-Saturday, March 22, 2008
The hospital.
I was visiting my Grandpa in the hospital that day. It was at SGH, Block 5. He looked cheerful after the operation and he started to eat more, instead of the usual 2 mouthfuls of rice he had. It's great and he's discharged.
There was this familiar smell in the air. The smell of whatever medicine, chemicals in the hospital. As I was walking to Block 5, there was this familiar boy running down Block 6. I guess he was quite small, around 1.3m, and probably around 8 years old. He was alone. I saw him coming from the taxi stand alone and he was looking around Block 6. I helped him read the noticeboard, and he gestured to me that he was looking for the intensive care unit.
He seemed to have tears welled in his eyes and he was trying to catch his breath. The lift came and I decided to bring him up. We arrived at the ICU and I waited at the waiting area while he went in. I thought he was alone so I decided to hang around and wait for him. Through the glass door I saw him find his way, and finally he went through a door which led him to someone all tubed up. There was a small crowd around the bed. I saw a little hand appear from the side of the bed, holding the patient's hand tightly. It was that little boy's hand, he didn't want to let go.
I found out later that it was actually his grandmother. She was fine only 2 or 3 days ago and then she slipped into a coma. 2 days ago, the boy actually visited his grandmother with his report card which read, "English A, Math A, Chinese A. 288/300" He wanted his grandmother to be proud of him. Along with that report card was a styrofoam box with
pau inside. Who knew the next morning at 4 a.m the hospital called and told them that their mother and grandma had slipped into a coma due to a low blood count. I too found out that the little boy traveled all the way alone in the taxi from the East to the hospital. His grandmother had very little time left and she was the one who took care of him all the 8 years of his life till then. He had to see her for one last time.
"Grandma! Wake up... I have school tomorrow... You have to bring me... I don't wanna go alone..." The boy sobbed as he clutched onto his grandma's hands, which had a tube connecting to the intravenous drip. The adults ushered the boy out and soon, all of them left.
His grandma passed away a day later. I was that little boy.
At 8, I traveled all the way from Tampines to SGH alone in a taxi to visit my grandma. It was a super duper learning experience for me. The ride seemed long. I didn't know she was going so soon. But I really loved her. It's been 10 years. 1998 was a life changing year for that young soul like me. I grew up.
Ah ma. I love you.
I'm sorry for being such a brat at times making you buy me the toys.
I know you care a lot for me.
I'll remember you, always.
I'll be fine.
Your Grandson, Yeechien.
Further Reading:
Childhood Revisited 1Childhood Revisited 2
Yeechien Wrote;
9:02 PM
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