Hopefully the final trip to the hospital: 1 June 2006

Amar received an appointment from the hospital for a post-op review on 1 June 2006 at 10.40am. Babah was on long day oncall the whole week, so he couldn't be there with us.

That morning, everything went quite smoothly as most of the preparation was done the night before. I left Sarah with our next door neighbour. The one who is having their living room extended. While I took Amar to the hospital by a taxi.

Amar slept in my arms the whole journey. The waiting seemed short too as Amar continued sleeping. I imagined the clinic would be packed with people and children. But there were only 3 school-aged patients waiting for their turn with their parents. All calm and collected, including us.

There was no more patient coming in after Amar too.

Amar woke up when it was his turn. But still he didn't cry.

Mr Amar Al Omari did the review. He had a look at the finger and said that it looked dry and healed. The surgeons were concerned if there was more infection re-developing in the finger. He took a blade, said Bismillah and cut off the single stitch holding Amar's fingernail. He asked if we know why Amar is a brave boy? I asked him why?

He said because Amar has the same name as him, although in Arabic it doesn't mean brave. (May be I should start calling Amar, Usaid)

He has also said that the fingernail might come off, and hopefully will grow back although it may be at odd shape and harder (keras).

Plus, Amar doesn't have to wear any bandage anymore. Let it further heal naturally, so he said.

Mr Amar Al Omari discharged Amar from the day clinic. Let's hope that Amar doesn't have to visit the hospital again. I called a taxi using a public phone (!) and returned home.

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Upon arriving, I straight away knocked on my neighbour's door. Her son answered the door and said 'They've all gone out.'

About half an hour later, I saw their red Honda arriving infront of their house. So I went out immediately to greet them. Sarah was ecstatic to see me and started to pour out her story in her language.

The neighbour was telling the same story too.

Yes! Sarah cried, wailed, bawled.. you name it!!!

Poor Sarah, she said sweetly, "Mama, Mama... Saghah angish, Mama." As if her cry was something sweet.

My neighbour gave me a lecture, (haha) she said I should leave Sarah more often with them. At least once a week. Especially in case of emergency, then Sarah is familiar and doesn't mind when I'm not around.

Anyhow, Sarah was fine and back to her happy self when they took Sarah to Tesco.

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I took some photos of Amar's naked middle finger. Apa lagi kalau bukan untuk post the photo in the blog?

But then I remember my squeamish friends. So I've decided not to post the photo here. Instead just a couple of photos in green sock.

I have decided to cover the finger anyway seeing that Amar 'kutis-kutis' the fingernail. I tried to use the proper tubular bandage, but it was lose. So it's sock time again for better grip. This time green in colour. And I made a hole to let his thumb out.

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As you all know, I am not a doctor. But acting lebih pandai lagi doctor. Dah kawan-kawan dengan para doktor. Apa boleh buat, so kena act like one too. A few years back, when my husband has just started to work, there was this discussion between him and his friends regarding doctor as a profession.

None of them wanted to be a Surgeon. I was very pelik at that because all this while I thought that's what doctors do - they 'cut' people (ie Surgeon lah). Then I learnt, there were so many fields doctors can specialise in; cardiology, dermatology, pathology, and so many other -logies that I am not sure how to spell them.

It must be the tv programmes that I watched that made me thought doctors = surgeons.

But No! Babah and his friends were talking about how they have to refer patients to surgeons. And they were teasing how surgeons view things and the disputes they always have.

At the hospital after Amar's operation, these thoughts came back to my mind. The sleepy Registrar and all three Consultants were of the same opinion. As if operation was the only solution.

Sakit jari?
Potong jari.

Sakit tangan?
Potong tangan.

Later, I talked to Auntie De about this thought. And she said, the staff should try to get Amar on IV antibiotics like suggested by Mr Gaffy.

-tapi insyaAllah Amar dah pulih. So kita doakan Amar continue to sembuh-

They were all too friendly and kind for me to even say bad things about them. Including Mr Amar. I thought he was monotonous and expressionless. But he is splendid in his own way.