A couple of weeks ago, my Er Yi (my mum's 2nd elder sister) was hospitalised for an infected leg due to her diabetes. So my mum and I went down to SGH to pay her a visit. When my mum was searching through her bag for a piece of paper with the ward number, I saw a plastic bag which looks like the packaging from a shop which sells dried sweet stuffs. I took out the bag and to my astonishment; I found a packet of picked red ginger in it!!!!!!!! My diabetic mum knew that she was in for a scolding again.
Me: Mummy!!!!! How can you eat this!?!?!?! This is pickled with sugar!!!!!! When will you ever listen?!?!?!?!
Mum: Aiya, my mouth very dry mah. Eat a bit never mind lah.
Me: What never mind!!! You want to stay here liao then you will learn your lesson is it?!?!?!?
So you can imagine me continue scolding my mum with her head bowed as we went up to my Er Yi’s ward. And of course, the package of pickles was confiscated by me.
We got into Er Yi’s ward and her left leg was wrapped in a cast and her toes looked rather black. She looked ok to us and was able to talk to us like usual. But the things that my mum said really left me speechless.
Mum: What you eat? You got anyhow eat meh?
Er Yi: No lah. Never anyhow eat lah.
* Then they went on the list of stuffs they usually eat, trying to prove to me that they watch their diet strictly. I was like, 'Ya right.' *
Mum: Aiya. It’s fate lah. Money too much must be spent lah. Money spent liao then ok le. You got pray? Must do that leh.
* What!?!?!? Rich also got problem ah?? So rich people got too much money then get sick lah? We poor people won’t get sick loh?? Kaoz. *
My eyes almost rolled out of their sockets. Er Yi did not say anything. I guess she was too weak to retaliate or respond to my mum’s ridiculous comment. Before my mum could carry on with her crap, we went out of the room to let another 2 of Er Yi’s visitors to enter as only 2 people are allowed in the room at a time. As we were waiting outside, Er Yi’s family came. Whenever I see them, I felt so envious of Er Yi. Her husband dotes on her and she has 1 son and 4 daughters which includes a pair of twins. All of them, except for one of the twins, are married with kids, and are very filial. Since Er Yi is hospitalised, they are there to accompany her everyday. I always blame my parents for marrying so late. All my cousins are old enough to be my aunts and uncles and their children i.e. my nieces and nephews, are of my age. I still remember once, when I was sick, my mum took me to a clinic and the nurse asked her: “Your grand-daughter sick har?” I wondered how my mum felt at that point of time. So people, please don’t marry late or you will live to regret it.
So back to the hospital, when we were outside the room, the twins came to talk to us about their mum’s condition. Apparently, her condition isn’t as optimistic as we see. She had a huge bump of the size of two fists on her left calf. I find that really unbelievable. Didn’t she realise that something was wrong with her leg? Why wait till it becomes so serious then you realise you need to see a doctor? But I guess I can’t blame her too. Her kids are not living with her and the old couple may be ignorant of stuffs at times too. They always think that if can tahan then tahan, thinking that it was nothing and it will be gone soon. Haiz. We really need to educate our parents, especially when they are old-aged.
Apparently, her leg was infected as she reused the syringe for her insulin injections. She just had an operation and her wounds were not stitched up (as they can’t do that for some reasons). So, her leg was wrapped up with some antibiotics, hoping that the bleeding will stop and it will heal by itself.
With her family around, we decided to leave as it was getting overcrowded. As we walk out of the ward, I told my mum.
“See. Have you learnt your lesson after seeing Er Yi? Still dare to eat the pickles?”
My mum shook her head.
The next day, I saw my mum eating tau sa piah in her bedroom.
Haiz. Can someone please tell me what to do with her?
And a few days ago, my mum went to visit Er Yi and this time, there wasn’t good news. The virus has spread. The worst has come. Last night, my mum was in SGH to be there for her operation. The leg has been amputated.
Sad.
But I trust that her kids will take good care of her. I remembered when we visited her, I asked how old she is now. She is 74. That made me recall that my mum is already 60 this year. And I am still studying now. Haiz. Will she be like Er Yi in future? If so, am I capable of handling the hospital bills? Am I able to let my mum enjoy her old age?
Haizz.
I guess I should start to watch my diet now too. Apparently, diabetes runs in the family.
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