So many things just happened recently and to be quite honest, I'm in a daze. Hey, I got 2 weeks off from UMMC, its suppose to be R&R as in Rest and Relax not Rushing and Running! For example today, I was suppose to have a nice time at the movies but after getting a call, I rushed down to KLGH to do my check up. I had no idea how huge the hospital was until getting sent in the wrong direction by a security guard and walking 2 km in the reverse direction after that.

Its funny because normally, I'd be irked by this and frustration will set in but I am strangely at peace. I can't really explain it but we have a good God and its at hard times where I feel closer to His presence. Instead of feeling frustrated at my uncle's condition, my tutor and my preparations to go overseas, I am much calmer than before.

Now I know why Jesus did His devotion in the wee hours before all the hecticness of the day sets in. Speaking to my Father who loves me no matter what and who gives me the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will always make bad days good and good days better. Amen!

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I Can Cook This!



I spent my morning today being "domesticated" (as a friend puts it) by my sister at the stove. Although I didn't enjoy her breathing down my neck and giving me smart-ass comments everytime I made a mistake like putting too much oil or cutting onions the wrong way, the end result was too delicious to complain.

Now Spaghetti ala Carbonara Seafood has been added to my 'I-Can-Cook-This' List!
For info on how I did this, just click on Makan Club under Fun Stuff on my sidebar.

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Riding Triple A on Cloud Nine


I started my day very shakily today at the Operating Theatres. Due to waking up at 2 am for the Champion's League Final(my team lost to a better one), I just shoved down two pieces of bread before rushing to UMMC. Halfway through, my high-metabolism-body ran out of fuel and ya, I literally started seeing stars so to all aspiring surgeons, never leave home without the big B, BREAKFAST!

Thank God I managed to recover to witness a biopsy and after helping out for a mastectomy, the Doc said, "Hey, I think Prof Vijay is doing AAA in OT8, why don't you go have a look." Wow! I actually witnessed my first Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm surgery up close! I was in heaven! Basically, this guy's large abdominal artery which carries blood to lower limbs has a weak wall and instead of being nice, smooth and long all the way down, halfway, it has a balloon that can rupture anytime. In this case, the aneurysm/balloon was the size of an orange! To help with easing of stress in the OT especially when inserting a stent into the aneurysm, everyone relied on Paris Hilton's Stars are Blind. Cuteness!

Anyway, my heartiest congratulations to AC Milan and Jordin Sparks. I think both of you so deserve your victories!

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Okay, I've made my peace. Its LIVERPOOL all the way woo hoo! I believe I have a greater calling singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" than just drooling at KaKa. This will be my first time waking up to see a match in the wee hours. All previous attempts have been unsuccessful.

Regarding another matter, I actually drove my maid to the airport just now and thinking that it'll just be a quick send off, I parked illegally. 2 hours later, due to Air Asia's 'efficient' check-in counter, I find myself strolling out leisurely with mom until I see my car being harassed by a traffic cop.

I don't know why I did it but I ran as fast as I could, screaming on top of my lungs "ENCIK!!!ENCIK!!!" When I reached my car, I could hardly breath, let alone pray that I'll get a second chance. I must have looked really sick/scary because the cop then said, "Haiyo, ok faster, fasterlah." Wow! Praise the Lord! This one incident has restored my faith that not all traffic cops are out to cari duit kopi. He was halfway filing up the saman formleh! What a nice guy. "Terima kasih banyak banyak!"

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Football Fan Wannabe


The UEFA Champion's League Final is drawing closer and closer and I've yet to pick a side. Crap, this is what happens when you're too lazy to actually watch some football games and you end up relying on Dad to tell you which team is better. Anyway, to fan the flame of "soccer-mad-nationess" in me, Dad gave me a deadline which is tomorrow before the match starts or else I won't be allowed in the AV room :( All I have to do is tell him which team I support but the problem is I have to choose between ...
...KAKA who is definitely my very own greatest football hero ever! Not even a vertebra fracture can stop him from melting the defenders, goalies and the heart of a girl who can't remember the last time she watched a football match. That's how great he is!!!
AND..

...LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB. "Gulp" I feel guilty even having to think about my decision. After all, in a couple of months, I'll be adopted into the 'You'll Never Walk Alone' community. What do I do now???

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Doing Laundry



Create Your Own
I am such a klutz! I can't even get my dates right. We were suppose to catch David Gomes at Chill, Plaza Damas for a relaxing night of jazz but May 18 was on Friday! Sorry Julie!

Anyway, we decided to go to Laundry Bar instead. The whole place has expanded since I last went there with the Makan Clubbers. Julie had a really nice Mohito (I just took a sip) and I had a sour fling. Ha ha that sounds so wrong. Its actually lime juice and cranberry juice on crushed ice. Non alcoholic because I'm a responsible driver. (Time to roll your eyes)

We will try to catch Junji Delfino on June 9 and hopefully David Gomes on June 16. Any takers?

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Friday Too?


Hah! I thought I would actually have today off to sleep late but instead the alarm rings at 7 again. 45 minutes later, I find myself running groggily through a blur of patients trying to locate Dewan Kenanga on the 3rd floor of the UM Medical Faculty.

I finally find it after a maze of passages and wah la! I'm standing inside a really ancient-Harry-Potterish lecture hall with aisles of seats stacked so high, it makes me dizzy looking up. The entire hall is wood paneled and its really really old school. I think the previous generations were not very tall because I found I had to sit slanting so my knees could fit comfortably.

The Vice President of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons & Physicians of Glasgow walks in and starts his lecture on getting your FRCS from UK, its challenges bla bla bla. Darn it....Prof didn't have to be this nice to invite me to a lecture that only Medical officers or Surgical Interns attended. She actually introduced me to Dr. Galloway! Haiyo, so shyla.

Out of 3o people attending the lecture, there were 4 females. 2 were top surgeons, 1 was a surgical intern and the last was an out of place 3rd year medical student struggling to stay awake. The fact that Mr. Galloway looked like Richard Gere helped tremendously.

After that, it was back to daycare surgery which some doctors say are like a factory line. The best part of the day was sneaking into the nurses lounge with another medical officer to curi makan. Good stuff!

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The Ride So Far


I didn't post anyting for a few days because I was feeling rather blue. I totally didn't expect and wasn't prepared for the situation at the Oncology clinic. Everyone tries their best to maintain a cheerful disposition so that the sadness precipitated by one patient doesn't spill over to the next. I wish I had the Heitian from Heroes to wipe my memory of every patient before I see and hear the next. I'm just glad out of the 4 days I spend in UMMC, I will only have to spend one in the Oncology ward.

Actually I not only felt depressed after 7 hours there, I felt really angry and frustrated. This is targeted not at the patients but some of their family members. Its mind boggling that some patients would rather trust bomohs and sinsehs rather than oncologists. Aargh! Their family members don't help either and these patients come back only to have us tell them that the best thing for them is the Hospice. The funny thing is that they get really angry when you mention 'Hospice' because to them Hospice = Abandonment and Death when in reality, they will get the most complete care there which includes pain management and counselling on top of continued medication.

Wednesday and Thursday are my favourite days. Time spent in the Surgical Clinic and Operating Theatres some how refreshes me and keeps me looking for the week to come. Praise God I haven't witnessed any deaths at the operating table yet. The one thing I'm really sure so far is that Oncology is definitely not for me.

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Little Maddie Missing!!!


I don't know how many of you know this but last thursday, 4 year-old Madeleine McCann was abducted from a Portugal holiday apartment while her parents were out. While the initial theory is that she was taken from the apartment, there is also a believe that she may have wandered off to a nearby supermarket and then abducted.

Money has been pouring in to help hasten her return to her family especially from JK Rowling and David Beckham even took part in TV appeal for her release. I believe the current reward for any information that will help in her returning safely stands at 2.5 million pounds.

(Jacob Wetterling,aged 11 in 1989)

Even as I read more and more about her, I am reminded of Jacob Wetterling, a boy I read about in Reader's Digest a long time ago. He was abducted in 1989 while cycling with 2 other small boys. To this very day, he remains missing. His family believes he is still alive as they had received a voice message from a person who claims he is Jacob Wetterling. The message just informed them that he was still alive. Why he didn't contact them directly and why he has failed to come home till today is the heart-wrenching part. These 2 are just reminders of the thousands of children still missing from their families today.

So everybody, lets do our part too and be aware just in case she's been taken to a place near you. Please take note that Madeleine has an unusual right eye where her pupil runs into her blue-green iris. If you have any information please call:

Crime Stoppers at + 44 1883 731 336

If you have information and don't want to call for reasons such as "Its too expensive" or whatever, email me or put a comment on this post and I'll call the authorities on your behalf. If you don't trust me and think I will curi your 2.5 million pounds then just calllah! You can remain anonymous if you want to.

In the mean time, let us join hearts and hope and pray together for Little Maddie's safe return.

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High Class Butchers


"Hmm...Why are you taking so long to finish the op? You've done this before. Ok, I think Suet May will help you. Nurse, get me a size 6 1/2 gloves."

Ok, the day before when Prof said we were scrubbing in for surgeries, all I really imagined was wearing the scrubs and looking... from afar. Instead, I found myself staring at this guy's ass which I initially thought were breasts but it was far too low to be breasts. I can't believe that I'll be taking part in the first surgery I'm seeing. Even though, it was just holding the clamps and cutting the sutures for the Master's student, it was very exciting albeit very frightening at the same time especially when blood suddenly squirts up when you least expect it too.

Right so after we finished the first op of the day, we had like 7 more so Prof had to step in to quicken up the pace if we were going to finish in time. Up next was a mastectomy (removing a whole breast) and I took a break so I didn't help. A House officer was there too and we chatted and she said something that stuck with me for the entire day. "Oh my gosh, just look at her. She's like a butcher!"

Then I looked at Prof and oh my she does look like a butcher, a high class one. She actually finished the mastec in 20 minutes and still managed to show us all components of the axilla namely the axillary vein, artery, brachial plexus, pec major, pec minor and serratus ant!

Now tell me, why are surgeons so glamorous again? I think we all need to view it as glamorous because in reality, it really isn't glamorous at all unless u think working in hideous scrubs and hair caps is considered glamour. Plus, you work in near freezing temperatures especially if you aren't assisting or operating because then, you won't have that extra surgical overall to conserve heat.

All that said and done, I still wanna become a high class butcher!

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UMMC Day 1


I woke up at 630 am today and I'm still feeling the after effects of it. Scrambling through my stuff, I tried to locate my labcoat, pen torch etc...Come 730am, Mom dropped me off at a very nice Menara Utama of the hospital. After getting lost for a couple of minutes (this I attributed to the shock of finding Delifrance inside the hospital), I manage to find the surgical clinic but it took me another 5 minutes to get through the huge number of patients.

My goodness! I had no idea what was to befall me today. The patients just kept pouring in and I helped Prof. do breast examinations on them. By 10, I was tired and hungry and I've just been there 2 hours. I did initially find it weird when the Prof asked me to do the examinations and to tell her when there is a lump(s) but I soon got the rhythm of doing it and not thinking too much about it. Oh and she walks pretty fast so I got a good workout shadowing her as she dashed here and there between clinics.

All in all, I really learned tons today especially about breast diseases and managing them. It was really interesting seeing the procedures like FNACs and biopsies. I should have done this earlier! Plus, Prof is really such a down-to-earth person and I was half expecting her to be like Chief Weber of Grey's anatomy seeing that she is the Chief of surgery but I was pleasantly surprised. She is actually on sabbatical leave but she still goes to work because she knows her clinic will be kelam kabut without her.

The best thing she said to me today is "Oh please be at the Surgical Ward 7th floor tomorrow by 8. We're scrubbing in for surgeries." That was surreal...

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Potato No More


Guess what I'm doing now?

Studying benign diseases of the breast.

Getting ready to meet Dr. Yip at the UM Breast clinic tomorrow.

I can't believe I'm actually holding notes and reading Snell and Papa again!

It feels strangely good though that I'm no longer potatoing.

Maybe I've dropped my Potato Chan status for good?

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Malaysia Boleh...........er Kalah :(


My trip back to Ipoh would have been routine. Good food, great food and yummy food. Usually at Uncle William's house, I would be playing with Audrey, Uncle Kong would have been sleeping and Aunt Lai Peng would be eating. Even if Uncle William switches the TV on, he would have been watching football stuff. AAARGH if only I didn't go back on the weekend that coincided with the AVIVA Singapore Open. What an agony!

Our only "hope" Wanwah-tanfook lost a 3 setter to Haifeng-caiyun. The scores which still hurt me when I type this is 21-16, 22-24, 18-21. We were in complete control, just cruising to game point in the first set. We screamed and clap our hands with joy. Second set came, things became rougher, never mind we were still there giving the two encouragement and cheering whenever they manage to get a point. Come set 3, alright I've got to stop here. I'm just a few alphabets from bursting a brain vessel.

So my point is this; do we have good players? Yes. Are they talented? Yes. Do we have the potential to rule badminton again? Yes. So why are our malaysian players so STUPID???? Stupid in these case doesn't mean lack of intellect. It means this :

S - Start well
don't they always? Why give us that false hope? Why win 6 or 7 points ahead in a set and allow the other team to catch up? Whats the point? You always rush into the game with full steam but somehow, towards the end its like someone put a needle into you and deflates you.

T - Torment fellow countrymen
The look on the chubby guy(our m'sian badminton head cheerleader) who never fails to turn up at one of your matches said it all yesterday. Slumped over his kompang, his dear team has failed, failed him and failed us. Thousands and thousands of malaysians tune in to watch you play, some of them future badminton players. Sometimes even Dato' Najib and his wife comes to watch you live. Phew, lucky they didn't make it yesterday. Think of all the elderly people who have been supporting you since the old days. Even kids like me and my cousin sister who is only 7 can get stroke from watching you play sometimes.

U - Unforced errors
Hello? You're all talented with super quick reflexes. You even come up with fancy moves at tight moments like at the net but talent alone isn't going to get you anywhere near the Gold Medal if you make unforced errors all the time!If you know you're older than the other pair, why go to battle in a 3rd set where you're bound to make mistakes???

P - Proud
Somehow, our players, not all but some and you know who you are. Win a few points ady, must beat chest like a gorilla is it? Haiyo, think of your partnerla. The antics aren't necessary. Just play well dang it!

I - Inconsistent
wah liau! too much man! One day, All England Champions, the next day, knocked out in the first round of AVIVA.

D - Drive tak ada
This would also explain the inconsistency. I just feel our players aren't driven enough. The best coaches and supporters aren't going to make it better. You need the drive, the desire to give your all through the whole game as well as in your career and not just at the start.

I feel much better now, ranting out my dissapointments. Now, it would be unrealistic of me to expect the Malaysian team to win all the time. Sure there are always 2 sides of a coin, winners and losers but hey, when given an opportunity or rather opportunities, take it and go for the kill!We need our players in all sports not just to think Malaysia boleh. Always boleh, boleh, boleh but in the end tak boleh. We need to be Malaysia Juara!

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Praise God!


Woo Hoo! I just got mail from UMMC today and a very notable doctor or rather surgeon has approved of me doing an attachment with her. This is super wonderful because for the last month, everytime my cell members ask me what my prayer requests were, I would say, "Pray that I will use the remainder of my holidays wisely." I think I said that so often, sometimes I catch one of them mouthing these words to me as I said it.

I start this tuesday and will be shadowing her around as she does her job in Oncology and Surgery. Ok, basically I'm going to be seeing loads of breasts because she is one of Malaysia's leading experts in breast cancer. Thank you God for giving me this amazing opportunity! I promise I'll do my best. Now, where the heck are my Repro notes?

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The Luncheon



Aargh! I want this so badly!!! Its fully padded and can fit two large files. What a beauty! If only Crumpler was made in Malaysia... If only...
Feast your eyes at their wacky, half past 3 website : http://www.crumpler.com.au

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