Papa Returned to Us

For the first two weeks in April, Papa was bothered by gallstone pain and he was reduced to skin and bone.  We took him to hospital one day and on Aunt Becky's insistence, the doctor put him on a drip.  Still, we were told that his condition was stable and that there should be no haste in getting his gallstones removed.

The next two days, Papa's gallstone pain reduced and his appetite recovered a little. One day, after taking me to school, Mama and Ah Hui were shocked to find that Papa was delirious with pain on the floor, his shorts wet because he had excreted while struggling with the pain. They called an ambulance, which came only after forty minutes due to some confusion with directions. 

Upon arrival at the emergency unit, Papa totally lost consciousness and  to the horror of both Mama and Ah Hui, his heartbeat stopped and CPR was performed on him.  When I reached hospital, Papa had been revived two times but the danger was not over yet. He was completely on life support, many wires plugged on his body. A young female doctor told us that her team may not perform CPR again on him should his heartbeat stop the third time. "Even if he had made it, " she explained. "His mind would have been seriously damaged by lack of oxygen."

When Papa's heartbeat stopped the third time, the doctors surprised us by performing another round of CPR. I could not describe how devastated we were at the time. My tears fell uncontrollably at the sight of the doctors trying to revive Papa. Ah Hui and Mama kept praying, and the only thing I could beseech God was 'Lord, have mercy on Papa.' 

In the midst of the chaos, a doctor came to us asking if we wanted them to continue rescuing Papa. "Even if he had survived," stressed the doctor, "he won't be the father you knew before." Getting her drift that the medical team had been contemplating euthanasia, Ah Hui told the doctor very solemnly to the face that she wanted them to revive Papa the best way they could.

Why did Papa's heartbeat stop so many times? According to a specialist, his pancreas had been traumatically affected by the gallstone pain, resulting in his entire body system shutting down.  We were so guilt-stricken for having overlooked the enormity of Papa's suffering.  The fourth time papa's heartbeat stopped, we were prepared for the worst. The doctors told us his chances for survival were very slim, and I thought I would lose Papa for sure.

Throughout the moments of tribulation many happy memories of me and papa flashed before my eyes. Papa had been my pillar of strength for many years, and it was difficult to part with him. Hiding my face behind a door, I broke down in tears again, and so did Mama.  Ah Hui was the strongest of us all, reciting rounds and rounds of Rosary.

At this very critical hour, the old man next to papa had finally breathed his last.  All his family members broke into wails. Ah Hui and Mama patted their backs, consoling them. Affected by their grief, I cried even harder. 

After what had seemed like an eternity, we heard shouts of jubilation from the medical team.  I dried my tears and rushed to Papa's bed. To my relief, Papa had pulled through the ordeal and was breathing well. I exchanged hugs with Mama and Ah Hui.  But Papa hadn't regained consciousness.

Papa was in coma for eight days in ICU.  Just as the doctors had started to show signs of giving up on him, he came around.   We found out that he had had a stroke, the outcome of the strenuous CPR.  Learning that the left part of his body could not move like normal, Papa was crestfallen but we managed to reassure him that he would recover.  Many friends and relatives had visited him, giving him hopes.

Dominic, my younger brother and his family also returned from KL to help us look after Papa.

Thank you, Reman, for coming and showing us support at the most difficult period in the emergency unit.

Bishop Lee, and Father Vincent Star, thanks for your prayers.

During his coma, Papa had developed a patch of bedsores atop his hips, a negligence on the part of the hospital.  After papa was discharged from hospital, Mama and Ah Hui took a meticulous care of the wounds and many thanks to the Almighty God, new skin is now growing over them.

Many thanks also to Aunt Rose, and pharmacist Sophia for showing us how to treat Papa's bedsores.

Regular massage and exercise are able to restore mobility to Papa's left arm and leg. But his swallowing system hasn't recovered and he has to be fed Ensure milk and porridge with a tube inserted through his nose.

My heartiest gratitude to masseur Liang De for his gifted skill.

Uncle David and Aunt Agnes, thanks for taking Aunt Connie, a retired nurse, and Lenggan, a recovering stroke patient from Brunei to show Papa how to do simple workouts for recovery. 

Cousin Marie, a doctor-turned- zumba instructor, without your sharing on your experiences with patients the likes of papa, we would not know what to do with him.

Lily, a friend who teaches at SMK Subis, fasted for a week to pray for Papa.

For almost a month Mama and Ah Hui forwent sleep to look after Papa. I helped to cook. 

Mei Chiao, Ah Hui's best friend from Batu Niah, gave us some money to buy the costly Ensure milk. 

Cousin Edmund, thanks for chipping in for Papa's medical expenses too.

One day, Papa told us that he had seen our grandparents during his coma. "They smiled at me in bright light," he recalled, "welcoming me with open arms."

"Did you hear our prayers at that time?" asked Mama and Ah Hui.

"No, but then Jesus appeared," he continued, "and told me to return to all of you because my time on earth was not over yet."

"Thank you, Lord," said Ah Hui. "Thank you, papa."

A few weeks later, Papa could get up on his feet, walking around with a walker. Now, he hardly needs it! 

Aunt Jenny, Papa's youngest sister, your visit has really infused Papa with strength. 

Madam Maryanne, my ex lecturer and art instructor, thanks for your words of encouragement. 

Cousin Tuty, thanks for sending good vibes of your prayers across the border from Brunei.

Aunt Thelma, Uncle Ah Cho, Cousin Jeffry and Cousin Sophia, your visit was very much appreciated.

Hours before Papa regained consciousness, Ah Hui had actually prayed to God, imploring him to return Papa to us. "In four hours, Lord," she said, "open his eyes. let him see us again."

True enough, when Papa was being pushed to the scanning room for his brain examination, he opened his eyes when Dominic's seven year old daughter called out to him. 

And that was shortly after Papa had seen Jesus.

All praise and glory be to the Almighty God, for bringing back Papa to us. Papa, I love you, you are my everything.