t was supposed to
be a smooth trip to east while I enjoyed a long break…but my LORD has plan for
me….
Well, Ving has
noted with chillness while we were enjoying our Mongolian BBQ( invented by the
Taiwanese and not originated from Mongol) in the evening of Saturday. She was
noted with low grade fever when we reached home.
I had started her
on antipyretic initially but the next day, typical sign of influenza was noted.
I had started her on Tamiflu stat and the fever was better on Monday morning. I
was confident that I could make it to Ministry for my course but later in the
afternoon, Ving’s fever had worsen and she was coughing badly. Another Déjà Vu and
I prayed that the lightning doesn’t strike twice, by then I was having a bad
feeling that my trip is going to soak in soup…I started her on a drip as she
had not been drinking well.
I was supposed to
push off at 6am on Tuesday. Ving was getting better then, even though the cough was
stationary but the auscultation related a different story – I had a bad feeling
despite of the improvement of her fever.
I decided to take
Ving to the ED for a Chest Xray after sending Xian to school on Tuesday morning ….and the result confirmed my physical findings- > rt lower lobe pneumonia...
Well, at that
point, admit and not admit was a struggle for me…. Admission would be pain and
strain for me as the kids schooling would be a major problem, house/school is
20km from the hospital. It took me a brief moment to make the decision –
outpatient treatment as it would unlikely to affect the family except me.
Although the lab
test had indicated it was viral ( just like Xian have), I did not hesitate to
start her on Moxifloxacin, I dare not gamble...
Ving’s low grade
fever had spiked to 40 during our drive home and the fever had persisted the
rest of the day despite the application of drip and aggressive antipyretic.
I had brought a
load of normal saline + venocath + drip set with me. Even though I believe the
sanitation in the house is better than the hospital, I dare not keep the venocath in situ for 3 days. I changed site on a 24hrs basis to avoid phleblitis
As I need to prep
food for Ving, I tried to cook for the rest of us and the help from the kiddo
was well appreciated.
The 1st
24 hrs was quite a drain of physical strength and mental tolerance. As a
family, one can raised so many questions and the anxiety could be eased by the
medical staff. But I am all alone, I almost lost faith in my judgment but the feedback
from the Ving’s physical findings was quite reassuring despite of the stagnant condition
of fever.
There was always
some errand waiting for me at the corner every 2 hourly and I was at the verge
of collapsed at the mid of second 24hrs.
With grace, Ving’s
condition had greatly improved after D3 and I was able to catch some sleep and
regained my vitality.
By D4, Ving’s was
able to get out from bed and the fever had totally subsided.
Well, it was a strenuous
effort for me but yet the daily routine of the family was not affected.
The multi-role
playing session was over finally and I was back to work as scheduled after the
long break. Well, seemed to be a waste of vacation but yet I am truly
appreciated for the chance given for me by the Great one. I had experienced the
anxiety of family, stress of a foreign maid (nursing aide), act as a one-man
medical staff providing in-patient care and finally working as a full time house maker.
For the past 20
days, everyone in the family had gone through a febrile session (with 2 pneumonia ) except me, a
truly pain for a Malaysian family living abroad – no support (Just couldn’t ask
any help from any church members/friends as the disease might be contagious …..sigh) and
the loneliness and helplessness was beyond imagination…
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