Trust your doctor

My work would involve medical practitioners from time to time. I have seen their dedication and passion for their work. I have witnessed how they'd sacrifice their time and energy just to see their patients make it through.

Yesterday was a sombre day for me. A former colleague of mine from Yayasan Ilmuwan, who is only 39 years old, has been warded at one of the local private hospitals. He was in semi-conscious state when I visited him. His breathing was irregular, hence was assisted by a ventilator. He had diabetes which has resulted in a bad gangrenous infection on his legs. This same infection has gone into his blood stream causing his breathing problems.

Apparently, he has been diagnosed with diabetes many years ago. It all started when he had a small cut on his foot. This small cut was not treated properly. I was told that he didn't treat it using modern medicine, instead he went to one of these alternative therapies which applied colour as a form of healing. He felt that things were getting better.

Over the years, his cut on his foot got worse. What began as a small cut was now beginning to spread. He went to see a doctor at Hospital Selayang, who advised him to have his foot amputated for fear of having the infection spreading. He refused. This was earlier this year.

Then, after Chinese New Year, things got worse. The infection have gone all the way up his ankle. When he was warded, the infection was already at his thigh, and seems to be spreading further up. Definitely it would be impossible to amputate at this stage.

The doctors are waiting for his blood test which is supposed to be ready tomorrow. By then, the doctors would know what to do as the next course of action. Unfortunately, they only give him a 20-30% chance of survival.

If only he had gone for his treatment much much earlier. If only he had taken the advice of the doctor at Hospital Selayang. Too many ifs... but all this don't matter much now, as we cannot dwell on what could have been at this point in time.

I know that many of us dread to have parts of our body amputated. If you are not sure, get a second professional opinion, or even a third. If all agree that the same course of action should be taken, then have faith in these doctors. They are trained professionals who are there to save lives, not the other way around.

My former colleague is now fighting for his life. He has 4 young children. He is only 39 years old. As my boss said yesterday, "Too young to go."

Our prayers are with him. I hope yours are too.

UPDATED (11.07 a.m.):
Ahmad Faizal Ahmad Fadzil passed away at 10.45 a.m. today at Subang Jaya Medical Centre. My heartfelt condolences to his family. And may Allah SWT bless his soul.

Al-Fatihah.