I'm Grateful

Time flies too fast when you are having a good time. Saigon was great, and I'd highly recommend it. It was a short break for me. I was afraid that I'd lose the momentum with work prior to leaving. Wasn't really that excited to go, at the last minute. Had so much on my desk. Boss didn't want to sign my leave initially, but he gave in. I had had 2 projects with deadline last Tuesday. Handed them over, and that evening I left for Ho Chi Minh feeling a little relieved. Reported back for duty yesterday, I was surprised I had the enthusiasm to work again. I guess seeing the various documents on my desk turned me on. Got a few tasks done. This week is challenging; holiday on thursday, outside meetings tomorrow and saturday, and all day out of the office today meant I could only work on a few things. Trying to get a lot work done I called for a meeting on thursday, only to get e-mails reminding me that it's a holiday. It's funny that I forgotten that, I guessed I had my holiday and was all charged up for the week.

Today was nice, meeting people again, outside of my work environment. It was an interesting seminar, more like a refresher's course for me. I missed most of the afternoon session. In an effort to kill two birds with one stone. I know I won't get the chance to organize further meetings with these people, so I took that opportunity. It's usually difficult to get people to answer phones (they are usually in meetings or otherwise overseas), so why not - if you are in the same building. I had to sort that business of ours soon. This saved time and effort.

Yesterday, I had the chance to say hello to a colleague of mine. I learnt the news prior to leaving last week. He's diagnosed with cancer. It came a bit of a shock to him, let alone us. I didn't expect it that bad, but I've witnessed him over the months losing the weight. He came to my office once telling me he felt sick. But, I was indifferent. I wasn't sure if he was telling the truth or trying to evade work. I feel really bad now. I don't know how to apologize to him. I don't know if I should. I'm trying to help where I possibly can, maybe that's my way of apologizing. Yet, it's not subduing my guilt feelings.

He's had his first chemo at RIPAS last week, and thought it was excellent. I agree. We've got great medical facilities, we've got great medical and support teams. Sometimes it's amazing that we forgot how the government spends so much on each of us (as oppose to the yearly budgets) to ensure our health is in great condition. From birth till the end, I suppose. I call this the Medical Life Cylce (MLC), more like the Product Life Cyle (PLC). As we mature, our medical cost gets higher. Even when you're at a decline stage, you need to pump in more funds to get you going further.

Yes, the government has spent maybe tens of thousands (or more?) on me - myself, over my life so far on medical alone. I was born at the old rumah sakit (name?) in Bandar, well, not really. I was born in our neighbour's car. But it's there at that old rumah sakit I got my first jab I think, and tasted government funds. Then over my life, moved from that old place to RIPAS. I had had operations with general anesthetics 3 times now: for growths in various places. One when I was 17, then the other 2 in my 30s. Gosh, I sound so ancient. All benign, I'm grateful to God. I lost an eye due to retinal detachment, the other eye was laser-treated for its retinal tear. Discovered when I was 24. Hence I got bad headaches most times. I'm not supposed to read books or look at computer screens more than 8 hours a day. This aggravates the migraine. I usually forgot that. I'm not supposed to carry heavy objects, afraid that'll affect the tear. Specialists at the labour ward worried my insistence of having natural labours. Both times, I came out fine. Yes, I had 2 au naturalle labours, and spent a few nights prior to and after giving birth at the wards. I had specialist treatments for other things at various stage of my life. Indeed, I've spent a lot of government money to get sorted.

I'm thankful to God, I'm in Brunei. I'm thankful to the government for free medical. I don't know how I'd repay that generosity. I know for a fact I'll give my best on my job. Every sen I earn comes with that mission to ensure those going through me will have a better life. Perhaps, a lot lot lot better life than me. It satisfies me to see that. They have to put their effort too. I can only assist so much.

P.S. I would like to thank everyone at the Ministry of Health then and now, RIPAS and the old Rumah Sakit for taking care of me, all this while. God bless you all. You guys don't know how much you've saved my life since I was born. Thanks again from the bottom of my heart.