Short update

Dear friends,

I have not been able to update you on my dad's condition as we were all busy as a family. Here are some good news.

My dad has been discharged from the hospital since last Friday (5th June 2009). He is still adjusting to the weather at home and we are doing our best to accommodate to his changing body temperature.

He received many calls and messages from all of you and he would like to thank all of you for your concern and your thoughts. He is currently still trying to adjust to things and it would be great that you visit him only when he has stabilized.

The other good news is that our family is now tighter than ever. We are all trying to adjust our lives (career & personal) to accommodate to daddy's condition and as we adjust we got closer.

We, the Woo family, thank all of you for your prayers. May you continue to pray for daddy to be blessed with abundant strength. 

God Bless!

Love,

Yi Lei

Dear Scribble Book...

I left an empty note book for my dad to scribble last week. He finally put it to good use. He started scribbling yesterday. His first 2 pages contained the list of food that he is craving for.

Daddy's Cravings!

In case you can't read his writing. Below is the list:
1) Chee Cheong Fun - sauce? (Dad is not sure what sauce he wants)
2) Stir Fried Maggi Mee
3) Potato Bun
4) Ham Chim Peng
5) Roti Canai + Dahl?
6) Omellete (plain?)
7) Japanese Spanish Mackerel
8) Yong Tau Foo (Tau Foo Pok, Bitter gourd, Brinjal)
9) Tau Foo Fah - hot
10) Cendol (no ice)
11) Coconut Water (Fresh Thai King)
12) Lo Hong Koh Drink
13) Ling Chee Kang drink (warm)
14) Red Bean soup (hot)
15) Kraft's Cheddar Cheese
16) Sweet Potato (whole)
17) Wan Tan Mee (dry)
18) Mushroom soup (Canned?)
19) Pumpkin seeds (organic)
20) Apricot seeds (organic)
21) Orange fruit
22) Peach fruit
23) Mango fruit
24) Bread (for sandwich) type?

He listed down 24 types of food that he would love to have. Well, it's now on his blog. So when he's back, he'll be able to take a look at what he was craving for and satisfy his cravings. :)

My dad also monitored his own progress yesterday. By jotting down what he had orally and how much milk he is taking. He's also monitoring his amount of urination. (The nurses jots down in his chart but dad would like to keep his own record.)

Daddy's progress on 26th May 2009

Tonight was a different experience for me and I think for all of us too. After dinner, daddy shared with us his experience last night and this morning. He had difficulty passing motion and also difficulty breathing. He gave credit to one of the nurses who was there to accompany him throughout his ordeal. After the ordeal, he felt much better but very tired. He then rested the whole day.

It came to his mind something that my sister shared with him last time. Happiness is about having something to do, someone to love and something to look forward to.

Daddy said he knows that he has more than just one person to love. So that's something that he already have.

He needs something to look forward to. He asked his dietitian to help him draft out a schedule of how he should be progressing, so that he has something to look forward to.

As for something to do, he found the "Scribble Book" a good way for him to keep himself occupied. He also thought of studying Sudoku. So he asked us to print out manuals or basic rules of Sudoku, so that he can learn a skill while he is resting and it will also help him keep his mind occupied.

Daddy also shared with us the new regime that he has worked out with the dietitian. They planned the regime properly and daddy is hoping that this new regime would help him.

Total of 1425 calories & 83 g of Protein a day!

I'm very happy that daddy manage to talk to us for a good 30minutes today. He felt much better pouring it all out. He said that he would love to do this every day provided that he has the energy to do so.

The moment daddy ended his sharing session, I thank God for all that He has done. He has given all of us strength & patience. I know that daddy may/may not share as much tomorrow but I'm just thankful that he was given so much strength to pour his heart out.

Daddy, you are indeed my hero! I love you daddy!

I'm confident that the day for you to say "I'M BACK!" will be arriving soon! :)

From 60 to 70

My dad increased his milk intake 2 days ago. He started off with 40ml an hour then the dietician increased it to 60ml per hour. Now he is consuming 70ml per hour. 

So far his body is accepting it well. We are thankful that daddy can take in more these days. He drinks half bowl of soup for lunch & dinner orally. A few sips of water orally every hour. 

His abdominal area is slightly smaller now. Perhaps the body has regained strength and the fluids will slowly drain out by itself just as how the Dr has said. Praise the Lord!

Prove of achievement! :)

Let's Exercise!

My dad is more hardworking now. He will make sure that he exercises every 1-2 hours. The physiotherapist would introduce new moves to him every morning and he will have to do "today's move" continuously throughout the day.

I believe I can fly!

Here's one of the "moves" that he has to do. 

He doesn't converse much these days because he will cough when he speaks. So he will usually just answer us with sign languages or if he have to, he will speak slowly. He wasn't coughing that much yesterday when I met him. 

Let's pray for his lungs to relax soon. :)

Let me check who texted me.

My dad playing with his HTC Touch. Keeping himself updated by logging on to the internet using his phone. :)

Updates: Small Surgery & Ham Chim Peng!

My apologies for not updating daddy's journey, it's difficult for me to update at night without my laptop at home. My dad is still in the hospital and every day he has something new. I shall just wrap them up from where I've left.

My dad went for a small surgery last Friday (15 May 2009). He had some pain at the end of his scar. When he showed the Dr, Dr immediately knew that it was the leftover thread that is inside his abdominal muscle. The thread was suppose to dissolve by itself but because my dad is skinny, it didn't.

So Dr performed a short surgery (only lasted for 20 minutes) on him on that very day.

WARNING: The image below may be too much for some. Do continue reading with a brave heart!

The part that caused the pain. Can you see the black spot? That's where the thread is.

After the surgery, my dad was given Antibiotics. The Antibiotics made dad cough a lot. He had trouble sleeping at night for the next few nights until he asked the Dr if he could stop taking the Antibiotics. The Dr grant him his wish.

One day, I was telling my parents about my dream. I woke up wanting to eat something. As I said "Hey mummy & daddy, I woke up from my nap and I thought of eating... " then my dad proclaimed "HAM CHIM PENG" before I could finish my sentence. (It's a chinese delicacy. Red bean covered with flour and deep fried.) That put a smile on my face. It's good that he's craving for food.

The next day, my mum told me my dad wants to have "Yau Char Kuey". His love for these fried fritters is back! Unfortunately, he'll have to wait patiently.

The next day, he told my mum that he would like to have some cake. :) My mum was craving for Pandan Layer Cake. So she asked my sister to get Pandan Layer Cake. So they had Pandan Layer Cake for dessert (I'm not a fan of Pandan Layer Cake.) and my dad got a few mouthful of it too. :) [In case you are worried, we have asked the Dr's permission before feeding daddy Pandan Layer Cake.]

YUM! Pandan Layer Cake time!

My dad is currently doing some exercises on his bed and also some recommended exercises standing up and walking by the physiotherapist. So far the exercise is helping him but it does make him cough. Perhaps his lungs are exercising too. 

I thank you all for your concern as I can see that many have visited the site and left with disappointment. My apologies once again and I will do my best to update everyone more often. :)

Day 12: Spanish Mackerel

We were watching tv in the hospital and daddy suddenly told me "I miss the Japanese Spanish Mackerel (Saba Teriyaki)."

I told mum and she said that I can buy it for lunch and let him have some.

Before having some Saba, he asked if he could try the hospital's Egg Mayo sandwich. I gave him one small bite and we have to keep reminding him to chew before he swallow. I had Udon for lunch, he asked if he could have a strand of noodle. So I gave him one. 

After 20minutes, he wants the Saba. I gave him bit by bit. After 3 bites, he asked if he could finish the whole fish. My mum went.. "NOooo!!! not everything!" (She's afraid that he may feel bloated.)

Then he decided to have a "look" at the fish and ask me to hand it to him. He said he wants to have the skin and again my mum stopped him. (The fish skin is burnt. No good for cancer patients.)

Mmmm...can I have it all?

Daddy feeding himself one last bite before mummy stop him. He didn't take anymore solids for the rest of the day. Not too much in one day. 

Bit by bit.. as the Malay saying goes "Sikit-sikit, lama-lama jadi bukit!" 

(Well of course, daddy can't have a mountain of food. :P )

Day 11: Shall we dance?

My dad is taking the tube feeding well. His daily intake is 1,500 calories. The dietician said that it's more than the expected calories per day. So he should be building muscles.

However, his belly is still bloated. Bigger than before he was admitted into the hospital. Dr said that the only way to take the fluid is out is through medication. He don't want to puncture daddy because it may cause complication and would make things worse. Patience is the key!

Here's daddy, taking his daily 15 minutes walk. The dietician suggested him to consult a physiotherapist but dad said he would do exercises himself. He does some stretching exercises when he is lying down or sitting down.

Shall we dance?

Daddy look like he is dancing with his feeding tube when he moves up & down holding the tube in one hand. :)