Learning to be independent

 Thursday 13 August 2020

Since my last OT date was a month ago, today I'm happy to be here again.

Janice drops me around 9.45 am. When I went into the reception counter to get a number, I was happy to see the regular staff is there. She gave me the appointment was is three weeks later.

From there, I wheel myself to the exercise room. When I went in, I was happy to see the regular therapies were there. Since last month Cik Muz taught me how to wear my bra and shorts. Today again she continues to teach me how to wear my shorts. She uses other equipment in helping me to pull up my shorts. Still, for me, it's very difficult and tiring.

Because I want to be independent, that's why she is teaching me. She asks me to continue to try at home.

After finish that morning, I call Janice to fetch me and she came around 15mins later.

Thank you, God, that my therapy is training me to be independent.

An Hour Of Physio

 Monday, 27 July 2020

Since my last physiotherapy was three weeks ago, today (27/7) is physio day again. Around 10.30 am Janice wanted to drop mum and me in front of the main lobby. When we saw there were so many people. We didn't allow mum to follow me instead I went alone wheeling myself to Physio Dept.

As I arrive at the Physio reception area, there were only a few people. Within 10mins, the therapy called me in. There is a change of therapy, the man therapy which I didn't like came back again. He doesn't attend to the patient himself, instead he instructs the assistant to do it for me 

I did three exercises today, leg and hand. There were many people with their therapies doing exercises too. I was happy I managed to do a few exercises. The therapy gave me my appointment for next month. I wanted the date to be the same day with OT, but the same date was not ok. So he put my appointment date at the end of August.

After finished, I wheeled myself out to the lobby and called Janice. I waited for her for more than 20mins before she arrived. In the lobby, there were so many people waiting for their transport to arrive. Many cars were queuing up to fetch their family members.

An Hour Of Therapy

16 July 2020

After my last  Occupation Therapy was two weeks ago, I was happy this morning I went again.When I went in the reception room, there were so many people.

When I got my no, I wheel myself to the therapy room. There were also many people in the therapy room. When Cik Muztika saw me, she asked me to go inside a room. Since two weeks ago, she had ask me bring my personal item (bra) as she intend to teach me how to wear it.

I was really happy she taught me how to wear my bra the correct way, as l tried to wear it before but it always turned out the wrong She also taught me how to wear my shorts with an easier way using a special equipment called  "Reacher" which she asked me to buy .


Even though this was not a regular exercise, but Cik Muz taught me was a very good thing  as it would be easier for me to do my daily my dressing.

After finished, I went back to th reception room to get next appointment date. I was given another month later. I feel quite sad.

Thank you God for Cik Muz who taught me to do my own dressing daily

Met an angel

Tuesday, 9 June 2020

Today is the first day of Physio after the MCO, the last time I went was 3 months ago. I'm really happy that I can start exercises again.

Janice drop me alone in the main lobby (we don't allow mum to follow me due to the Covid)

Since the last week, I don't have much strength. I asked God to give me the strength to push myself to the Physio Dept.

From the lobby, I slowly pushed myself to Physio. When entering the reception area, I saw some changes as there's a divider in the middle to go in out.

Many people waiting in the reception area all with face masks. Each of us has to register and take our temperature. I waited around 20mins before my no was called. I pushed myself inside and I saw many changes. All the staff tables were far apart and the equipment was moved to another side. 

I didn't see En. Mat, my regular therapy, instead a Malay lady called me. I thought of a change of therapy again, but she told me he was on leave. She took his place. I did two of my regular exercises. There were only a few patients doing their exercises.

After my hands exercise, I took my appointment date and left Physio Dept.  

I asked God to give strength to push myself to OT Dept. as it was quite far.  As I pushed myself halfway, to my surprised, a hospital male staff came to push me. He asked me where am I going, and he pushed me until outside OT Dept. 

OT reception area has only a few patients. Without waiting I was given a number and I went to the therapy room. My regular therapies weren't in, instead, a Chinese lady therapy attended to me. She gave me a few hand activities to do. 

Janice fetched around  1 pm. I was happy I managed to do my exercises 

Dear God thank you for sending an angel to help in time of difficulties.

Back to Therapy

Thursday, 21 May 2020

Back to Therapy

I'm eager and keep that I'm able to go OT therapy again after stopping for 2 months due to MCO.

At 10.45 am Janice drop me at Block A (near to OT Dept). there are not many cars today, so it's easy for her to bring me down.  When she pushed me in there were a few staff was talking temperature of whoever walks in.

When I enter in OT reception area, the place was crowded with people (some wheelchair users) making their appointments. While others' were waiting for their turn to go in.

I waited around 10 minutes when Cik Muz (my therapy) called me in. Today there were no other patients in the OT room. It was 1-1 therapy with Cik Muz. I did stretching my hands and my trunk balance. I was happy I had a good exercise today and felt very tired.

OT/Physio Exercises -GH

Tuesday,  3 March 2020

This morning I went for regular Occupation Therapy continue by Physio Therapy. When I went into OT (room 1), I was the only one, though there were few other patients' who went in together with. They were guided to another room. I was the only person sitting and doing my exercise. The Malay lady therapy, Cik Muzi was in charge and helping me with my hand exercises. It was quite bored today, but there few male staff having a discussion about their work.

I continue my hand exercises. I did 2 exercises today, even that I felt slightly tired. I finished and I pushed myself out from room 1 and pushed to the front counter where mum was waiting. She was talking to a lady while waiting for me. I called her and she wheeled me to physio, which was another side of the department.

When mum wheeled me inside physio the front counter and I put my card there. I was given a number and I was immediately called inside. I felt happy that I didn't have to wait.

Today, was my first my Malay male therapy, En. Mat hole me to walk on the bard. It was since last year, I last walked on the bar. I felt really happy he made me walk and I did a few other hand and leg exercises.

When I did my leg cycling exercise, suddenly I started coughing non-stop, 

I kept my mouth close yet the sound came out loudly. I'm afraid what nearby patients' will say about me. It's embarrassing that I can't stop coughing as now it's the Coronavirus epidemic  

Mr. Mat, my therapy ask me "why your cough is so bad", but I answer him softly "that I'm taking medication"

After finished my exercises, I took my appointment card and pushed myself out from there. Mum was waiting outside for me to push me back

Suffering people come for exercises

Physiotheraphy Department at Penang General Hospital is always full with patients. Every Thursday morning I would go there for my exercises. I see lots of people with all type of cases like accidents cases, people with strokes and many elderly people (mostly women) suffering from knee trouble. Pratically, everyone who goes for physio department for exersices are suffering in one way or another.

There are 3 to 4 physiotherapies attend to all these patients'. The theraphies would advice the new comers on what to do and later leave them to do the exerices themselves and attend to other patients. As I'm there alone to do my exercises, most lf the people who already knows me as I'm ther for the 1 past year. Most of these people are regular patients' who comes every week with relatives, friends or even their maids. When I needed help, I would call for them especially in getting up and down from the bed. Some of them even concern and curious about me condition and they talk to me.

Just like yesterday, when I had some difficulty in pushing my wheelchair, a lady came to my help. When another lady saw me, she offers her help to put my card in the counter.

I made friend with an old uncle who arein his late 70's. He is staying in Penang Home (an old folk home). He goes for exercise to strengthen his leg as he had a fall not long ago. I haven't seen Uncle Leong these the past 2 to 3 weeks. Few weeks earlier, when I met Uncle Leong outside the physio room, he told me he had skin problem. I believe he went for his check-up. Yesterday, when I was about to go back, I saw the van take Uncle Leong and his friends's home.

This 1 year, I met lots of people in the physio department. I know these people will improve as they come for their regular exercises and do not give even though there's a lot of pain they have to go through. The only thing, they must never give up and continue to preserve.