This is a private fundraising page - Sunrise Fundraiser.
A short summary for visitors on this page, for those who are unfamiliar with my experiences for the last 15 years.
My dad has been battling heart failure, gout, chronic kidney failure and other complications since 1998.
His health deteriorated over the years and have been spending most of 1998 to 2001 in hospitals and nursing home. He was carted from normal wards to Coronary Care Unit several times in the last decade.
When he was discharged, he has been survived by a daily cocktail of drugs and monthly visits to Specialist Clinics at the hospital for treatment and tests every month.
6 months ago, he is recommended to be on Kidney dialysis as he has been warded a few times for renal problems.
Throughout his extensive surgeries and hospitalization for the last 15yrs, his maximum medisave was depleted in the first 2 yrs. Being the only child, I have committed my medisave since. Well, medical treatment at this level doesn't come cheap and it's a long term battle. Not all treatment and hospitalization is medisave deductible, thousands and thousands of dollars were spent in cash, outpatient or inpatient over the last 15 yrs.
On the 7th January 2011, 4 days after his 77th birthday, he was rushed to the hospital for chest pains. Initial ECG results showed that he had a mild heart attack which have been a cycle over the years.
8th January 2011, the doctor called and said he is deteriorating fast as his heart is not able to dispel water vapours from the lungs and has accumulated and causing difficulty in breathing. Doc asked me to approve insertion of an incubator via his trachea to his lungs. I agreed with a immediate plea to do whatever is necessary to solve any complications.
9th January 2011, the doctor called shortly after they administer the incubator. She broke the news that he collasped shortly after the incubator, his heart flatlined, they performed CPR and shocked him for a whole 5 mins to bring him back. My hands turned cold and my heart skipped a few beats over the phone. I am required to rush to the hospital. Transferred over to Coronary Care Unit Ward 44, Room 16. SGH.
10th January 2011, he is heavily sedated and is on incubator and life support. Can he hear me? He moved and twitched, doc said he is totally knocked out.
11th January 2011, he needed kidney dialysis in his ICU urgently, while on incubator and life support, urine and toxins are not passing out. Once on dialysis, he will need to survive on dialysis for the rest of his life. Doc advised he will pass on in 2 days if we don't give him the dialysis.
12th January 2011, they wheeled in the dialysis machine. He is still heavily sedated, he is still not out of his critical condition and continued on his incubator, life support and dialysis. How much can his body take? Did I make the right decision? I replayed it over and over again.
I signed my last $10k left medisave on a paper and was advised that the accounts department will call me for more cash top-up. I talked to the medical social worker, she said whether employed or unemployed, there are no waivers, payments have to be made whether now, later, months, years.
I said there are more awaiting for me besides this episode, there will be dialysis treatments, hospice care, heart treatments and a nursing home. There is a long waiting list at nursing homes on subsidy, might take a long time for a placement.
A part of me wants to give up, raise my arms and declare defeat.
