Today was fun! (: We had ice-breakers, sharing session by the sisters, and tour around the hospital and the different units. (: The ice-breakers made me realise how much they value bonding between staff, as well as between staff and patient. The Quiet Room is very cool, as a respect for Muslims to pray and all that. The CPC, Pastoral Care unit, also had amazing stories to share. It helps with the emotional and spiritual healing, something that medicine alone cannot cure.It's a skilled ministry of the heart that requires a lot of listening and understanding using the heart. The sisters do not promote Catholic services, but instead pray with the patients when they request them to do so. It important for patients with terminal illnesses to let go of any negative emotions and spend their last days living as much as they can. It's also not about consoling by lying to the patients that they will get well soon or their god will save them, but rather to tell them the truth in a nicer way and helping the patients and their family to cope with their situations. I think God allowed me to break down with all the touching stories, and He's telling me to stop rejecting Him for protecting me and watching over me. I think it's really great that the patients get to be happier when they enter the last stage of their life, and not leave with the thought "Why me?".
The tour around the hospital was very useful and interesting. It showed me the different units and departments that a hospital needs in order to function. It's interesting to know that the doctors in private hospitals are private practitioners and they only have their clinics based there instead of working for the hospital. I learnt more about the different disciplines and specialties, and I think it help me to make a more informed decision as to which field I want to venture into in medicine if I were to become a doctor. From what I experience so far, I think that I have a exceptionally strong compassion for children and maybe women as well, and i'm trying to learn more as I go around the different units. (:
I found out that a lot of wards have a system that can keep a negative air pressure so as to keep virus like the SARS virus away from the hospital and patients. I think it's a really cool way to clear the air for the patients and prevent spreading of the air-borne diseases. I was also amazed by the facilities in the delivery suite, and the pleasant design in the various wards. There's the "laughing gas" to relieve pain for mothers giving birth, and there's the newest service: water birth, a natural way to give birth to the child in something similar to a bathtub. I also think that it is really helpful that the paediatric wards are really colourful and cheerful! (:
While attached to St Gabriel ward, We came across this baby from Bangladesh who had a brain tumour removed, but unfortunately is currently stuck with hydrocephalus, or "water in brain", an illness that causes excessive fluid to accumulate in the brain as it is unable to be absorbed by the surrounding tissues. This leads to increased pressure in the brain, causing memory loss in the patient, as I read from a magazine in the hospital later on. The mother was kind enough to explain the situation to us, as she is a doctor herself and she came with her husband to treat their baby as her husband is posted to SGH as a radiologist. I really hope that the baby will get well soon, and it hurts to see a tube connected to the baby's left brain. Most the babies staying in the ward have tubes connected to their body, to transfer fluid with antibiotics to the babies' veins, while some others still have oral medication. I think it was quite scary that one of the babies had the tube attached to his neck too tightly, and the nurses had to carry the baby to a brighter room after several failed attempts to pluck out the tube to change to a new bag of fluid for the baby, and it was uncomfortable for the baby as he kept crying. ): And I think it takes a lot of practice and caution to handle something so fragile. I think the baby's neck will just break if I get to carry one. xP The nurses were usually very busy and the four of us would either follow them and help out a bit or just sit around. It's interesting to see tinier versions of the blood pressure measuring thing to fit for babies' tinier arms and legs. (: The children had cast-like things around their arms or legs to secure the tubes and prevent the babies from pulling them out. Stacy and I thought that they broke their arms or something at first! :D
I think it's a really great experience so far, and I'm looking forward to going to the other units! I'll be missing the surgical ward St Francis tomorrow morning though, because I'm going for the Pre-U Seminar opening. Hope that's fun too. (: Wa tomorrow must bring pen there and take down notes! Hahas. After the attachment I also have dp with Melissa. (: Hope I'm not too exhausted for it! I almost didn't want to meet Samuel up for dinner because I needed sleep so badly that I would give up dinner. Anyway he ate before that already, he just bought a waffle after I have finished my food. Aiya but can understand la, after jogging sure hungry one ma, right dear? (: HAHAS!
<3<3<3
I wish that I can forget but I can't.
At least I made up my mind not to do something stupid today. Glad that I did. But I decided to be emo for at least the rest of the day. Though a bit fail because I'm either too sleepy or too amused by Sam to be emo. Roy's nice by the way. Hahas it's funny how something Sam said sort of corresponds to something my mum suggested the other time. Ya he's a guy and he's from Hwa Chong, but I don't have to go to that extent yet ok?
31 May 2010
05 May 2010
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