LETTERS FROM THE LIVING
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Thank God I’m alive! I survived and live to tell the tale of my close brush with death…
Today was a hectic day, waking up at 7am and then accompanying my parents to HDB Hub at Toa Payoh to select our new flat, as our current one is en-bloc. This is followed by a breakfast with my mum before heading to NTU to see to my FYP stuff and do some project research. I had prawn noodles for lunch at NIE at about 1.30pm and headed to town for a much needed gym session.
I did my usual weights routine and a run on the treadmill. Just as I was about to do abdominal exercises, I began to feel some itchiness around my body. Ignoring the initial irritation, I did some sets and found itchiness getting more intense and the development of small spots on my arms, legs, body and face! The discomfort soon became unbearable and I had to cut my gym session short as I headed for the showers thinking that I had used an unclean towel. Lo and behold, the spots soon grew more obvious and the itchiness spread to every part of my body – I was practically covered in rashes with leprosy-like skin. Panicking in the shower, I knew something was wrong and decided to rush home to my family clinic. By then, my face was puffy and I felt “tipsy”; my ears were swollen to the point it resembled pig ears – all made worse by heart palpitations as well! I gave my elder sister a call to update her and arranged to meet her at the clinic. Thank God there was not a massive traffic jam and I got a cab miraculously!
When it was my turn to see my doctor, I told him everything and his immediate reaction when he saw my state was “Wah liao eh!!” His petrified response shocked me too but he was professional enough to diagnose my condition and asked if I wanted oral medication immediately or opt for an injection (he warned it will be painful) to alleviate my rather serious condition.
Being in so much discomfort, the pain from the injection seemed to be insignificant. I took a jab on my behind and there wasn’t much pain. It turned out I got a severe case of food allergy (supposedly the prawns), and I could have DIEDif my organs were swelling too! It was so serious that my doctor’s advice was to carry with me pills or a syringe (sort of like the anti-venom for snake bites) in case it happens in the future. He referred me a a severe case to an immunologist at TTSH and warned me of a possible recurrence within the next 24 hours. By the way, as I am typing this, my body is no longer itchy and the bumps and spots have all subsided! Praise God! Although I still need to ingest more than 10 pills before I sleep tonight!! Do keep me in prayer.
This incidence is almost cathartic in a spiritual sense as I had to come to grasp with the fragility of life. Healthy triathletes, runners and soccer players die doing what they enjoyed. I had a normal day and so nearly made my way to the express queue to Jesus. But because I believe my life lies in His hands, I have no control but I can only take precautionary measure! Nothing is certain in life, but life in Christ is certain! I was in such duress I did not even care to sms anyone, call anybody else or even remember any thing from the bible – but I prayed. Thanks for the episode, thanks for the lesson and thank you Jesus for the life You gave me!
P.S. I’ve been eating seafood for the longest time, but it is the first time I suffered such an attack! Bad thing may be having to refrain from most seafood, but good thing is “less seafood = less cholesterol”.
Thanks to Angelia for being there for me when I felt helpless!
Remembering this day… 25/09/2007
Laid to Rest at 11:00 PM;