Pre-CNY run-around…

It’s the last day of the month, my monthly grocery delivery is due. And it’s nearing CNY so Ipoh is busier than usual.

This morning I decided to buy groceries to be delivered to Lin’s family. I figured the best time would be early morning before the queues at the cashiers get too long. After loading all the groceries into my car, I headed to the center and called Lin, to make sure she’s home in the afternoon as I intended to visit her then. She did mention how worried she was about her 2nd daughter, Zizi, who’s now studying medic in Egypt. Zizi did send a text message last week telling her mom that the phone coverage wasn’t too good lately. She told Lin not to worry too much if she doesn’t get any news from her for the next few days. Not wanting her mother to worry, Zizi didn’t mention anything about the happenings in Egypt. Lin replied that message but never got any replies from Zizi after that. And after seeing the news on TV of the happenings in Egypt right now, Lin worried even more.

I told Lin we’d talk further when I visit in the afternoon. I figured Lin may feel a bit better after talking it out to someone. I can understand her worries. Zizi had always been a good daughter. The scholarship that she gets to study in Egypt is not only used for herself. From time to time she helps out her 2 sisters studying in KL as the 2 are not getting any financial help other than PTPTN. Frankly, once Lin’s daughters start working, I don’t think I have to worry about Lin’s financial needs. The 3 older daughters are very responsible daughters. It’s tough now that none of them are working yet, but hopefully soon enough, the daughters can help out their mother.

After zohor today, I went over to Lin’s house, half an hour drive away. Only Lin and her son Rahim were home. Her youngest was at school. Rahim helped to carry the groceries from my car. Lin was sewing. Seems she’s beginning to get more and more customers. By the look of things, I think she can make tailoring her main source of income. Hopefully she’ll remain healthy to be able to do so.

Anyway, according to Lin, right after I called her in the morning, she received another call from a lady wanting to speak to Zizi’s mother. Lin felt the suspense. She was worried it may be bad news. The lady who called was the mother of Zizi’s friend in Egypt.

“Berderau darah saya kak sementara nak tunggu apa cerita dia nak bagitau saya pasal Zizi,” said Lin when she was telling me about it during my visit this afternoon.

Apparently the lady just managed to speak to her daughter by phone. Text messages still wouldn’t go through but calls do get through. Zizi sought the lady’s help to call Lin and inform her that she’s okay. Malaysian students under Mara scholarship in the city where Zizi studies, have all been placed together and their needs are being taken care of by Mara officers.

I told Lin not to worry too much. The fact that Mara had taken the initiative to place all the students together shows that they are really taking care of the affairs of the Malaysian students there.

After visiting Lin, I headed straight home. I figured that was it for the day. No more going out, just stay home and avoid the pre-CNY busier-than-usual Ipoh traffic.

But after my asar prayer, as I was about to have a cup of drink, a call came in on my hand phone. A lady asked for Kak Afizah. She said she was from the hospital and that she was calling on behalf of Sofie whose phone ran out of credit. The lady told me that Sofie could already be discharged and had sought the nurse’s favour to call me.

I then called Sofie’s hand phone to find out if they had gotten all the discharge letters and whether they had taken Sofie’s medication from the pharmacy. If so, then I’d just pick them up downstairs instead of having to find a parking space. According to Sofie, the nurses were waiting for me to come before they remove all the tubes etc still attached to Sofie. Oh well, looked like I had to go to the ward first.

Once I got to the ward, I headed straight to the nurse’s counter to get all the necessary documents. The discharge letter, the medicine slip, the letter for Sofie’s next appointment, the letter for Saiful to present to his school teacher.

Off I went downstairs to settle whatever necessary while Saiful stayed in the ward to help his mother get ready. I made sure I brought along Sofie’s JKM card to arrange for her hospital bill to be waived.

First to settle the bill. Not much problem getting the bill waived but I was told to photostat a copy of Sofie’s JKM card. Off I went to the hospimart… had to wait a while as the person before me had over 20 copies of documents to be photostated. After photostating, I had to pay at the cashier, where there was already a long queue. So yep, queue up to pay 20 sen.

Then back to the payment counter to submit the photocopy of Sofie’s JKM card and immediately the lady stamped the word “PERCUMA” on Sofie’s discharge letter.

Next, off to the pharmacy. It was after 6 pm and so only 1 counter was open. Actually the wait wouldn’t have been too long but Sofie had 7 different medications on the slip. I was told I had to wait quite a while as 1 of the medicine listed they had to find from their store. Another one they had to get from somewhere else and so I asked if I could get that the next day instead of having to wait so long. It was nearing 7 pm by then and Saiful had already wheeled his mother down from the ward.

By the time I managed to send Sofie home, it was already 7.30 pm. I didn’t wait long. After passing her all her medication, I made a move. But I’d still need to visit her in one or two days time. I still need to get one more medication for Sofie, and I’d need to get the date of her next appointment at the ID clinic.

Hopefully I can settle that by tomorrow.