The month of May has always been a challenging time for me. Though I’m not superstitious, the coincidences surrounding this month are becoming increasingly hard to ignore. Each May seems to bring a new set of difficulties, and this year has been no exception.
The Nightmare of 2009
The saga began in May 2009 when my youngest daughter Cass who was 13 months old then underwent major surgery on her urinary tract to treat a Grade 3 Kidney Reflux and duplex kidney issue. What should have been a straightforward recovery turned into a nightmare. On the second day post-surgery, a power failure happened. Then, Cass kept throwing up green stuff the moment she drank anything. Two harrowing weeks later and after a battery of invasive and non-invasive scans that couldn’t show where the problem was, her surgeon pushed her into the OT and opened up her abdomen to perform an emergency surgery. There was a kink at the end of her intestines, that was causing all the vomiting, a post-surgery complication that is not unusual for an abdomen surgery. My three-week nightmarish stay at Gleneagles Medical Centre in Penang with Cass was one of the most harrowing experiences of my life. The constant anxiety and the emotional toll of watching my daughter suffer were unbearable.
My Own Health Struggles
May continues to be a challenging month for me in subsequent years. In May 2017, I underwent a laparoscopic myomectomy to remove a fibroid in my uterus. The following year, also in the month of May, I faced another medical issue when I had to have a tooth removed, which came with its own set of complications.
This May, I’m battling a painful callus on the side of my left foot. Despite using topical medication for over two months, the pain persists, and I may have to see a doctor if it doesn’t improve soon. The discomfort it causes while walking is a constant reminder of my tumultuous relationship with this month.
The PC Cable Incident
Just last week, as if to add to my woes, the cable connecting my PC snapped unexpectedly, with sparks of fire flying. This incident left me unable to use my PC for a day. Thankfully, the damage was limited to the cable, and the internal electrical parts of my motherboard were unharmed. But the suddenness of the event was a stark reminder of how unpredictable May can be.
A Shocking Email from Alycia’s University
Today, I was jolted awake at 5:45 AM by an alarming email from Alycia’s university titled “Unsatisfactory Attendance Report.” The email stated that Alycia’s attendance had fallen below the minimum requirement and that an Unsatisfactory Attendance Report (UAR) had been issued. It mentioned that the university is required to report its activities to the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE), the Immigration Department of Malaysia (IDM), validating partners, and professional bodies that accredit its programs and graduates. The tone of the email made it sound as if my daughter had committed a serious offense.
Knowing Alycia to be an obedient and diligent student since young, I was deeply concerned. My first thought was whether the university might rescind her scholarship. I quickly forwarded the email to Alycia, seeking an explanation. Alycia was as shocked as I was and assured me that she had not missed any classes. She also mentioned that a friend of hers had received a similar email yesterday despite having perfect attendance. This led me to suspect a technical glitch.
Indeed, the information in the email was contradictory. It stated that Alycia had been absent from class, yet the provided table showed zero sessions missed. Finally, after a tense morning, Alycia received a message from her university informing her of a technical glitch in the system. I also received an apology email from the university, confirming the error. What a relief!Â
Hoping for Brighter Days Ahead
As I navigate through the challenges that May brings, I can’t help but hope for better days ahead. Despite the rocky start, I remain optimistic that the remainder of the month will bring peace and positive experiences for me and my family.
Here’s to turning the tide and making the rest of May a month of resilience and triumph.
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Sorry to hear of your May problems…here’s to better Mays from now on!
Re: the Uni glitch…I think you should pursue to find out if their system got hitched and what other safeguards have they now implemented. As easy as it may sound, whatever emails or messages that come through that seem suspicious, just ignore. Same with phone messages. Have lost track how many times I’ve been offered rebates, even from Costco. Just do not engage. As well with phone calls…don’t answer with your own voice( they can do a voice capture), I use my Mickey Mouse voice… Usually they hang up or it’s a stupid voice message.
With regards to your foot..have yr family doctor or podiatrist take a look. Mine turned out to be a wart. Dr scraped some of the skin off, zapped with liquid nitrogen, no dressing or care after, just walked on it. Was a bit ache-y for a couple of days, delayed the pedicure for a week, no issues. Good luck!
Hi Chris
Thanks for the tip on using fake Mickey voice. I shall try that the next time I get a suspicious call 😆
I’ve been procrastinating going to the doctor for fear that a minor surgery may be required. If there’s still no improvement on my foot, I will see a doctor next week, albeit still afraid of whatever procedure that the dr. recommends as I have low pain threshold. I’ve tried using liquid topical Duofilm on a corn on my toe previously and it came off quite fast but this one has been dragging for over 2 months! 😫