It was sometime school holiday in May 2008 when I was away in Bangkok with my family, my dad life took a drastic change. Out of the blue, he had severe stomach pain and started to produce blood stained stool. Jong Luen was the only one around with him at that time. Chen Chyuan was away overseas on a job assignment while I was in Bangkok. Only when I returned, Jong Luen related the whole ordeal, how frightening it was for her to handle it all alone, not knowing what to do. Dad underwent test after test ie blood test, ultrasound, x-ray, scoop, etc. At that time, dad was still trying hard to convince himself and all of us that it was just a swelling lump in the body until surgeon Dr. Nandy smashed his hope.
Dad was diagnosed carcinosarcoma (two types of agressive cancer) in the duodenum. The cancerous growth was so huge that it had blocked the passage in the duodenum and caused the affected area to bleed. There was no option at all, immediate operation had to be done right away to SAVE him. Without indept understanding of the operation, dad went under the knife for almost 8 hours. Then gradually we learnt more about the Whipple Surgery that was done on dad. It is a major operation where parts of the body has to be removed ie stomach, pancreas, duodenum, liver, bile, etc. Though the cancerous growth has been removed, further tests confirmed that the cancer was very aggresive and dad was at the final stage. To add salt to injuries, the operated areas from the surgery just didnt join and there were leakages everywhere and the body system went haywire. Dad had to go under the knife again and again until his 4th operation. The leakage at the joints were finally sealed up but then, it was just too late. Cancer had made its way to the liver and lung. Dad was a tough strong man. He fought the battle with extreme courage and persistence. He believed in hope, he didnt give up the fight. He obediently underwent all his chemo sessions with Dr. Low though his body deteriorated in a shocking pace. He lost the battle. Water filled up his lung and needed to be drained out yet by another operation which is his last operation.
It was early morning on 29 April 2009, we received a call from ICU department, asking us to go over and it was the last of him. Dad was already struggling by then, vigorously shook his head, reluctant to give up the battle. Few days ago, dad told us that he dreamt that he was in a place that looks like a palace (or like Ah Pong's house!!) with gold colors and he was forced to sign a book by the guards there and he just didnt want to sign. It was so painful to witness his death in such a way. We took him home in hope that his spirit will rest in peace at home. My sister, kakak and I were with him in the ambulance. At precisely 12 noon, while my sister was playing his favourite song 'Memory' on the piano, he held his last breath and liquid started to pour out from his mouth. Dad left! He left with a good fight.
I can still recall the day before he left, the final moments with him in the ICU room when I hurriedly left for a wedding dinner with Thiam Hin and the kids in Sekinchan. He was on his bed with tubes all over. While I was at the door, bidding farewell, he looked at me straight into my eyes and gave me a warm smile, signalling that I should go ahead and leave for the dinner. That was his last smile. Till death I shall treasure my dad's last smile at me. I miss him dearly. I am now shedding tears recalling that moment and my intuition tells me that he is feeling for me too right now. It's raining! It's 1:38am on Christmas Eve, 24.12.2009
Dad was diagnosed carcinosarcoma (two types of agressive cancer) in the duodenum. The cancerous growth was so huge that it had blocked the passage in the duodenum and caused the affected area to bleed. There was no option at all, immediate operation had to be done right away to SAVE him. Without indept understanding of the operation, dad went under the knife for almost 8 hours. Then gradually we learnt more about the Whipple Surgery that was done on dad. It is a major operation where parts of the body has to be removed ie stomach, pancreas, duodenum, liver, bile, etc. Though the cancerous growth has been removed, further tests confirmed that the cancer was very aggresive and dad was at the final stage. To add salt to injuries, the operated areas from the surgery just didnt join and there were leakages everywhere and the body system went haywire. Dad had to go under the knife again and again until his 4th operation. The leakage at the joints were finally sealed up but then, it was just too late. Cancer had made its way to the liver and lung. Dad was a tough strong man. He fought the battle with extreme courage and persistence. He believed in hope, he didnt give up the fight. He obediently underwent all his chemo sessions with Dr. Low though his body deteriorated in a shocking pace. He lost the battle. Water filled up his lung and needed to be drained out yet by another operation which is his last operation.
It was early morning on 29 April 2009, we received a call from ICU department, asking us to go over and it was the last of him. Dad was already struggling by then, vigorously shook his head, reluctant to give up the battle. Few days ago, dad told us that he dreamt that he was in a place that looks like a palace (or like Ah Pong's house!!) with gold colors and he was forced to sign a book by the guards there and he just didnt want to sign. It was so painful to witness his death in such a way. We took him home in hope that his spirit will rest in peace at home. My sister, kakak and I were with him in the ambulance. At precisely 12 noon, while my sister was playing his favourite song 'Memory' on the piano, he held his last breath and liquid started to pour out from his mouth. Dad left! He left with a good fight.
I can still recall the day before he left, the final moments with him in the ICU room when I hurriedly left for a wedding dinner with Thiam Hin and the kids in Sekinchan. He was on his bed with tubes all over. While I was at the door, bidding farewell, he looked at me straight into my eyes and gave me a warm smile, signalling that I should go ahead and leave for the dinner. That was his last smile. Till death I shall treasure my dad's last smile at me. I miss him dearly. I am now shedding tears recalling that moment and my intuition tells me that he is feeling for me too right now. It's raining! It's 1:38am on Christmas Eve, 24.12.2009
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