reach out to them

i was in the hospital today, clerking a patient with saras. she is a middle-aged woman who has been admitted for elective surgery for removal of uterine fibroid. she is a single mother and she has raised 3 beautiful children aged 27, 24, and 19. i bet she is a strong woman, judging from the long years she has survived on her own.

but today, she looked so frail, so fragile, so tiny on her hospital bed. her eldest daughter came all the way from selangor to be with her. when i looked at her daughter, she reminded me so much of my lovely aunt, ucu.

i had to call her. i missed her so much.

as i was on the phone with her catching up with the how many odd months that we have not been in touch, she mentioned about papa scheduled for surgery next week (30th october). i was surprised by the news. i knew that he is supposed to go for surgery, but exactly when, i wasn't sure. and then she told me that he is on medical leave right now due to the ongoing pain that he is experiencing. ok, i am worried.

then, not long after the phone call, mama SMSed me saying that uncle hisham's condition has worsen, he's brain is failing, apart from his heart that was the initial cause that he had sliped into a coma.

my mind was all over the place. maybe i am not that close to both of these men. but nevertheless, they are family. i am concerned, especially for papa.

i made a phone call to papa later in the evening to check on him, but he didn't pick up. ok, maybe i'll try again later. then, sometime around 7pm, i got an SMS from mama: uncle hisham has passed.

Innalillah hiwainna illahhi roji'un........

life is so fragile. you never know when it will be your turn to go. or worse of all, the turn of your loved ones. the last i say uncle hisham, he looked perfectly fine. i can't imagine that he had slipped into a coma and now, he will never again be with us. he is still young and full of life, but God loves him more. let us all let him go in peace and may God bless his soul... Amin.....

just about 10mins ago, papa returned my call, i am glad to hear from him. he sounded ok but he is suffering from pain due to his urinary tract problems. i want to be with him when he goes for the surgery, i want him to know that i am reaching out, forgetting the past, living the present, and looking forwards to the future. whatever it is, i want to build back the relationship that once crumbled along the way.

no matter what, family is family. they will always be there for you. reach out to them before they are gone and you ending up feeling guilty and sad that it is too late.

Al-Fatihah for my uncle Hisham Yasin....