Emak in Hospital Day 2 and 3

Day 2 Mak still looks the same.  The night before Kak Cik decided to take in the service of a nurse from the Mercy Nursing Home.  The home sent Kye Swe, from Myanmar, who was very gentle in her ways and also trained to take care of palliative cancer cases.   Kak Cik slept at the hospital, only managing to sleep after 3am, she reported.  Mak was given sleeping pills and Kak Cik said she snored away, indicative of sleep that is much needed.

Kak Yang slept at my place and we woke up early to get to the hospital to send Kee Swe back to Mercy and take another nurse, one by the name Emilia.  Also from Myanmar.  After settling her down with Mak, all three of us sisters went back to Paroi to discuss on what needs to be managed, particularly on Sumarni, my mother's maid for 6 years.

Sumarni had wanted to go back to Indonesia for a 4 week holiday in November but Kak Cik had negotiated for Sumarni to take her break in January 2011 instead.  Her accumulated salary, the extent of money that has been given to her and any remaining amount owing all needed to be sorted out.  Sumarni was tasked to clean Mak's house since we had already engaged a nurse to take care of Mak at the hospital.  Kak Cik committed to pay Sumarni on our behalf an additional RM500.00 a month starting November as incentive money to stay and handle Mak's needs after the cancer diagnosis.

Mak's condition seems a tad improving, although she does not speak as much and stares blankly at you. She frequently asks to be moved, either to sleep on her side or to be put upright.  The retching has stopped and so has the blood vomit.  Mak asked for Sumarni to stay with her at the hospital on account that Sumarni has been taking care of her for the past six years.  Like the daughter she never had, Kak Yang opines.  Well, our relationship with Mak has never been easy.  And as I wrote a while back, Mak wants her independence and Sumarni has been providing her the ticket to do just that.  If that is what Mak wants at this stage and she does get comfort from Sumarni's presence, we will indulge.  Despite our misgivings about Sumarni and my mother.

Day 3 I was there early in the morning again with MrM, Aliah and Zarif.  Met the doctor who was covering for Dr Sharudin and he said that Mak can be discharged today.  We have to wait for Dr Jeffri to visit Mak and see what he says.  Dr Jeffri prescribes another blood test to see if Mak's HB level has improved.  While waiting for the blood test results, we left for Paroi.  Discussed with Kak Mong on cleaning up Mak's room for her homecoming.  Too many things, furniture included, in Mak's room.  And the room itself feels gloomy.  With the help of MrM and Kak Mong's sons, we managed to unclutter Mak's room, vaccuum and Nadzmi gave it a good mop.

After lunch we headed for home.  Abg Ghazie called to say Mak is discharged and for me to settle the bills.  And Mak asked for her handbag and jewelry sack.  Drove home, picked up Mak's bags and drove back to KPJ.  Bills settled, medicine prescribed, ambulance staff came at about 2:30pm.

At home Mak is settled in her newly cleaned, uncluttered bedroom.

Continued