Do You Have A Heart And An Eye For Detail

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YES, all of us have this muscular organ, which may work wonderfully well for some but not so much for others. Here, having a heart means showing kindness and sympathy, and by extension being generous, lenient, compassionate, or merciful.
On the other hand, being ruthless means having no pity or compassion for others and can be heartless, harsh, cruel, or merciless. Whereas, ruth is a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortune of others and is a meaningful name given to newborn females.
People with bipolar disorder suffer from mood swings, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating, which can make it hard to work or maintain relationships. It is a mental disability and those registered with the Registrar for Persons With Disabilities are issued “Kad OKU”.
On Jan 16, one such person lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into a roadside noodle stall in Chukai, Terengganu.
He was brutally assaulted by several men and mercilessly dragged on the road like a motionless or dead animal, which was recorded. The video had since gone viral.
It would be too gory to describe the blow-by-blow account of the physical attack, which had been widely reported and commented on. In any case, if someone had been extremely irritating or provoking and refused to stop, at most he may deserve a tight slap and nothing more.
Although with health issues, I enjoy life by being peaceful and quiet. Last Monday, I went for my regular appointment at the ophthalmology department of a major government hospital. The place is always overcrowded and the queue would start long before entering the department.
In addition to myopia and long-sightedness, I also have astigmatism, cataracts, retinal problems, and glaucoma. Applying eye drops has brought my eye pressure under control. After nine consultations with eye specialists and no end in sight, I started to get weary.
As such, I was planning not to return to the ophthalmology department after yesterday’s appointment as I would have to wait from early morning to mid-afternoon amid the freezing-cold air-conditioning, which is necessary due to the large number of people packed in there.
But this time, I was attended by a young female doctor who had the patience and interest to listen, not just problems with my eyes and the many treatments I went through, but also other medical conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and irregular heartbeats.
She took note of my appointment for a TOE-DCCV procedure scheduled next month, meaning I will undergo a transesophageal echocardiogram using a probe to create images of the heart and then using direct current cardioversion (electric shock) to restore the sinus rhythm of my heart.
To my delight, she nonchalantly planned a cataract operation for my right weaker eye and advised me on the choice of lenses. She told me that I may not have to wear spectacles after the operation but cautioned me not to expect my vision to be as good as when I was a boy.
Suddenly, the world looks much rosier to me. My first TOE-DCCV last December was aborted as I just could not swallow when the probe was being pushed into my esophagus because the lidocaine spray had numbed it to the extent that I just could not initiate the action of swallowing.
If my heart rhythm is restored, I will be able to continue walking for at least an hour every morning or on alternate days. If I no longer need to wear glasses, it would be freedom for me after wearing them for the past 60 years. That will be quite a liberalisation!
But the eye specialist was extra caring and careful. She hand-wrote a letter and told me to get the cardiologist to reply to confirm whether it would be safe for me to undergo the eye operation. The letter was signed by Dr Rathinamsvannie Selvam – a rather unusual name.
I remember her first words to me were asking the language I prefer to speak and I answered English. I noticed that she spoke Mandarin fluently with a colleague and later Tamil with a patient. I then asked her and she readily admitted that she is of mixed parentage.
I told her that her Chinese genes are very strong and her Indian genes made her pretty, and she must have at least studied in a National Type Primary School (SRJK), as can be seen by her mannerisms. With her facial mask on, she could be mistaken to be a tanned Chinese lady.
She should be around 30 years of age but looks very much younger, helped by her slender frame and gentle demeanour. But more importantly, she has a heart of gold and an eye for detail.
Her parents must have been good role models to have successfully raised a child who will continue to bring much hope and happiness to many for years to come.
YS Chan is master trainer for Mesra Malaysia and Travel and Tours Enhancement Course and an Asean Tourism Master Trainer. He is also a tourism and transport business consultant.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.
- Focus Malaysia.

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