Letting go is the hardest thing to do

Case: 69 years old lady suffering from breast cancer, with lung and liver metastasis. Her consciousness deteriorated at the end of my on call. She showed signs of gasping, indicating that the end of life is closing in.

The 80+ years old mother was in distress, seeing the unaroused daughter. She tried so hard: shook her, called her, pleaded us to do something, all in hope to hear her daughter’s voice again. Yet, the daughter lay there, weak and unaware of the voice of her beloved mother. It has always been devastating to see an elderly sending off the younger children. Who doesn’t love their child?

Letting go is indeed the hardest thing to do. We have so little time in life, and working in this field of work allowed me to be up close with death. Life is so fragile and impermanent. Medicine can only do so much for the ill, but we can always be there for our loved ones. Don’t wait till it’s too late.

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Remain hopeful

Case: An elderly with liver cirrhosis and occasional coughing was admitted to manage hepatic encephalopathy. She had an episode of vomiting & choking which led to aspiration pneumonia. Hypotension and desaturation ensued. While she is in DNR status, we tried our best to resuscitate her with fluids, performed sputum suction, provided oxygen therapy and started her on antibiotics. Her vitals recovered gradually and stabilized. However, she’s not out of the woods yet.

Just when life is about to come to an end, our path crossed, where I tried a little bit to help, and you tried a little more to live.

May you go though this challenge and live to see another day.

I wish you all the best.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank the people around me, who gave me emotional support when I needed it the most.

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Giving just enough

No matter how knowledgeable a person may be, there is a need to gauge how well the message is received by the other party.

Stuff too much, and the recipient suffers from information overload.

Stuff too little, and the recipient enters into boredom.

It comes to a point, the communicator needs constantly check on how well the other person is receiving the message.

When the person seemed clueless, or having a hard time digesting the information, providing more information may not be effective in solving the problem. Instead, try to gauge how much the person has understood, and which part of the key information is still missing that hinders his/her understanding.

The student may be a slow learner, but the teacher/mentor plays an even greater role in getting the information across and helping the slow learner grow.

Well, in short...

I am just another slow learner who is trying hard to keep up the learning pace on this fast-paced society. So please bear with me while I’m still understanding how things work.

If you can’t wait, I don’t mind you leaving me alone and let me learn on my own.

Don’t worry, I’ll find my own way.

When it comes to a day where I am the one sharing the knowledge, I will make sure the other slow learners grow well, because I understand how it feels to be a slow learner.

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A role to play

A cook, cleaner, nurse, doctor, artist, teacher, mechanic, technician, and many other unlisted professions.

They have one thing in common: A role to play in this society.

Everyone is deem important in ensuring this society functions well, and everyone deserves the respect they can get.

I am often humbled and inspired by the people I meet. Thank you for reminding me that I can be more than I am today.

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The unsung heroes

I am not possible if not for the unsung heroes that appeared during my life’s journey. They gave me guidance, inspired me to do better, and made me a better man.

Thank you for being there. I shall repay that debt by paying it forward, inspiring others too.

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Believe

Enough with the self-doubts. “Believe in yourself!” that’s what they said.

One’s potential can only be unleashed when you believe in yourself.

Since life is so unfair, why make succumb to it when all you have to do is believe that you’ll be successful too? Believe in your strengths, make them shine. Learn your weaknesses, work on them. You’ll be there someday.

Story behind this photograph: He is an acapella band member for VOX. The crowd, spotlights, stage… They are all fruits of hard, persistent work. True potentials are unleased when you believe in your strengths and make them work for you. Someday, everyone will have their own stage to shine.

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Ah… Finally…

I’m finally back after having so much struggles with Windows Live Writer. I must admit, the Open Live Writer developer team did a wonderful job with the open software, and I am now able to get back on track and start blogging again!

By the way, here’s something cool from Nik Filters. Users used to have to pay for the filters, but the company was recently acquired by Google. So now you can get them for free!

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Do no harm

I gave all I could to the patient, obtained information about him to keep him safe, made sure that he is getting the right medical attention and needs. And I certainly see him not merely as a patient, but my mentor, guiding me through my medical training. I benefited a dear lot because of him.

Although our doctor-patient relationship did not end the way it should and was a mess out of these arguments, I strive to do better, and I thank you for the opportunities for me to learn. May you stay healthy and happy always.

 

Story behind the first photograph: The sky may be high up, but a reflection of the high up is necessary to make one humble, and you will be one with the water and earth. Stay simple, pure and elegant like the water lily.

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Love for machines

The love for these beasts is undeniable, and this father brought his children along to see all motorcycles. Look how the rider and the father connects, while the curious children continue to look in awe.

I spent a little time around the Biketopia event, fascinated by how these people customize their motorcycles. Though I’m not a big fan of Harley Davidson, some of the bike designs certainly caught my eye.

The Harleys are definitely getting a sportier look, as it seemed that the company are moving towards targeting the market of younger generations.

And I got a little chance of sitting in an Audi TT Coupe: Quattro too. Thanks to my bro for the shot.

Story behind the first photograph: The biker was reluctant when the father requested to take a photograph of the motorcycle together with the biker. As the biker was about to ride away, the father approached him and requested for a contact, perhaps to send photographs to him. With that connection, I was the lucky one who got this shot of the interaction between the father and the biker, with the children engrossed in curiosity.

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A look back

Pause and look back on the things you have done in the past as you move forward into the future. You shall notice that while there is still a long way to you, you have come a long way too!

It may just be the second week of my clerkship rotation at the cardiovascular surgery department, yet I have learnt so much throughout the days. I have seen many great surgical operations, meet patients and feel their anxiousness about their illness, write patient charts and interpret medical images.

A self-reflect indeed come in handy at time like this. All is well.

 

Story behind this shot: I stopped by the road for a rest after riding in the rain for the past hour. The paddy field was really beautiful and it was indeed a moment of reflection as I ponder whether to turn back to Hualien because the weather report indicated bad weather for the next few days to come. The image in the mirror reflected how much I had come so far, and perhaps it was the time where I brave the fear of the unknown in front of me. I pushed forward, and I had some of the best memories throughout the journey.

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Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish

I certainly love the idea of having hands-on experience in the hospital. Yup, this is my second week in the hospital as a clerk, and I certainly have gained much by being foolish.

Just like what Steve Jobs’ famous quote, “Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish,” I may have asked some foolish questions, made myself look like a dumb some of the times, but I guess I gained a lot more for asking those questions. I know what I know, and I am truthful for what I don’t know.

May the “How-s” and “Why-s” dominate my day… And let knowledge by the path forward.

All is well. =D

 

Story behind this shot: This shot was possible because of the curiosity towards an ad. That evening I saw a poster at the bus station at Taitung, and I asked the ticket conductor about it. That lead me to this stunningly beautiful architecture made of bamboo. It’s the “Tree of Life”. The person standing below kindly accepted my invitation to be part of the shot, further emphasizing the significance of the tree.

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Getting out there

Our mind tends to shut ourselves from the outside. Yet, when we’re out there, we waited and hesitated.

Well, the surprise is just out there. Believe, have faith and go forward…

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Shower in the cave

This cave is just stunningly beautiful. The last time I was there, I knew that I had to go back again, armed with gears to take shots of this cave. The water temperature is about 8 to 12 degrees. A cooling shower indeed!

This cave is called 水漣洞 (Water-curtain cave), located at the end of 白楊步道 (Bai Yang Trail) at Taroko National park. It is crowded with tourists now, so it’s best if you can go there as early as possible to avoid the crowd.

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Band of Brothers

Now that the three bros have their own bikes, I can’t wait to go ride together…

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Selective ignorance and forgetfulness…

 

 

I guess at times, being selectively ignorant and forgetful can make one happier. However, that doesn’t mean I care less, but I care more towards the things that mattered to me.

May all the negative feedbacks be like the falling leaves, being blown away with the wind, as I stride firmly towards my goals in life, knowing that I have made a choice that I’m proud of…

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We are a team, a family, and will always be…

We have been through a lot together. There may be some arguments and conflicts, but at this very moment, we only remembered the days that we had fun, the nights we trained and practiced dance routine together, and the moment we stood on stage and vowed the audience.

Wow! Time really flies.

Congratulations on those graduating, and all the best to you guys in future undertakings. Do remember to come back again 3 years from now, when the remaining few of us are graduating. =D

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A passing storm

The storm has passed, damage has been done. But the sun is up, and it’s a brand new start.

May what we have been through help us grow stronger and wiser. As we grow older, looking back, we see only fond memories of us being together, enjoying our lives.

So let’s move on together. And may we be stay positive always.

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Conflicts that brought us closer

At times, little conflicts and misunderstandings could be dangerous to a relationship. But it could be a chance to challenge the solidity of trust and honesty in that relationship.

At times, when we are too close with each other, we take things for granted, and we forgot about how the other person is feeling. Let us not let each other guess what we are feeling. Use words instead. Show more appreciation when you get a helping hand, praise others often, and speak your heart out. It makes you feel comfortable, because you do not hide what you feel, and you do not have to guess what the other person feels.

This, is the lesson of communication. Use words.

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Summer’s here

Summer has been pretty hot, and a few of us managed to take some time off to cycle out and play in the water. We headed out on the 1st of June, but this post came a little late as I was waiting for my roll of film to be developed.

Hualien is a beautiful place to explore if you’ve got the time to spare.

Exam week is coming up next, so I guess back to my books then. =D

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Leap of faith

Too much stuffs have been going through my mind lately, and I’m thinking that perhaps I’m getting a little bit complacent with life.

Or perhaps this place has suppressed too much of what I can do and what I want to achieve in life, that I’ve decided to make this decision.

As scary as it may seem, interestingly, many people that I’ve talked to supported my decision of doing so. When the time comes, I will reveal the decision (although most people that I’ve talked to knew about this idea).

But for now, I know that I need to pay more attention to things in life, and grab all the precious time that I have to learn, research and explore. To appreciate the people that I’ve met in life, and how they have made this my dream of mine come true.

It is a good start.

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