I am grateful that Arif was lucky to get a place in IJN. IJN jas a long waiting list of patients with Arif's condition. Some even more criticical than him.
If you were to see yourself in IJN the condition, you would understand better. Everyday, the pediatric ward would be full of children with heart conditions. Even the ICU is packed with people. According to sources, 2-3 operations are done a day in IJN towards saving a life of a child with a heart condition. Children all over Malaysia are taken in. Although I understand, some children could not be accepted into the hospital due to the full hose situation.
I am grateful and blessed that I had my family who helped tremendously in terms of finance and strength towards saving Arif. If it weren't for them, we might have been those parents that had to struggle to find financial aid to save their child's life.
However, if you as a parent is lucky enough to be called in into IJN, please do know that they have what they call 'Rakan IJN' that will help you in terms of finding finance for your child's operation and even other costs as in medication, milk, diapers and so forth. They even offer emotional support to parents dealing with a child with a heart condition. DO also note that IJN is also supported by the government, whereby if the parents do not have financial assistance, with proper documentation, IJN would be able to reduce the cost of the operation or be able to allow you to pay the operation cost as a loan based, meaning you can pay bit by bit within a specific period.
I am grateful that Arif has no other health conditions or any other complications other than the hole in his heart. If there were... it would be riskier for Arif.
I am grateful that after 6 weeks post operation, Arif is now clear from any heart condition and is therefore be able to be called a normal healthy baby. Alhamdulillah... For Allah is the Greates and Most Merciful.
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Dealing with VSD: Part 3... The news we didn't want to hear.
This is a continuation from my first post on Arif's Congenital condition.
Ever since we found out about Arif's hole in the heart when he was 3 days old, we then decided to stick to the doctors in IJN, particularly Dr. Mazeni Alwi. For every month for the next three months, we went to see him on updates on Arif's condition.
On the second month, the doctor told us that Arif's left ventrical is swollen. This made us worry further. Doctor told us that Arif would have to be on medication and we will need to monitor him closely for any signs of heart failure and that an operation is vital to save him.
So on medication it was. Alhamdulillah, Arif is not a fussy baby and he drank his medicines well without the need to mix it with his milk. There were a few times where he did spit it out, but most of the time, he'll swallow it well.
On the third month of his appointment, we were hoping that Arif's heart would not be as swollen as it was, so that we could at least hold his operation until he was older. But to our dismay, the doctor told us that even with medication, his heart still remained swollen. So the doctor asked us to choose a date not later than 2 months for his surgery. We asked him whether Arif could be inserted with a catheter to close the hole instead of an open heart surgery, alas, doctor told us that Arif's condition required only an open heart surgery. So we set the date to 19th of April. Approximately 6 weeks from his appointment and a week after his 4 month birthday.
Doctor assured us that the operation would be 99% successful, but as any normal parent would be.. we could only think of that 1% of the possibility that the operation would NOT be successful.
God knows how I felt. There was a moment where I thought 'Don't love Arif too much... he belongs to Allah, Allah could take Arif away anytime'. Every night from the day the doctor told us Arif would need to be operated, I couldn't sleep well. I would wake up easily at night and ever so often take a look at Arif, making sure he was still breathing and he wasn't turning blue. If you were to ask other people, I looked completely calm and normal, but in my mind and in my heart, I was very very worried about Arif.
The doctor advice us to make sure Arif does not get a cold or a flu prior to his operation as it may postpone his operation as well as it could be very risky for Arif's health. you could imagine how we took care of Arif. Making sure we brought him to places that were not too congested, making sure family members who were sick didn't touch him or be close to him. I knew we had to hurt some people's feelings for doing so... but we had to protect our baby most importantly.
But if you were to look at Arif, he looked like any normal healthy baby. If we didn't tell anyone, no one would know that he was actually sick. He was active and cheerful... the only thing noticeable was his heavy breathing and rapid heart rate.
Here are some pictures of Arif as he grew up prior to his operation date. Will write about his operation on another post.
Ever since we found out about Arif's hole in the heart when he was 3 days old, we then decided to stick to the doctors in IJN, particularly Dr. Mazeni Alwi. For every month for the next three months, we went to see him on updates on Arif's condition.
On the second month, the doctor told us that Arif's left ventrical is swollen. This made us worry further. Doctor told us that Arif would have to be on medication and we will need to monitor him closely for any signs of heart failure and that an operation is vital to save him.
So on medication it was. Alhamdulillah, Arif is not a fussy baby and he drank his medicines well without the need to mix it with his milk. There were a few times where he did spit it out, but most of the time, he'll swallow it well.
On the third month of his appointment, we were hoping that Arif's heart would not be as swollen as it was, so that we could at least hold his operation until he was older. But to our dismay, the doctor told us that even with medication, his heart still remained swollen. So the doctor asked us to choose a date not later than 2 months for his surgery. We asked him whether Arif could be inserted with a catheter to close the hole instead of an open heart surgery, alas, doctor told us that Arif's condition required only an open heart surgery. So we set the date to 19th of April. Approximately 6 weeks from his appointment and a week after his 4 month birthday.
Doctor assured us that the operation would be 99% successful, but as any normal parent would be.. we could only think of that 1% of the possibility that the operation would NOT be successful.
God knows how I felt. There was a moment where I thought 'Don't love Arif too much... he belongs to Allah, Allah could take Arif away anytime'. Every night from the day the doctor told us Arif would need to be operated, I couldn't sleep well. I would wake up easily at night and ever so often take a look at Arif, making sure he was still breathing and he wasn't turning blue. If you were to ask other people, I looked completely calm and normal, but in my mind and in my heart, I was very very worried about Arif.
The doctor advice us to make sure Arif does not get a cold or a flu prior to his operation as it may postpone his operation as well as it could be very risky for Arif's health. you could imagine how we took care of Arif. Making sure we brought him to places that were not too congested, making sure family members who were sick didn't touch him or be close to him. I knew we had to hurt some people's feelings for doing so... but we had to protect our baby most importantly.
But if you were to look at Arif, he looked like any normal healthy baby. If we didn't tell anyone, no one would know that he was actually sick. He was active and cheerful... the only thing noticeable was his heavy breathing and rapid heart rate.
Here are some pictures of Arif as he grew up prior to his operation date. Will write about his operation on another post.
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Dealing with VSD: Part 2 - What is VSD?
This post, I copied from a few sources that I have quoted. Just for your knowledge on what VSD is.
~Ventricular septal defect describes one or more holes in the wall that separates the right and left ventricles of the heart. Ventricular septal defect is one of the most common congenital (present from birth) heart defects. It may occur by itself or with other congenital diseases.~ National Institute of Health, USA
Causes:
Before a baby is born, the right and left ventricles of its heart are not separate. As the fetus grows, a wall forms to separate these two ventricles. If the wall does not completely form, a hole remains. This hole is known as a ventricular septal defect, or a VSD.
Ventricular septal defect is one of the most common congenital heart defects. The baby may have no symptoms, and the hole can eventually close as the wall continues to grow after birth. If the hole is large, too much blood will be pumped to the lungs, leading to heart failure.
The cause of VSD is not yet known. This defect often occurs along with other congenital heart defects.
In adults, ventricular septal defects are a rare but serious complication of heart attacks. These holes do not result from a birth defect.
What Can be Done about VSD?
If the opening is small, it won't make the heart and lungs work harder. Surgery and other treatments may not be needed. Small VSDs often close on their own. There isn't any medicine or other treatment that will make the VSD get smaller or close any faster than it might do naturally.
If the opening is large, open-heart surgery may be needed to close it and prevent serious problems. Babies with VSD may develop severe symptoms and early repair, within the first few months, is often necessary. The repair may be delayed in other babies. Medicines may be used temporarily to help with symptoms, but they don't cure the VSD or prevent permanent damage to the lung arteries.
Closing a large VSD by open-heart surgery usually is done in infancy or childhood even in patients with few symptoms, to prevent complications later. Usually a patch of fabric or pericardium (the normal lining around the outside of the heart) is sewn over the VSD to close it completely. Later this patch is covered by the normal heart lining tissue and becomes a permanent part of the heart. Some defects can be sewn closed without a patch. It may be possible to close some VSDs in the cath lab.
-American Heart Association-
Now, what I shared hear is pretty much VSD on a child. VSD however could also affect an adult. You can google VSD for more information on the disease.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Dealing with it. VSD & PDA in a child and handling it as a family: Part 1
As you have read on my previous post, we had a beautiful baby boy, about 4 months 3 weeks ago. My journey, my husbands journey towards parenthood was wonderful, giving birth to Arif was such a beauty (I went thru a c-section, and I loved every moment of it, up till I heard Arif's cry as soon as he came out of my tummy.)
But, everything almost completely came down crashing on us, about three days after his birth. Arif's pediatrician was making his last check up on Arif before we were allowed to go home. Me n my mom was in my hospital room, and Yus was back in Penang to settle some job. About an hour later, Arif's Paeds came in and told us that Arif had jaundice and he heard a murmur in Arif's hearbeat. He had called upon a child cardiologist to check on Arif later in the evening. In the mean time, Arif would have to stay in the hospital until his jaundice clears off. Arif would have to be put under an ultraviolet light in the Special Nursing Care Unit, at the end of the hospital ward.
When Arif's paeds told me that he had jaundice, I wasn't nervous. I knew it could happen because of the readings I did and how common newborns could get it. But when the doctor told us that he found a murmur, my heart skipped a little. Nervously waiting until the cardiologist arrived in the evening. (It was little before noon when the Paeds told us)
At about 6pm, the nursing room called me to come to the nursing room, as the cardiologist had already arrived. So i rushed to the room, where Arif was in his special bed, Eyes covered with a cloth and net. The doctor was doing an ultrasound on him and was really, really quiet. Concentrating I guess.
I watched from far the Ultrasound machine screen. I knew there was a whole. Why? Because when I was younger, I had a hole in the heart, but it closed by itself. The routine check ups still linger in my mind sometime, and I can still remember how an ultrasound of a baby with a hole in the heart looked like. And Arif's looked exactly like that. My heart was pumping hard. Mom wasn't allowed to go in. So I was there alone with Arif, the nurses and the very serious doctor.
Then the doctor asked me to sit down by the table in the nursing room. He then let out a sigh and put a string of ultrasound prints on the table. And then he explained.
Arif had what they call a PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosus), a whole between the left and right ventrical of the heart, in which old blood and new blood mixed. He also indicated another hole which he thought was not a concern. I remember clearly the doctor saying "Don't be to optimistic that the hole would close on its own, because it is quite a large hole. But I will check it from time to time". I was holding back tears by then. I stayed back for awhile to nurse Arif and watch the nurses change his diapers. My mom and aunties were waiting anxiously outside for me to come out with the results.
I didn't reach the exit door of the special care nursery before I broke down in tears. Mom must have figured something and opened the door in between the exit area and the nursing area and saw me crying. Mom asked me what was wrong, but I didn't want to talk just then. I walked quietly while crying back to my room in the maternity ward, while mom and a string of my relatives followed suit behind me. Macam drama pun ada kat tengah2 maternity ward tu.
As soon as I came into the room, mom asked again what the doctor said about Arif's health. Then I choke up my tears and explain it to everyone that was in the room. One by one, my mom and my aunties and cousins started crying. I asked mom how would I tell Yus. She told me, to wait until I calm down. Mom told daddy, who was waiting for his flight to Oman for a business trip and couldn't join us at the hospital on that day.
As if Yus sensed something, about less than an hour later, he called. I went into the bathroom to talk to him, because everyone else was outside. I told him to be calm and that I had some news about Arif for him. He kept silent. Then I told him... and more silence came thru. Then I assured him that everything would be alright, though at that moment, I had no idea myself whether everything WOULD be alright.
An appointment with the cardiologist was set in two weeks for another detailed check up. I told mom to call her cardiologist so that we could get a second opinion from Institut Jantung Negara (National Heart Institute), where most cardio cases was sent too. So the next day my mom called her cardiologist and he set up an appointment with a child cardiologist, just a few days after Arif's check up with the cardiologist in Damansara Specialist Hospital (DSH).
Two weeks later, in DSH, the doc went for another ultrasound as well as an ECG check. He reconfirm his findings and mentioned that he would have to monitor Arif's condition from time to time. While us as parents and grandparents would have to watch out for symptoms of heart failure in Arif, if any. These signs included:
1- Bluish Tinge on lips or fingers
2- Weight loss
3- Loss in appetite in baby
4- Difficulty in breathing
5- Sweating while drinking
Arif had No. 3 and 5.
A few days later, New Year's Eve to be exact, my parents sent Arif for his appointment with the cardiologist in IJN, Dr. Mazeni Alwi. I couldn't follow because I was still in my confinement, and Yus went back to settle his job again.
When my parents came home with Arif, they told us that Dr. Mazeni explained it much clearer than the cardiologist in DSH. He even explained that the other hole was called VSD (Ventrical Septal Defect) about 8mm in width. Quite large for a baby at Arif's age. He said, worse case scenario, an open heart surgery would have to be done, but he'll try to postpone to operation until Arif is bigger and as long as Arif's symptoms have not worsen.
We then decided to stay with IJN and Dr. Mazeni as our Pediatric Cardiologist Consultant and do Arif's monthly check up with him.
I'll continue about this post later. Haven't typed so much for so long (except on a phone), my fingers are cramped up.
But, everything almost completely came down crashing on us, about three days after his birth. Arif's pediatrician was making his last check up on Arif before we were allowed to go home. Me n my mom was in my hospital room, and Yus was back in Penang to settle some job. About an hour later, Arif's Paeds came in and told us that Arif had jaundice and he heard a murmur in Arif's hearbeat. He had called upon a child cardiologist to check on Arif later in the evening. In the mean time, Arif would have to stay in the hospital until his jaundice clears off. Arif would have to be put under an ultraviolet light in the Special Nursing Care Unit, at the end of the hospital ward.
When Arif's paeds told me that he had jaundice, I wasn't nervous. I knew it could happen because of the readings I did and how common newborns could get it. But when the doctor told us that he found a murmur, my heart skipped a little. Nervously waiting until the cardiologist arrived in the evening. (It was little before noon when the Paeds told us)
At about 6pm, the nursing room called me to come to the nursing room, as the cardiologist had already arrived. So i rushed to the room, where Arif was in his special bed, Eyes covered with a cloth and net. The doctor was doing an ultrasound on him and was really, really quiet. Concentrating I guess.
I watched from far the Ultrasound machine screen. I knew there was a whole. Why? Because when I was younger, I had a hole in the heart, but it closed by itself. The routine check ups still linger in my mind sometime, and I can still remember how an ultrasound of a baby with a hole in the heart looked like. And Arif's looked exactly like that. My heart was pumping hard. Mom wasn't allowed to go in. So I was there alone with Arif, the nurses and the very serious doctor.
Then the doctor asked me to sit down by the table in the nursing room. He then let out a sigh and put a string of ultrasound prints on the table. And then he explained.
Arif had what they call a PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosus), a whole between the left and right ventrical of the heart, in which old blood and new blood mixed. He also indicated another hole which he thought was not a concern. I remember clearly the doctor saying "Don't be to optimistic that the hole would close on its own, because it is quite a large hole. But I will check it from time to time". I was holding back tears by then. I stayed back for awhile to nurse Arif and watch the nurses change his diapers. My mom and aunties were waiting anxiously outside for me to come out with the results.
I didn't reach the exit door of the special care nursery before I broke down in tears. Mom must have figured something and opened the door in between the exit area and the nursing area and saw me crying. Mom asked me what was wrong, but I didn't want to talk just then. I walked quietly while crying back to my room in the maternity ward, while mom and a string of my relatives followed suit behind me. Macam drama pun ada kat tengah2 maternity ward tu.
As soon as I came into the room, mom asked again what the doctor said about Arif's health. Then I choke up my tears and explain it to everyone that was in the room. One by one, my mom and my aunties and cousins started crying. I asked mom how would I tell Yus. She told me, to wait until I calm down. Mom told daddy, who was waiting for his flight to Oman for a business trip and couldn't join us at the hospital on that day.
As if Yus sensed something, about less than an hour later, he called. I went into the bathroom to talk to him, because everyone else was outside. I told him to be calm and that I had some news about Arif for him. He kept silent. Then I told him... and more silence came thru. Then I assured him that everything would be alright, though at that moment, I had no idea myself whether everything WOULD be alright.
An appointment with the cardiologist was set in two weeks for another detailed check up. I told mom to call her cardiologist so that we could get a second opinion from Institut Jantung Negara (National Heart Institute), where most cardio cases was sent too. So the next day my mom called her cardiologist and he set up an appointment with a child cardiologist, just a few days after Arif's check up with the cardiologist in Damansara Specialist Hospital (DSH).
Two weeks later, in DSH, the doc went for another ultrasound as well as an ECG check. He reconfirm his findings and mentioned that he would have to monitor Arif's condition from time to time. While us as parents and grandparents would have to watch out for symptoms of heart failure in Arif, if any. These signs included:
1- Bluish Tinge on lips or fingers
2- Weight loss
3- Loss in appetite in baby
4- Difficulty in breathing
5- Sweating while drinking
Arif had No. 3 and 5.
A few days later, New Year's Eve to be exact, my parents sent Arif for his appointment with the cardiologist in IJN, Dr. Mazeni Alwi. I couldn't follow because I was still in my confinement, and Yus went back to settle his job again.
When my parents came home with Arif, they told us that Dr. Mazeni explained it much clearer than the cardiologist in DSH. He even explained that the other hole was called VSD (Ventrical Septal Defect) about 8mm in width. Quite large for a baby at Arif's age. He said, worse case scenario, an open heart surgery would have to be done, but he'll try to postpone to operation until Arif is bigger and as long as Arif's symptoms have not worsen.
We then decided to stay with IJN and Dr. Mazeni as our Pediatric Cardiologist Consultant and do Arif's monthly check up with him.
I'll continue about this post later. Haven't typed so much for so long (except on a phone), my fingers are cramped up.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Sadis dan Gumbira
Rupenya takde sape pun sangat baca blog aku ni... Well of course la... I haven't even been blogging for months now. Muahaha... Owh well... U know me. Malas.
Anyway, read the post below? About me bing single and us having our time off? Well... It paid off, big time!
We're now working for the same company, we're both more mature in almost all sense, n the good thing is, there's a lot of change in the both of us. On the good side, doakan the best for us... InsyaAllah, the 'Big Day' will come somwewhere next year. When? I dunno... 31st December 2012 pun still considered next year what.. So we wait n see. Yeap... This time around we're moving towards the 'gonna get married phase'. Told ya things are different now. Pray for the best ya!
Anyway, read the post below? About me bing single and us having our time off? Well... It paid off, big time!
We're now working for the same company, we're both more mature in almost all sense, n the good thing is, there's a lot of change in the both of us. On the good side, doakan the best for us... InsyaAllah, the 'Big Day' will come somwewhere next year. When? I dunno... 31st December 2012 pun still considered next year what.. So we wait n see. Yeap... This time around we're moving towards the 'gonna get married phase'. Told ya things are different now. Pray for the best ya!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Ok... one hapdet laaa
I'm Single now... for the time being. It's better like this, so that each of us can SEARCH ourselves and respect ourselves better... and of course to turn ourselves as a better person.
God willing, we'll be together again. If not... then God has found someone better for us. I stand at that. But I won't deny that I do still love him. But it has to stop now for the time.
God willing, we'll be together again. If not... then God has found someone better for us. I stand at that. But I won't deny that I do still love him. But it has to stop now for the time.
OMG!
I'm not really busy... but I'm busy... my time on the internet consists of stalking people, deleting my e-mails, checking out blogshops, checking out jobs and chatting. So yes... I am busy... dlm erti kata lain, saya juga tak tau kenapa tersangatla malas nk hapdet blog. OMG!!! Teghoknyeee...
Please inspiration... please come back so that I can blog n blog like it's nobody's business. Sigh~
Mahappppp!!!
Please inspiration... please come back so that I can blog n blog like it's nobody's business. Sigh~
Mahappppp!!!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Malas... Procrastinating...
I have so many things to right about... I just don't know why I can't think of how to right it and I keep procrastinating... not good. Not good at all.
Many things have happen the past 2 months I have NOT been blogging... hope I could share it here soon.
Many things have happen the past 2 months I have NOT been blogging... hope I could share it here soon.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Under the weather..again..
Am not feeling well this past few days... nak type pun separa mengantuk sbb most of my medicines make me really drowsy.
Am going to update about my Vietnam trip and my friends wedding soon. So keep posted!
Am going to update about my Vietnam trip and my friends wedding soon. So keep posted!
Monday, December 6, 2010
Ho Chi Minh
 |
| Vietnam, here I come!!! |
Will be going to Ho Chi Minh City tomorrow. Will be back in 4 days. See ya!!!
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