Moments tells the story of the heart-wrenching and unforgettable events that happened in author Steven Wong's life over the past decade. As part of his philosophy of giving back to society, he has compiled the details of his journey from a seemingly healthy life into the throes of a life-threatening disease. The events he discusses in Moments are based upon his real-life experiences as a patient. When he finally sought a second opinion after months of what appeared to influenza, his life was forever changed by the outcome of the doctor's findings. His story reveals the journey and challenges that he experienced while battling nasopharyngeal carcinoma, commonly known as cancer of the throat. He recounts errors in judgment, missteps that could be avoided, oversights, and consequences that he had to endure as a patient. He candidly and poignantly discusses the effect his disease had on his friendships. In fact, he categorized his friendships into three groups: true friends, friends, and dubious friends. The hurt he experienced when he realised that many of his friends could not handle his illness was deep. His perseverance and determination, along with the love of family and friends, made this unexpected journey manageable, bearable, and memorable. Now he seeks to inspire and motivate others to move forward courageously when faced with challenging circumstances during their life's journeys.
Moments
By Steven WongTrafford Publishing
Copyright © 2013 Steven Wong
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4669-3184-8Contents
1 The Journey...................................12 Defining Moment...............................23 Shocking News.................................34 Reflections...................................55 Beautiful Sights..............................76 Concerns......................................97 Assurances....................................108 Complacency and Ignorance.....................119 Consistency...................................1310 Dilemma......................................1511 Critical Judgements..........................1612 Specialist...................................1813 Consultation.................................2014 The Journey 2................................2215 Disheartening Moments........................2416 Reality......................................2517 Questions....................................2718 Information Overload.........................2919 Scenic and Unique............................3120 Profiling....................................3221 Determination................................3422 Frustrations.................................3523 Scanning.....................................3924 The News.....................................4125 Perseverance.................................4326 Preparations.................................4527 Treatment....................................4728 High Alert...................................4929 The Diet.....................................5130 Unbearable Pain..............................5331 Dreadful Times...............................5632 Unexpected News..............................5833 The Moment...................................6034 Challenges...................................6235 Delicious Food...............................6436 Touching Thoughts............................6737 Follow-Up....................................6938 Revisit......................................7139 The Surgery..................................7240 Wake-Up Call.................................7441 Surprises....................................7642 Wise Advice..................................78
Chapter One
The Journey
A journey of uncertainties A journey filled with challenges and hurdles A journey that was preset A journey that cannot be rushed through A journey paved with fear, pain, and frustrations A journey of eventual hope and healing A journey the patient had to embark on A journey that has no turning back but to move forward A journey filled with emotions, sadness, and happiness A journey filled with unexpected events Indeed, it was a long, tedious, and energy-sapping journey And a journey the author will never forget
Chapter Two
Defining Moment
Singapore
'How much time do I have?' Steven asked with a quivering voice.
Dr Koh paused. Even though his eyes were focused on Steven, he avoided answering the question directly. Instead, his reply was 'Enjoy the moments and spend quality time with your loved ones.'
Steven sat still in a daze, and he stared blankly at the big poster on the opposite wall. His mind started to get heavy as he pondered over the significance of those words.
'Are you all right?' asked Dr Koh.
He murmured a reply, hardly audible.
Without realising it, those words had been entrenched on Steven's mind since that faithful visit.
Chapter Three
Shocking News
On that fateful morning, Steven drove to Dr Koh's clinic. The traffic was light, and it was an easy drive. He had an appointment with the doctor to review the results of the biopsy conducted earlier.
After a short wait, Dr Koh walked hurriedly into the consultation room.
'Hi, Steven, how are you feeling today?'
'Did you come alone?'
'I feel okay, other than that nagging sore throat. Yes, I came by myself,' Steven replied.
He looked at Steven's eyes and continued, 'Do you want to hear the results now? Or do you want to come back later with your spouse?'
His gaze and questions gave Steven the chills.
Gosh, Steven said to himself. He had a bad feeling the results that Dr Koh was about to reveal was of some serious concern.
Seconds ticked by as Dr Koh waited patiently.
Then, Steven cleared his throat and hoarsely said, 'Yes, please let me know now.'
'Okay, the biopsy results revealed that you have nasopharyngeal carcinoma. It is cancer at the throat region,' Dr Koh continued with a calm tone.
His diagnosis stunned Steven at that very instant. He could not believe what he had just heard. It could not be true. He hoped that he had heard Dr Koh incorrectly.
On the wall across him was a big poster which showed the oesophageal region. A few minutes ago, Dr Koh had pointed out at the area where the disease was located.
His stare was disrupted when he felt Dr Koh's hand on his shoulder.
'Are you all right?'
Steven nodded even though he felt light-headed and a little dizzy.
Dr Koh continued to explain more on the disease which is associated with Epstein-Barr (EB) virus.
'Do you have brothers and sisters?'
'Yes,' replied Steven.
'As the disease can be due to hereditary factors, it is advisable that your siblings go for a blood test to check for EB virus marker.'
Steven thanked Dr Koh and walked towards the door. Just before he left the consultation room, Dr Koh's parting words were 'Remember to discuss this with your family members.' 'And not seeking treatment is definitely not an option,' he emphasized.
Steven wobbled out of the clinic, found a chair, and tried to compose himself. A few minutes passed before he murmured to himself, there are no other choices, Steven, but to face the issues and challenges ahead bravely.
He wiped away the cold sweat on his forehead and slowly made his way to the car park. Even though he felt light-headed, he managed to drive home safely.
Chapter Four
Reflections
Steven slumped on to the sofa seat. Nobody was at home. A faint music from a soundtrack could be heard from the neighbour's home.
He started to reflect on what Dr Koh had said. He shook his head as he still could not believe it. He tried to convince himself that
His illness could not be that serious.
There could be a mistake in the test results, or there could be a mix-up in the test samples.
Maybe, just maybe, the results were not his and belong to somebody else.ITL
Steven was in a state of denial. He found it hard to accept the news.
After all, he had consulted Dr Koh for a very bad sore throat, which is a common health issue faced by the population. He least suspected anything 'big and serious.' In the worst case scenario, he had expected a tonsillitis infection with the possibility of a surgery. The last thing that he expected was a life-threatening disease, and definitely, not this dreadful and fearful disease, the big 'C'.
Oh gosh, what a mess I have got myself into! His thoughts were disrupted by the lyrics:
'Life is like a running race ...' Suddenly, it dawned on him that he had many races to run: A race against time, as time is the essence A race for knowledge on the illness A race to prepare for the treatments A race to reschedule his priorities A race to sort out his personal issues A crazy race A race he has to participate suddenly A race that he must persevere and complete A race where the stakes were high A race that has either a winner or a loser A race that he hope he can win A race that has many obstacles and unexpected situations A race littered with pain and frustrations A race of uncertainties A race that will be his biggest challenge A race from darkness to brightness A race that he must win Indeed, a very hectic and tiring race
Chapter Five
Beautiful Sights
At a prime age of forty-one years old, Steven was doing well in his career and enjoying his life. He was healthy or believed to be healthy. He was full of energy, and the future looked promising.
On one Saturday morning in June 2002, he and his spouse, Tracy, were happily decorating their new home. They had shifted to their new abode in the eastern part of Singapore less than a month ago. They had made a big effort to renovate the house to their likings with the help of an interior decorator and were looking forward to enjoy the place.
There was a slight breeze, and Steven walked out to the balcony to take in some fresh air. In the horizon, colourful kites of different shapes and sizes flew effortlessly in the blue sky. Joyful noises were heard as children were seen playing in the wading pool and around the pool deck. Their maids were sitting close by, chatting and keeping a close eye on them. A young couple was busy reading newspapers at the pavilion.
William, the Australian toddler who lived opposite them, was busy playing with his red car at the courtyard garden. Abruptly, he stopped and looked above his head. A beautiful yellow butterfly was dancing above his head. He reached out and tried to touch it. He tried to chase after it as the butterfly flew away. Ken and Jane smiled as they looked at their son. They continued their chat over coffee.
Everyone was busy with their own activities and enjoying the fresh air and open space.
Along the banks of the waterway, people were either having a jog, or they were strolling with their little ones in prams. A group of anglers were patiently waiting with their fishing rods. Some had caught some fishes that they kept in the pails. A group of youth zoomed by in their Rollerblades.
It was such a beautiful morning. He smiled and walked into his study room.
There was a 'to-do list' lying on the table.
Steven put a tick on the 'done' column next to 'To purchase a mortgage-reducing term-assurance policy.' He had bought this policy from Jason last week.
Jason is an insurance agent and was highly recommended by his colleague. As part of the qualifying requirements, he went for the medical check-up at an appointed clinic arranged by Jason a few days ago.
There was a SMS message in his mobile phone. 'Hi Steven, this is Jason. The doctor mentioned that your medical check-up is okay. Hence, I do not foresee any issues for the company not to approve your policy. I shall call you once the policy is officially approved.'
Chapter Six
Concerns
A heavy sneeze and blood started to ooze from his nose. He dashed to the basin to wash it off. I must have ruptured a blood vessel, again, he thought.
He did not ponder much over it and continued to be preoccupied with his activities. After all, this was not the first time that he had experienced such heavy sneezes.
However, that evening while taking his bath, he somehow consciously felt the lump on his right neck. The lump had been there for a couple of months. He did not feel any pain or discomfort. However, this time around, he felt uneasy as the lump felt harder and was more visible.
He decided to consult Dr Wee, the neighbourhood general practitioner after his business trip. At that moment, he felt there was no urgency to visit the doctor.
CH7[ Assurances
There was a faint aroma scent in the air as Steven walked towards the spa centre.
Upon opening the glass door, the spa consultant greeted him. The room was scented with lavender. He felt relaxed, and he was looking forward to the facial therapy session.
Just as he was about to doze off, the therapist asked, 'Are you aware of the lump on the neck?' She further commented that she had felt it a few months back.
'Yes,' Steven replied. 'I had consulted my neighbourhood doctor a few times. Each time, he assured me that there was nothing to worry about.' With medication, the lump would normally subside.
They then dropped the subject matter. ]CH7
CH8[ Complacency and Ignorance
On reflection, he might have been too naive in dismissing the issue too lightly. He should have been more conscious and should have given the matter a deeper thought.
The lump did subside with medication. However, it did not subside totally. It would reappear after several days, and with time, it tended to be bigger and more visible.
The frequency of heavy sneezing also became more frequent. Often, it was accompanied with heavy bleeding from the nose. And it took a longer time to stop the bleeding.
However, due to the constant assurances and reassurances from his neighbourhood general practitioner, Steven was not too worried as the symptoms seemed to show that he was only down with a common flu. The general practitioner also mentioned that there were flu bugs in the air, and majority of his patients were down with influenza.
By now, Steven had got used to the frequent episode of sore throat and heavy sneezing followed by bleeding from the nose. It became so frequent that he did not bother to give it a second thought. He knew by heart which medication to take and which antibiotics would work best and which would not.
By believing and by not questioning his general practitioner's diagnosis, Steven had lost precious time. Time that he could least afford to lose. Suddenly, he realised he no longer has the luxury of time. Now, he was forced to race against time. He had to begin treatment fast. Early detection and early treatment play a pivotal role and is the key for success of curing the disease.
By his sheer complacency and ignorance, Steven had put his personal well-being at stake. Without realising it, he had made a very big and costly mistake. A mistake that he could ill afford as it involved his life. Suddenly, his life was hanging on a thin thread!
In this case, being ignorant was definitely not to his advantage and not as blissful as he had thought. It was contrary to the adage 'Ignorance is bliss.'
His career and future were now questionable. All the years of planning for his future retirement were now derailed and disrupted. Though not by his own choice, he realised that the 'stake on hand' was just too big for everyone's comfort.
This unplanned and impromptu journey had just begun abruptly. It was akin to driving a car down a long and winding road. And along the way, it was a slow and bumpy ride.
By then, though a bit too late, he realised that the general practitioners that he had consulted were also human being themselves. And they were also prone to mistakes as well. After all, the saying 'To err is human' could not be ignored or denied. ]CH8
CH9[ Consistency
'How can I help you?' asked Dr Wee as he flipped through the first few pages of the records. 'I believe I am down with influenza again,' Steven replied.
'Hmm, let me take a look at your throat.' He proceeded to assess Steven's throat, took his body temperature, and finally did a chest examination.
'Yes, indeed you are down with a mild influenza,' and began to scribble the prescriptions on to the records.
Noticing the thick records, Steven casually mentioned that ninety per cent of his past visits were due to influenza symptoms. He queried whether his condition was something that he should be alarmed with. In addition, the last consultation was just five weeks ago with the same symptoms.
Dr Wee gave an assuring 'no' response and that all was fine. He continued to comment that it was the influenza season again, and he himself was also down with a mild influenza.
'Remember to complete the antibiotics,' the nurse at the dispensing counter said. 'As for the rest of the medicines, you can stop taking them if you feel better,' she continued.
Steven collected the medications, paid the fees, and walked back home.
He diligently took the prescribed medicines and completed the course of antibiotics. He was fully aware of the importance of completing the full course of antibiotics.
Five days came and gone. He still did not recover fully. His throat was still sore. ]CH9
CH10[ Dilemma
Noises were heard at the front door. Both Nicole and Rachel had just arrived. Little Rachel was busy talking to her mother and at the same time eating her chocolate bar. Steven's youngest sister and niece had come over for dinner.
Over dinner, Steven shared with Nicole his concern. She suggested seeking a second opinion and proposed for him to consult her regular general practitioner.
Initially, he was reluctant having read articles which discouraged doctor-hopping and the importance of seeking advice from the same doctor who has a good history of his health records and the medications prescribed.
Nevertheless, this time, he decided to follow her advice and consulted her general practitioner, Dr Teh. 0
CH11[ Critical Judgements
Dr Teh walked briskly into the clinic. It was just after his lunch break. He acknowledged his staff and took a quick glance at the waiting room. There were five patients waiting.
A young child was crying loudly. His maid tried to pacify him without success. Soon, they walked into the consultation room.
'After them, it will be your turn,' the nurse told Steven.
'Yes, you are still down with influenza,' said Dr Teh, who was in his fifties.
Earlier on, Steven revealed to him the medications that he had taken recently.
'The antibiotics you have taken were too mild and not effective. I shall prescribe you a stronger version of antibiotics,' he continued.
Another five days came and gone, and Steven still has not recovered. His face was pale, and he felt weak due to the high amounts of antibiotics consumed.
By now, he was very concerned about his health status. He decided to go back to his neighbourhood clinic. That night, Dr Wee was not on duty. Another doctor was present.
He shared with the elderly general practitioner regarding his health conditions and concerns. After examining him, she recommended yet another course of antibiotics for the treatment of the influenza like symptoms.
Steven could not accept her diagnosis. 'Not again, I have already taken two courses of antibiotics,' he commented. 'No more medications please,' he pleaded.
She was taken aback and surprised by his feedback.
This time, Steven was adamant to be reviewed by a specialist and requested for a referral letter.
She looked at him and thought for a while. 'Yes, maybe it is better to be reviewed by a specialist.'
She took out a piece of paper and wrote a referral note to Dr Koh.
'Dr Koh is an ENT specialist and a friend of mine. He is a senior consultant,' she continued.
Steven thanked her and walked out of the consultation room, feeling relieved.
Nicole had informed him that without a referral letter, it would be difficult to get an appointment to see a specialist in a government hospital.
(Continues...) 1
Excerpted from Momentsby Steven Wong Copyright © 2013 by Steven Wong. Excerpted by permission of Trafford Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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