Beauty of Medicine

I was moved to tears when I was watching 'Te Xie' on Channel 8 this evening.

I watched from the news some time back about the little girl from Indonesia (I think), being given surgical treatment for her malformed face, but did not pay too much attention to it.

However, this evening's programme was about her and another boy, both being recipients of this treatment given by our local surgeons and medical experts.

I felt their pain when I saw the 2 innocent ones on TV. One had a massive tongue, which causes many problems like speech, eating and breathing. He had to face weird looks from the public as well. The other had very malformed facial features, no left fingers and missing left toes.

I missed the first bit of it, so I didn't feel too much for the boy with the massive tongue, but more for the girl, Jacqueline.

I felt helpless sitting there watching them on TV, watching how the surgeons did their part to help them attain looks more of a normal human being, and watching the end result of it. I wish....I wish I was part of it all. But hey, if I ever want a part in helping others, I still have quite a long way to go......the disadvantage of being JUST a student...probably end up bringing more trouble to patients and healthcare workers instead of help...

My tears actually rolled when I heard Jacqueline said she wants to be as pretty as Barbie, and wasn't the least afraid of going through the surgical procedures, all because of the ray of hope she holds dearly. You can feel her innocence as a child, her desire to fulfill her little wish. If you were the doctor, would you not want to make her wish come true? And indeed, her wish was granted. With the expertise of our kind local healthcare professionals, her looks improved tremendously, making her really happy.

I was smiling throughout when I saw her combing her hair and feeling so happy with her new look. Although she isn't looking as normal as any other little girl, but at least she's contented with what she now has, and feels that she is as pretty as Barbie. I was then wondering to myself...if I can make my patients this happy one day, all my efforts will be worthwhile. The beauty of medicine, and one of the reasons why I chose to take this path (but this path is damn tough manz....this I won't deny....goodness..).

When will I be able to do something so meaningful, and fulfilling? Should I ever be able to do something this wonderful, how will it feel like?

Oh ya, I'll be doing charity work soon. Kinda excited about it. Hopefully, I'll be able to do my bit, and not be of any trouble to others. Yupz, it's the present-wrapping work. I wonder how the response will be like. Honestly speaking, I wish I'll be kept very busy on the days when I'm on duty, meaning more presents to wrap, more money contributed to charity! Hope I'll do a good job and make myself happy by knowing I did a part for the unfortunate kids during those days. *smilez*