My (a bit chubby) little Cek Mek

A few minutes after settling down at my office this morning, I received a text message from Sharifah, telling me that she and Kak Ana were on their way to Ipoh. She said she'd call once they get near my office.

So when I heard the James Bond ring tone on my hand phone, I thought it was Sharifah. But when I looked at my hand phone, Rosnah's name appeared. Rosnah was at the hospital for her appointment, and she was hoping to see me. She thought I was at the counseling room - the place where she met me the last time. I think she still doesn't understand that I'm just a volunteer and not working full time at the hospital. Anyway, I told her I'd go to the hospital a bit later and that I'd call her when I get there.

Sharifah's call came about half an hour later. I went down from my office with the necessary papers for Sharifah's blood test, started looking around, then I saw Kak Ana. Kak Ana's daughter who's back for holidays from overseas tagged along. Little Cek Mek was at the back seat with Sharifah. I went straight in to usik-usik the little girl's cheeks... waking her up from her sleep... hehehe... ini Opah tak boleh harap punya! Couldn't resist it, my little Cek Mek's chubbier than before. (the last time I saw her she was only 10 days old - now she's already 7 weeks old.)

Anyway, they then went straight to the hospital, after which they planned to go to JPN for Cek Mek's MyKid. Kak Ana promised she'd call me once they settled things so we could meet up for lunch.

After settling some things at the office, I went out for a while to go to the hospital to meet up with Rosnah. Her husband died a month ago and she herself had just been diagnosed positive, so I figured I'd better make it a point to meet her. And I was very lucky today in the sense that one car just got out of a parking space quite near the specialist clinic, so I got to park my car quite easily this time.

When Rosnah called me last month, she didn't want me to visit her at home as she was staying with her mom and she didn't want her mom to know anything about her husband's HIV. This time I assured her that I'd visit her as a friend and that I wouldn't mention anything about HIV. She finally agreed to let me visit her at home next week. So more about her after my visit, ok?

After the hospital visit, I went back to my office and waited for Sharifah's or Kak Ana's call. But this time, it was Sofie who called - from a new number. I had been trying to call her a few times before this but simply couldn't get her. Apparently she lost the old phone, with my number and all. So when she got hold of another phone, she was not able to call me as she didn't have my number. She was at the hospital today (yeah, I was there too, but I didn't see her!) and got my number from SN. Sofie had asked for a referral letter from SN but since SN was very busy today, she didn't have the time to prepare the letter. Sofie sought my help to get the letter from SN once it's ready; then pass it to her during my next visit to her house.

Sharifah called me around noon, asking if I had any more stock of free milk powder for the baby. I didn't have any since my sister had not brought back any, so I told her I'd only be getting some this weekend. It was only after I put down the phone that I figured... haiyah! So stupid lah ini Pi Bani! The home is in the same town as my sister's clinic, so I might as well get Kak Ana to get the milk powder from the clinic!

I immediately called my sister to ask if it was okay for Kak Ana to go get the box of milk powder from the clinic, and after getting the go-ahead, I called Kak Ana to ask if she'd mind going to the clinic herself. Kak Ana and Sharifah were then about to leave JPN, wanting to go out and buy diapers for Cek Mek, but when I asked where she wanted to shop, she wasn't sure herself. So I told them to go to a particular hypermarket and I'd meet up with them for lunch there.

Well, I got to the place earlier than them, so when they got there, we went shopping together. Yeah, my little Cek Mek went shopping too! This time her eyes were wide open, so yeah, I did chat (oh well, more like goo goo ga ga) with her while pushing the shopping trolley...

We then had lunch, during which we sort of "drilled" Sharifah with the kind of questions she may be asked when she and Kak Ana goes to court this Friday.

Court?? Well yes, remember earlier on I mentioned about Cek Mek's matter being reported to the state welfare? Apparently, what happened was that when the hospital welfare officer reported the matter, she just mentioned that Sharifah didn't want to bring the baby home with her. In actual fact, Sharifah didn't want to bring the baby home with her YET. Big difference there. Sharifah plans to get herself a job first, and once she's financially stable, she'd get the baby from Kak Ana. But in the report sent, it sounded as though Sharifah had abandoned her baby at a home meant for the disabled.

When the JKM officers went to take the baby from the home, Kak Ana reminded them that once the baby is out of her home, she'd be their responsibility and so they'd better make sure the baby is given her medication right on time every 6 hours. The officers didn't know heads or tails about the medication whatsoever as that was not mentioned in the report they received.

So they took the baby, reported the matter to their boss, and finally their boss called and spoke to Kak Ana who told her the whole story, even asking them to call Sharifah direct to confirm her story. After half an hour, the baby was sent back to Kak Ana. Since Sharifah is around this week, they (Kak Ana and Sharifah) were asked to go to court this Friday so a court order can be obtained by Kak Ana for temporary custody of Cek Mek - until Sharifah is ready to take the baby back with her. Sharifah will visit the baby from time to time, at least once a month.

Right now Sharifah is staying with Kak Ana until her hospital appointment in 2 weeks time. And they (Sharifah and the baby) actually stay at Kak Ana's home, not at the shelter home. The hospital welfare officer can no longer argue that the place is not suitable for the baby.

And for the moment, Sharifah is still looking around for a job. We told her not to be too choosy and just grab whatever suitable job that comes along, doesn't matter if the job is in Ipoh or back at her hometown or at any other nearby towns.

Sharifah did seem more cheerful when I saw her today. Hopefully the future too will be more cheerful for her and her baby.