A day of adventure
October 25th, 2006 by Yvonne
Without firsthand experience, I don’t know how blood donation works in Malaysia, but I vividly recall blue-black marks on my arms after having my blood taken for tests. In Malaysia, blood is taken several times from patients after surgery to monitor their progress. Pre-surgery tests might have involved only 1 tube of blood but my memory is gradually failing on me, which may not be a bad thing in this case.
Anyway, after lunch today, I met up with Dr. Stefan the internist at his office, on the 2nd floor of the institute, who ran several tests on me including the strength of my heart. Dr. Stefan appears to be an intelligent man by the way he quickly process my words when asked to report on bodily problems. Very often, doctors back home are met with blank stares, or maybe it’s the way they look. I told him about my swalloing difficulty, tingling sensations in the throat, poorer balance, and dry eyes - all associated with Acoustic Neuroma and nerves inside the auditory canal. I promptly purchased a strong eye gel without preservatives meant for severe dry eyes. It works just fine, with a cooling effect, very much like mint.
In the evening, mom and I took a bus to Santa Moinica, which is to the west of downtown LA. At first we got on the wrong bus although in the right direction. I thought all buses heading to a direction goes to the same destination, but that’s because I was lucky to get it right away last time. So we got down from that bus and waited for less than 2 minutes for the correct bus that took us all the way to Santa Monica and even made a special stop for mom and I at the pathway leading to Santa Monica Pier.
There, I captured some photographs on my digital camera, but was not quite satisfied, wishing the camera would record exacrly what appeared through my eyes. Perhaps a 360 degrees paranomic view, The pier even had a mini-circus but was still too early to sight anyone in it, or maybe the air temperature was too cold. To my amusement, there west mist in the air! Right here in LA! It’s the beginning of autumn right now so flowers are blooming along sidewalks and on trees. There was hardly anyone at the beach.
An evening at santa Monica could not do without taking a stroll along 3rd street, which is basically two row of shops intersecting two main roads. There are branded shops like GAP, SWATCH, and even Borders and Barnes & Nobles. I am not a brand kind of person so the names have already escaped my mind by now. Most people went just to stroll because none of them held shopping bags including myself. There wasn’t many people anyway. I wondered where everyone went. Even the buskers took a day off!
Coming back was quite an adventure though, because I couldn’t find the main THIRD STREET that should have been above Wilshire. There was only a desserted California Blvd. I think we circled the block at least twice, stopping to ask several passerbys who were clueless about downtown LA. None of them knew any Third streets except for the mini ones in Santa Monica. Even then, there are two including a backlane. We asked this guy in yellow top who seemed like a know-how.
“Hello sir. Do you where Third street is?”
“There this one, that runs from there and all the way to the bottom”
“no, not this one. I mean the MAIN, BIG Third street”
He mumbled more, pointing and there…
“No no… the one that takes us to downtown LA”
Shakes his head, now pointing to the east
“No, not THAT one. Another one…”
He then pointing here, there and everywhere…
Seeing that he was just as clueless, we walked off and ventured into the unknown. In the end, I decided that we should just board a bus on Wilshire that take us to Alvarado because St. Vincent is at the junction of Third Street and Alvarado. But I thought I wouldn’t be able to recognise Alvarado on Wilshire, so I got mom to tell the bus driver to inform us when we’re there. The bus drivers here are very helpful, but this one was probably impatient to end her shift, so shje didn’t tell us when we reached Alvarado. Looking out the window all the time, I spotted a nice lake, then a 99 cents thrity store, then a Japanese restaurant, and hey these look familiar! I got mom to ask the bus driver, who said we have arrived, Yay~!
But we still had to walk up the hill on Alvarado to St. Vincent, but somehow, although tiring, it’s not as bad as straining muscles amidst the humid weather of Malaysia.
Ok that’s all for now. My friend and her son, Greg, have arriived at Seton Hall for medical check-up. Knew them through the NF2 crew and now I can’t wait to catch up!
P/S: Tomorrow morning comes surgery. Pray! Pray!
Posted in Health |
October 25th, 2006 at 2:24 pm
The good Lord will watch over you and shelter you. Our prayers are with you,dear.
October 25th, 2006 at 11:10 pm
gud luck gurl…love ya…best of luck!!! MUACKS!!
October 25th, 2006 at 11:26 pm
yvonne u are in my prayers!!! i pray that whatever may happen your spirit will be at ease.. i wish u the best of luck and can’t wait to read more!
October 25th, 2006 at 11:53 pm
I’ll pray for you too yvonne although i’m a taoism but i will pray for you too! best of luck..may the lord bless you…
October 26th, 2006 at 3:05 pm
Dear Monkey,
Everything will be ok. Just trust in Him and Him alone.
October 26th, 2006 at 7:45 pm
God be with you, Yvonne!!!
October 27th, 2006 at 1:17 am
Hi Everyone,
I’m a student in LA and my sister, Poh Si, and I are friends of Yvonne. I was at St Vincent Hospital yesterday to keep Yvonne’s mom company. About 6 1/2 hours after the surgery had started, Drs Friedman and Hitselberger finally stepped out of the OR to give Auntie an update. (Yvonne’s right - Dr Friedman is a hot doctor.) They spoke quite loudly in the hallway so I couldn’t help but hearing every word. Just wanted to leave a note that Yvonne is recovering from surgery, implant of the ABI was successful and she’s going to be ok. As they spoke, another doctor was closing her up and she wouldn’t be out for another hour or so. It was getting late and because the hospital is in a really ghetto/poor neighborhood, I didn’t feel safe and decided to catch the bus home. I haven’t seen Yvonne yet, but I will be visiting frequently. Thanks to everyone for all your love and support.
October 27th, 2006 at 8:48 am
Pohkheng:
Thank u so much for your update. We do appreciate this a lot.Thanks too, for taking the time to visit Yvonne. :))
October 27th, 2006 at 10:58 am
You are a fighter and GOD knows…Have a very good rest and a speedy recovery.
GOD blessed you.
TehSee
October 27th, 2006 at 11:18 am
i am glad the surgery was a successful one. thanks to yvonne’s strong will and determination to persevere, i am sure she will be hearing our congratulatory wishes with her re-found hearing senses very soon
â€â€and we would all sing wang lee hom together in the most heart warming fashion.
October 27th, 2006 at 4:32 pm
Hey girl… don’t worry ok? It’ll all be okay… trust in Him… Our prayers are with you! Have fun~
October 28th, 2006 at 11:43 am
Yvonne,
Jesus knows what you are going through and He is and will always be watching over you. Just would like to remind you that He is just a prayer away.
It’s good to hear that the surgery went amazingly well. Would like to wish you a speedy recovery. Take good care and God Bless!
October 28th, 2006 at 11:04 pm
Thx, pohkheng, for the update!
Yvonne: i wish u speedy recovery n do take good care of urself there! we’re all keeping u in our prayers.
October 29th, 2006 at 2:33 am
Dear Yvonne,
Have a speedy recovery and get well soon. I’m so happy for you , you really are a brave fighter and you kick and punch the obstacles in life real hard . Hope to see you blogging again soon =) Till then , GBU
October 29th, 2006 at 2:37 am
Hey there Yvonne…
Great to know that your surgery went pretty well.
I’ll definitely have you in my prayers.
Hope that you’ll have a speedy recovery
take good care and GOD Bless you!
hugs
kim
xxx
October 29th, 2006 at 12:30 pm
Hey yvonne really happy to hear that the surgery is a success! and thanks pohkheng for the update news!
October 29th, 2006 at 9:52 pm
have a speedy recovery.
God be with you.
=)
October 29th, 2006 at 10:13 pm
Glad to hear that the surgery went well! (from pohkheng’s update)
As with the others, hope that you’re recovering well from the surgery… keep on fighting!
October 30th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Hi Yvonne:
Hope you are resting well. Our prayers are with you. Can’t wait to hear from you. Remember, God is good … ALL THE TIME!
Hugs!
Suanne and Ben
October 30th, 2006 at 12:55 am
Hi Yvonne, I am a Sarawakian living in the US for the last 20 years,I am deeply touched by you determination to fight with your illness and the surgeons who voulenter their time and effort. My sister partially lost her battle with cancer at 27, at the time , her boss put in extra effort to lend our family a helping hand.
I’d like to offer my help if needed (email me). I live in Orange county, about 20 miles away from L.A. Area. I am free on weekends.
If you and your mom miss Malaysian food, I’ll be glad to make arrangement to get some Char KUeh Tiau, Mee Goreng, BKT… etc from authentic Malaysian Restaurants in L.A.
Speedy recovery!
October 30th, 2006 at 3:54 am
oh god i hope i’m not too late, but my prayers with you! take care =)
October 30th, 2006 at 10:10 am
wow, can you update us further pohkheng? anxiously waiting for news about her.
October 30th, 2006 at 12:31 pm
Dear all,
Visited Yvonne today. We haven’t met before, so I was glad that she was awake before I left. She was in good spirits when we chatted. The doctors have removed her bandages and IV drip. She’s resting, recuperating from surgery and will be discharged tomorrow. Lots of physical therapy awaits her. If you’ve sent her a fruit and flower basket, she received it a few days ago.
Stay tuned guys, I suspect she’ll be blogging again in a few days…
October 30th, 2006 at 4:46 pm
Hey Poh Kheng, it’s great to get this update from you. Do send my regards to Yvonne.
Isn’t this amazing? Love connected people across the globe!
Do send my love to Yvonne and wish her a speedy recovery.
October 30th, 2006 at 6:25 pm
Yay thanks pohkheng for that happy update! really happy for her.. please send my regards for her! ask her to rest well before start blogging again! god will be her side..
October 30th, 2006 at 11:18 pm
Dearest: Yvonne,
I am praying for your speedy recovery as Im reading your entry.
U, YvonneFoong, is such an amazing warrior who choose to stand in the frontline of obstacles and humbly shared your life with us through your blogsite.
I am deeply touched by your courage, your uplifting spirit and your joy for the Lord. I know God will bless you threefold (maybe
October 30th, 2006 at 11:28 pm
Hi Yvonne. I am just a random passer-by and I must admit that I am very blown away by your courage and determination. You are absolutely beautiful. My sincere wishes to you and I am so glad the surgery went well!! May your process to total recovery be smooth and pain-free. Although with your positive outlook on life I have an inkling that you’ll be just fine. Meanwhile, rest up while we all keep sending the universe well-wishes for you.
“Even if there is pain now,
Everthing will be alright,
For as long the world still turns,
There will be night and day,
Can you hear me,
There’s a rainbow always after the rain”
(South Border - Rainbow)
Take care Yvonne and keep smiling that dazzling smile of yours. =)
Love Angie,
xoxox
October 31st, 2006 at 3:38 am
It’s been 5 days. What the fuck happened ?
Can you hear me.
No matter what happens, remember that you are still alive.
October 31st, 2006 at 9:51 am
Yes, can’t wait for Yvonne’s update. Thanks to those people who updated us while she’s recovering.
October 31st, 2006 at 9:55 am
I wonder if she could hear all the hospital noises around her now…
November 1st, 2006 at 12:21 pm
Glad to hear you’re doing well. Get well soon.
P/s: how can one contact you? tried to call but i dind’t have your Seton hall room number.