Parents | Am I Alright?

Took half day off work this afternoon to take Mom for a consultation with Dr. Fong Shee Yan Orthopeadic Surgeon at Tan Tock Seng Hospital or TTSH for her MRI results done a week ago at the same hospital.

Sick coughing and recovering from a bout of flu, I had to go to work in the morning, did my work and cleared all emails from yesterday and went off to Mom's place from work after taking my lunch at the canteen with my cliques.

Since I was early reaching Mom's place at Woodlands, I sent up to her home instead of our usual "rendezvous" with Mom and Dad at the entrance of the covered walkway downstairs.

Mom had a surprise to show me when I went up. She had adopted an abandoned a day or two old kitten found at the children's playground at the foot of her block.

We left the kitten at my sister's place in Woodlands Ave 4. Thank goodness Dad remembered her block 846 for the taxi to make a stopover at the roadside for Sis to pick it up.

Off we went to TTSH from there. We reached the hospital at 3:05pm; 20 minutes early for the appointment.

Got the queue ticket number 1524 at Room 17, but for some reason, this afternoon, there were wheelchair after wheelchair of old people with bandaged hand, legs, bashed up face from a nasty fall, and a few already in hospital beds at the waiting area.

With so many urgent cases attended to first, our number was called about an hour later. Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Fong really looked tired when we consulted him. I can only imaging his typical day at work.

From Mom's MRI scan pictures, the doctor confirmed Mom's nerves are being pinched due to her dislodged lower spine whenever she bends backwards to straighten her posture.

That explained her bending forward most times to ease herself while standing-up and has sudden numbness or painful cramp attacks from an awkward stance.

Dr. Fong explained that it is a normal "old people" condition. A degeneration of the bone in that there is no cure with medicine to dissolve the bone spurs.

Surgery is the only way to relieve the pain by aligning the spine back with metal screws after clearing the bone spurs that prick and pinch her nerves when she moves.

He is not recommending any surgery as long as Mom is not in constant pain that it disrupts her daily life.

He recommended therapy instead for the next two months to see if he condition improves with lesser painful attacks.

Mom's next appointment for follow-up with Dr. Fong will be on 6th May 2006 at 2:45pm.

Had our early dinner at the hospital's Food Court. Mom had her Thai Pineapple Rice while Dad and me had Roasted Chicken Rice and vegetables in Oyster Sauce.

Sat a while after our dinner and chat. Explained to her the next few steps that are coming her way with what Dr. Fong has explained.

Reminding her with her recommended twice-daily hip rotation exercises to strengthen her back, which she is doing religiously daily.

Parted ways after I sent them back home and off I went to my wife's Bugis Village shop to help her with some display ideas which stretched all the way to midnight at the shop.

Thank God Its Friday! I do not need to report to work the next day.

A fully loaded day from work, to parents and then to wife; all in a day with sore throat and light throbbing headache pushed subconsciously to the "background."

A fruitful day nonetheless, with many tasks completed satisfactorily despite the odds.