An oncologist with a team of medical doctors was responsible to treat cancer patients. Even though one of the doctors already explained to me about AML, its treatment and risk involved during chemotherapy, other doctors still asked me if I understood my disease. If I told them I understood already, they would ask me to explain to them what I understood. It was just like an oral test.

On the 30 November, my second sister in Sibu called me and asked me to consider doing my chemotherapy in a private hospital called Normah Specialist Centre (NMSC). So we had to make another decision. My youngest brother and eldest sister went to NMSC to discuss my situation with the hematologist there. In the afternoon, I decided to start the 7 days chemotherapy in SGH.

Before the chemotherapy, my pastor and my wife helped me to take a shower. The bath room is quite far away from the ward. Pastor stayed in the hospital overnight to take care of me. Both my hands were wired for drug infusion, so I really couldn't move much. I needed someone help whenever I need to rise from the bed. The night was really hot and I kept on sweating. I felt a bit regret for not going to NMSC. In an attempt to cool me down, pastor swayed newspaper to create extra wind for me. He must be very tired to act as my "fan".

The first dose of my chemo drug is called Daunorubicin. It was red in colour and was administered through a syringe connected to the intravenous line within a few minutes. After that my urine became red in colour for some time. Following this, another drug called Ara-C was administered through the intravenous line for 12 hours. I would be given Daunorubicin for the first 3 days, and Ara-C throughout the 7 days. Hence we called this therapy a 3+7 induction regimen.

What was my feeling when I started to receive these drugs? Of course, I felt unpleasant to receive them, but nothing much I could do. “Dear Lord, I trust you completely. I leave my life, my family and everything to you. I am weak but you are strong. Please carry me through this ordeal.” I prayed.

See you next post :-)