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Sometimes we just wish that if we would turn back time to a particular moment in our lives, we would change that one particular event. But doing so, it would cause a butterfly effect which would then result in multiple changes in the subsequent events in our lives.
Most of the time, even if I could turn back time, I would not change the course of events because I believe strongly that everything in our lives happened for a reason and it is just simply time.
Time? Well, time for certain things to occur.
This happened late last year and I have just completed my final year examination in medical school and I was waiting for my results to be released as well as the university to announce the date of my graduation ceremony.
I made a trip back to my hometown in Johor Bahru after my exams. It was something I really needed and communicated about a lot to my parents. I couldn’t wait to be done with my exams and just leave the place for a while. I needed the change in scenery. It’s not that I did not like the place or enjoyed my medical school experience, which I truly did. But I just wanted to leave for a while and rest.
Anyway, back in Johor Bahru, which was most probably the following day, I accompanied my parents to the fresh market. Our purpose was to use the restroom because we were travelling back home from somewhere and although it was near home, which was about 15 minutes drive, my parents decided to stop there. It’s not a usual thing for us to stop at the fresh market to use the restroom. Usually we would stop at a nearby petrol station.
Somehow, something was different on that day.
Upon entering the market, we ran into my dad’s friend and his sister. I have practically known him my whole life and while I was growing up, I used to visit him a lot until he moved away to another place.
We caught up and he asked about myself and my journey in medical school. Mostly, he and my dad talked until the topic on their health came up. He mentioned that he suffers from diabetes and has hypercholesterolemia. Hypercholesterolemia means high cholesterol in our body. It is not uncommon as many people these days do suffer from it especially considering his age and comorbidities. In addition to that, he mentioned that he has not been regularly taking his medications because of the long waiting period in government hospitals and he simply does not have the time to wait.
We understood because of the less amount and overworked doctors in the government hospitals. The benefits of the healthcare system in Malaysia is that it is accessible to the citizens at an affordable price, thus catering to the whole population. However, the downside is that since it is catering to a large number of people and the number of doctors in the hospitals are less and highly overworked, there is a long waiting period. Hence, many people opt to receive treatment from private hospitals but not everyone has the means to do so.
It is a common thing for me to hear people not taking their medication regularly. I remembered while clerking the patients in the hospital back in medical school, most of them do not adhere to the regular schedule of their medications. They simply believe that it does not work for them and constant repetitive explanation and advise has to be given to them.
Back to my dad’s friend, as usual I smiled empathetically and just advised him to get the medications needed and I proceeded to explain the complications he is at risk of suffering if his condition was not controlled. He then proceeded to tell me that he was constantly experiencing headaches and he suffers from hypertension as well but what alarmed me was when he mentioned that he has been having on-and-off central chest pains which comes at rest and worsens with exertion. There was no radiation to his left arm as normally that is an indication that it is related to the heart. However, since he comorbidities were uncontrolled, he could likely be suffering the complications at an early age.
I then proceeded to ask a few questions and suspected that he may be suffering from unstable angina. Unstable angina is a form of coronary artery disease whereby the lumen of the coronary vessels in the heart has become smaller due to formation of plaques (atherosclerosis) which is a complication due to cumulative years of poor lifestyle and dietary habits which contributes to high cholesterol in the body.
He mentioned that he would usually rest when it occurs but after that he brushes it off and goes about his normal routine. I was worried but he seemed fit and strong and he was just about to head out as he came to buy some vegetables from the fresh market to cater for an upcoming event. Thus, I merely advised him to go for a follow-up and to get his medications.
What did I regret not doing? Asking him to go to the emergency department of the hospital at that time.
Instead, I just advised him to schedule a follow-up in the hospital and to take his medications regularly. My dad and his friend proceeded to talk for a while before finally embracing in a brotherly hug and he smiled and left.
At midnight, my dad received several calls from him but he did not notice it as he was fast asleep. Usually, my dad is a light sleeper and would wake at the slightest noise. However, that night he did not.
The following morning, I woke up to the news of the passing of my father’s friend. According to his sister, he suffered a severe chest pain a few minutes before midnight and was initially reluctant to go to the hospital or to call an ambulance. However, after several attempts from his sister, he finally agreed but decided to go to a nearby clinic instead and attempted to call my dad.
He passed away at home before the cab arrived.
One might think that in a situation like that, one might call the ambulance immediately. However, his sister was in a state of distress and probably did not know what to do as she was unable to think clearly.
Looking back, perhaps our need to use the restroom in the fresh market was God aligning our paths to meet one last time. Personally, it has been more than a decade since I last saw him and I recalled many fond memories of my childhood with him. He was a veteran with a good and kind soul who gives to the poor, provides asylum to abused and neglected orphans and children as well as in financing their education. He took care of others but refused to take care of himself.
I sincerely hope that his soul rests in peace and wherever he is now in the afterlife, he is in a good place.
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The Theoretical Doctor 