I was moved to tears when I saw this picture in my Facebook news updates today. The 2-year old girl was dying and her parents took turns to give her a last hug and kiss. This picture transported me back to May 2009 in the OT of GMC Penang. Cass was on my lap frozen with fear when the anesthesiologist administered the GA through the IV catheter on her hand. When she was completely knocked out and lay lifeless on my lap, I had to lay her on the steel table. I kissed her and hugged her. I said a prayer to God to bring my baby girl back to me. I wished Dr N good luck and walked away slowly and turned back to have a last look at my baby girl before leaving the OT. I wondered if I could have my baby girl back in one piece, mentally and physically. This happened not only once but twice as Cass had to be operated again 2 weeks later as a result of a complication from the 1st surgery. The long hours waiting outside the OT is something I never wish to go through again. And seeing my baby girl all bandaged up with tubes sticking everywhere on her body is something no mother would ever want to see.
If you are wondering why all the medical staff are bowing in the picture : in less than an hour, two small children in the next room are able to live thanks to the little girl’s kidney and liver. Put yourself in the dying toddler’s mother or father’s shoes. The sadness and helplessness that they felt are definitely overwhelming.
The next time your child causes lava to spew from your mouth and head, remember this picture and imagine yourself inside the picture and imagine that the dying child is yours. I am sure the image of the dying girl with her grieving parents crying next to her will quell any burning anger that you have. I did. And I gave my girls each a hug, a kiss and said a prayer just before bedtime just now, albeit all 3 of them caused some fire burning inside me just before bedtime. I cannot imagine the pain I’ll have to go through if I have to say a last good-bye to any of my child. I pray to God that I will never have to do that.
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