Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Shaktivel



I visited young Shaktivel last month during our microcredit visits to Perak.

Personally I must admit that I am quite “numb” when seeing the suffering of many cancer patients I have visited so far since I worked with MAKNA a few years ago. I don’t think it is a burnout feeling but more of knowing it so well that it is an honorable duty that must be fulfilled at all cost.


Pondering on Shaktivel’s case , one thing that always amazed me is the the tenacity of the mother to ensure that her child to get well even it means they have to walk 3 kilometers under the scorching sun to go to Hospital Ipoh just because they don’t have money to pay the bus fare!

And this is not one story and one life I have crosses path with. There are many more.



The experience made me realized how important my job in giving cancer patients chance to rebuild their life again through microcredit program that I am involved in. Shaktivel’s case is many examples of how a family crumbled down when cancer struck. Father or husband would run away and leaving the family in despair. I used to ask why and why this is happening? But now, I stop asking and just carry out my duty to reassure them that there are people who cares and most importantly to ensure that they able to stand on their own feet and rebuild their life.

13 comments:

atiza said...

I don't know about others but to me, my kids are the centre of my being..not my hubby or my parents or even my job..husband could just leave you but as a mother, you could not just leave your kids behind..kalau boleh, nak mati pun must make sure the kids well beings are being looked after..kalau boleh la..

Iskandar Syah Ismail aka DR Bubbles said...

agree 101% wif u.

sis atiza,u know yesterday I was visiting a mother to a cancer children in Banting, and she remarked how she get the tremendous energy and zeal to work just for of her sick child. Just imagine she works by digging 300 holes to plant palm oil trees on a 5 acres land to get money for raya!
Dahlah tanah liat...

Anonymous said...

Oh dear... reading your entry makes me sad. I wished our health system would do something to support people who has cancer and can't afford treatment or atleast take care of these people.

I hope the govt will keep their promise on what they have announced lately in the paper. That would be really good. They should also educate the family and spouses about cancer and how to deal with it. Some spouses freak out and leave because they know the cost of medication is just very expensive and plus, some are just not sincere with their love and in denial. I don't know. That's just my thoughts.

I read about this every now and then. Kesian sangat. It takes a lot of courage and strength to go through what cancer patients go through. Most important is to have family and partner/spouse support. This keeps this cancer patient going and fight their illness.

Let's hope things like this won't happen like what we read or hear often if the govt has decided to make all the "subsidised" (sp) all the chemo or radiation treatment for cancer patients who can or can't afford. It has to be fair for those who can't afford and those who can afford.

MM 2cents worth..

pr3ttych3rry said...

hi there. thanks for visiting me.

wow! what an entree...i have always wanted to do volunteering work..but i usually end up with those needing ppl with medic knowledge..hope to go out n serve more...

Iskandar Syah Ismail aka DR Bubbles said...

mm: agree wif u. we have been telling the govt this for years and i sincerely hope that pak lah will honour his words.

pr3ttych3rry: tq for visiting my blog too. do just do whatever we can. :)

Anonymous said...

always wonder what u r up with back home.at least now, i'll get a glimpse.

raya tahun ni balik jerantut?

selamat raya.
keep on smiling.

Anonymous said...

Apart from cancer facilities, the support network must also be set up - e.g vans/buses to ferry patients to/from homes to hospital, support groups (talks, heart to heart sessions etc) and not forgetting support for caregivers/family too.

Iskandar Syah Ismail aka DR Bubbles said...

cousin: hehe..thanks for visiting...siapa kamu ya?

malenurse: whoa! thanks for dropping by bro. it's so true. we are yet to achieve that ideal state. support group? erghhh...how I wish my organisation could be more proactive on this! :(

nadya.s said...

hi iskandar,
thanks for the birthday wish :D anda benar! heheeh.

no worries,selamat hari raya jugak. saya pun mintak maaf tak dpt berjalan ke jerantut. been buzy layan sedara mara jugak n on 2nd day dah shoot off to KL and later, balik penang.

anedra said...

wow..u never fail to impress me with what you do. Keep it up tuan doctor bubbles.

ps. tak puas cubit tadi!!! malam ni sure takleh tidor terkenangkan my badan yang gendut! Ciss! heheh!

Iskandar Syah Ismail aka DR Bubbles said...

hehehehe....sakit tau kena cubit!

OOD said...

sad.

you know when they say the poor cant afford to be sick? And i wonder what happen to all the Tabung Ikhtiar and Amanah and zakat money and then again people still go on tv and mintak tolong. Sometimes the poor and needy tak cukup modal pon nak seek for funds and help.

and i am ashamed to admit that i always dahulukan my 'necessity' like paying my phone and astro and that extra baju etc before terfikir nak help them.. Selfish selfish selfish me.

keep on reminding us Dr Bubbles.

Iskandar Syah Ismail aka DR Bubbles said...

ood; agree wif u the modal thingy..susah! birokrasi and so on...