Category: Hand & Microsurgery

Since June this year, a simple daily chore like washing dishes has become a hands-off task for my Alycia. 6th June was the day her left ring finger was severely injured after a glass container shattered when it slipped from her hand when she was washing it and required immediate surgery. What started as a two-month recovery period turned into a five-month journey, and she still hasn’t touched a single greasy dish.

Initially, Alycia’s surgeon estimated that she’d be back to normal activities by August. But due to an infection that developed in the finger two months after the surgery, she needed a second emergency surgery to drain the pus. This setback, and the lingering risk of infection, has made me wary of letting her handle any dishwashing duties. Even her very understanding and compassionate boss at the café where she works part-time told her that she could come back to work and doesn’t have to handle dishwashing.

Though the second surgery should have been the end of her troubles, she faced yet another challenge when blisters formed on her finger a couple of months later. We’re all a little frustrated by the slow recovery, but protecting her finger from further issues has become a priority.

As a result, I’ve taken on the extra task of washing all of her dishes, even when I’ve already settled into clean clothes after a shower. It’s not an ideal situation, and I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t get tiring and frustrating, and at times I do feel angry. On top of the extra washing, I’ve switched to gentle dishwashing liquids to protect her finger from harsh chemicals, in case she washes non-oily dishes, adding an extra cost. Every time she places her used plates and cutlery in the sink, there’s a moment of frustration; but I remind myself that it’s for her healing and peace of mind.

It’s been a challenging year, with unexpected hurdles one after another, but we’re pushing through. Next year, I look forward to a fresh start and hope for Alycia’s full recovery. Here’s to hoping 2024 brings healing, health, and a full return to daily routines for both Alycia and me!

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After four months of treatments, surgeries, and follow-ups, Alycia finally received some good news—her appointment with Dr. Low, the hand and microsurgery doctor, two Fridays ago was her last. It’s a huge relief to know that her recovery is going well enough that she no longer needs to see the doctor. However, yesterday, Alycia noticed something concerning: small blisters had appeared on her affected finger. Being cautious, she immediately sent a photo to Dr. Low, who advised her to monitor the situation.

Today, Alycia took another photo and sent it to him, and this time, Dr. Low asked her to see him tomorrow. If necessary, he may refer her to a dermatologist. I’m praying that these blisters aren’t a sign of another infection, especially since Alycia is set to travel to Korea in less than two weeks.

There’s a strange phenomenon that happened to Alycia’s infected finger two months post-surgery. The night her finger got infected, Alycia had eaten a large portion of prawns—her first time indulging in seafood since the freak kitchen accident on 6 June 2024. Now, in Chinese tradition, prawns are believed to be “tuk” (poisonous) for anyone recovering from surgery. Many say that seafood, especially prawns, can trigger infections or slow healing. And Alycia, being cautious, had avoided prawns for two months. But when she finally gave in to her craving, she needed emergency surgery the next day to drain pus from the operated finger. Was it just a coincidence? I’m not sure, but it was enough to make me believe this Chinese believe.

Since then, I’ve told Alycia to avoid prawns until her finger is fully healed—perhaps another six months from now. Better safe than sorry, right? But it makes me wonder, are prawns really poisonous and unclean, or is this an old wives’ tale? There isn’t any solid scientific proof to back up the claim, but many still believe that certain foods should be avoided during recovery. Given our experience, I think I’ll stick to caution for now.

As Alycia heads to see Dr. Low tomorrow, I’m hoping and praying that no further invasive treatments will be necessary. With her upcoming trip and the long road to healing, the last thing she needs is another setback. Here’s to hoping that these blisters turn out to be just a minor bump in the road to full recovery.

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Thursday, 22 August 2024

Today, Alycia returned to the hospital for a follow-up wound dressing, just three days after she was discharged. This was the first time I got a clear look at her wound—a small cut on her finger where the doctor had drained the pus, performed in the OT under LA. The sight was a stark reminder of how quickly things can escalate when it comes to health.

According to the surgeon, the infection may have been caused by dirt entering through the proximal nail folds, leading to internal complications. It’s unsettling to think that something so small could cause so much trouble. The next dressing is scheduled for Saturday, just two days from now.

Today’s dressing and consultation came with a price tag of RM190, adding to the mounting medical expenses. I’m hopeful that all these follow-up consultations and treatments will be covered by our insurance.

Reflecting on the past two months, I never imagined that the total cost to save Alycia’s finger would reach RM40,000. This experience has only reinforced my belief in the importance of having medical insurance, regardless of age. It’s a safety net that can make all the difference when unexpected health issues arise.

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Yesterday was another fateful day for me that sent my heart racing the whole day.

To give you some context, on June 6th, 2024, Alycia had a freakish kitchen mishap. Her finger was badly sliced by shards of broken glass from a container when she was washing dishes at home. The injury was severe enough that she needed a 1.5-hour surgery, performed by a hand and microsurgery surgeon, to repair the damaged nerves and tendons and remove the glass pieces lodged inside. Everything seemed to be going well with her recovery, until yesterday.

Alycia had a restless night, unable to sleep due to the pain and swelling in her finger. By morning, things took a turn for the worse—there was pus oozing out from the nail area. Alarmed, she Whatsapped a photo of her finger to her doctor. The response was immediate: she needed to go to the hospital to see him right away.

It all happened so suddenly. Alycia left for SJMC alone, as I was caught up with something else and couldn’t accompany her. My mind was racing with worry when I got the call from the doctor. He calmly informed me that Alycia needed to undergo surgery in the operating theatre to drain the pus. My heart sank. The first thought that crossed my mind was, “Will our insurance cover this?” Her first surgery had already cost us RM30,000. Would this one cost just as much?

I quickly reached out to my insurance agent, and after more than 5 worrying hours, I received confirmation that the surgery was approved. We had to wait this long as the insurance website was down and the hospital had to submit the claim form manually via email, which took a longer time for reply. Relieved but still anxious, I immediately transferred RM1,000 into Alycia’s account so that she could pay the co-insurance payment (non-refundable) required by the hospital. The surgery itself was minor, but the stakes felt incredibly high. The thought of going into the OT for another surgery sounds serious.

Alycia waited until 8:30 p.m. before she was finally wheeled into the OT.  I stayed by her side as the nurses moved her bed to the operating theatre in another block. The surgery took about an hour, during which Alycia was under local anesthesia. She remained conscious the entire time, and my brave girl assured me afterward that the injection for the anesthesia wasn’t as painful as she had anticipated. She didn’t feel a thing during the surgery.

I still find it hard to believe that this happened. Just when we thought Alycia was on the road to recovery, her situation took a sudden turn. The doctor mentioned that had she not come in quick enough, the bacteria could have caused more severe damage to her tendons and nerves, potentially requiring another major surgery. I was also worried about sepsis (which could be deadly) when Alycia showed me her badly swollen finger in the morning.

This experience made me reflect on how complications after surgery can sometimes arise when you least expect them. I remember how, 15 years ago, Cass also had a bad post-surgery complication that required another operation two weeks later. And now, it’s Alycia’s turn to face a similar challenge.

The doctor has sent Alycia’s pus sample for lab testing, and we’re anxiously awaiting the results, which should come out tomorrow. I’m hoping and praying that everything turns out fine and that Alycia can be discharged soon.

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A Night We’ll Never Forget: Alycia’s Kitchen Accident

It’s been seven weeks since that fateful night when Alycia had a freakish kitchen mishap that almost cost her a finger. The memory of that night still haunts me, but time has begun to heal the emotional wounds. I’ve kept a photo from that night, taken in the ER of the first hospital we rushed to. I never had the desire to post it on my blog because it’s too graphic, and looking at it brings back the traumatic experience. But as time goes by, I feel more ready to share what happened.

For those of you who missed my my post in early June 2024 on the accident, I’ll do a quick recap here.

It was a Thursday night, 6 June 2024. That night started off like any other. Alycia was in the kitchen washing a glass container after eating mangoes that I had cut for her. Suddenly, there was a loud crash and a scream. Alycia was screaming to me that she had a very deep cut on her finger and it was very painful. I rushed in to find Alycia holding her hand, blood pouring out from a deep cut on her finger. My heart sank, and I immediately knew we had to get her to the hospital.

I drove to the nearest hospital in our neighborhood, and the ride felt like an eternity. Alycia’s finger was wrapped in a thick towel and she was in so much pain. All I could do was try to keep her calm and told her that whatever it is, the doctors will surely be able to fix the finger. When we arrived, the ER staff quickly attended to her. The doctor examined her finger and informed us that it was badly injured and she required surgery in the OT to save it. My heart broke hearing those words. The doctor gave Alycia an anti-tetanus jab and bandaged up the wound.

From this hospital, we went to two other hospitals and were told that most of the private hospitals in the Klang Valley had no more rooms, even for ’emergency’ cases. I don’t know how serious an emergency case had to be in order to get a room but thank God, we finally got a room at SJMC after midnight. I guess Alycia’s injury was considered serious enough to warrant a room. She stayed in the hospital for 3 nights and was discharged on Sunday.

I managed to take a photo of Alycia in the ER, with her hand being treated. It’s a very bloody and gory image, and I’ve blurred out the doctor’s face for privacy. The photo captures the severity of the injury, and looking at it reminds me of the fear and helplessness I felt that night. But as difficult as it is to look at, it also reminds me of Alycia’s strength and resilience.

Now, seven weeks later, Alycia is finally free from the splint and bandage. Her finger is still a bit stiff, and she has to do finger exercises to regain full mobility. We’re hoping she won’t need to see a physiotherapist, but we’re prepared for whatever comes next. Alycia is determined to recover fully, and I’m confident she will. Her next appointment to see the hand & microsurgery doctor is this Friday.

Time has a way of healing wounds, both physical and emotional. Sharing this story again and the photo feels like a step towards moving past the trauma of that night. Alycia’s courage and perseverance continue to inspire me, and I’m grateful for the support and care she received from the medical staff and our family.

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Friday, 19 July 2024 ~ Today marks exactly six weeks since Alycia’s freakish kitchen mishap that almost cost her a finger. The journey has been long and painful, but we are finally seeing some progress.

After six weeks of keeping her injured finger in a splint and her entire left hand wrapped in a big bandage, Alycia finally had them removed. I could feel her relief too! The moment was a significant milestone in her recovery. While the finger is still stiff, removing the splint and bandage is a positive step forward. Alycia must now focus on finger exercises to regain mobility. The surgeon commented that the stiffness on the finger is caused by scars on the tendons as well as scars on the skin.

Despite the progress, Alycia’s finger is not out of the woods yet. If there is not much improvement in two weeks, she may have to see a physiotherapist twice a week. To avoid this, which adds to the cost and time, I constantly remind Alycia to diligently perform her finger exercises. We are hopeful that with consistent effort, her finger’s mobility will improve, and she can avoid additional therapy.

After the doctor’s appointment, we decided to celebrate Alycia’s progress with a lunch at SJMC’s cafe. Alycia ordered lasagna, which she said tasted very much like the one her dad makes in his central kitchen. It was a comforting and delicious meal after weeks of hospital visits and treatments.

To further celebrate the removal of the splint and bandage, Alycia requested a sofuto from Family Mart. She chose a matcha sofuto, her favorite. It was a small but meaningful treat to mark a big step in her recovery journey.

While Alycia still has a bit of a journey ahead, the removal of the splint and bandage is a significant milestone. We are optimistic that with continued finger exercises, she will regain full mobility in her injured finger.  

Hubby kept telling us that he had a similar accident when he cut his third finger with a pen knife when he was 17 years old. This resulted in his finger being stitched up in a clinic. That was 36 years ago and in those days, accidents like this did not require reconstruction in the OT or physiotherapy. After the accident, he could not bend his third finger for a long time and it took him over a year before he could finally bend it. He reassured Alycia that her finger would regain full mobility in time to come.

Injuries can be a tough test of patience and resilience, but Alycia has shown remarkable strength throughout her recovery journey. With the splint and bandage now off, we are hopeful for continued progress. The next couple of weeks are crucial, and we will be there every step of the way to support Alycia. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a speedy recovery and no need for physiotherapy.

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Four days after Alycia’s finger surgery, we returned to SJMC for her follow-up checkup with the Hand and Microsurgery surgeon. This was the first time I had the opportunity to meet and speak with the doctor since Alycia’s admission. During her hospital stay, the surgeon did his ward rounds early in the morning, before I arrived.

At the checkup, the doctor carefully removed the bandage to examine Alycia’s wound. He noted that the blood had dried up, a positive sign indicating the start of the healing process. As we talked, I learned just how severe Alycia’s injury had been. The wound required many stitches, and the surgeon had found glass fragments embedded in her finger. It was a shocking revelation that highlighted the severity of the accident.

The surgeon seemed puzzled by how Alycia managed to break the glass container in such a way that it caused such a deep and serious cut. The accident seemed almost freakish in nature. It was a painful reminder of how quickly and unexpectedly such incidents can occur.

Alycia’s next appointment with the surgeon is scheduled for this coming Thursday, when her stitches will be removed. I am hopeful that the healing process will continue smoothly and that her finger will fully recover without any complications.

The accident still brings a rush of anxiety and fear each time I replayed the sequence of events on my head. I almost lost my mind worrying about Alycia’s injury and the potential long-term impact. As a parent, seeing your child in pain and not being able to immediately fix it is one of the hardest experiences to endure.

I fervently pray that such accidents never happen again to any of my children, myself, or any of my loved ones. This incident has been a stark reminder of how fragile and precious life is, and how quickly it can change in an instant. Moving forward, we’ll be more cautious, but I also understand that sometimes, despite our best efforts, accidents can still happen. All we can do is hope, pray, and support each other through these tough times.

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Sunday, 9 June 2024

Today, I received the best message from Alycia since the unfortunate mishap that happened four days ago. She informed me that the doctor had given her the green light to be discharged from the hospital. This meant her wound was healing well, and the prospect of going home filled me with immense relief and joy.

The process of getting discharged, however, was not as swift as we hoped and I had expected it from my previous experiences in other private hospitals. We waited over two hours for the necessary discharge procedures. While Alycia remained in her room, hubby, Cass, and I decided to have lunch at one of the nearby restaurants. Given the limited choices, we opted for Windmill Restaurant, a place with a nostalgic touch for us. Windmill has been serving old-school coffee house food for decades, and it was around even when we lived in Shah Alam in the early 2000s. Their menu includes classics like chicken chop, chicken Maryland, steak, mango salad, oxtail soup, and mushroom soup, just to name a few.

After a quick meal, we returned to SJMC, only to find that the invoice was still not ready. I had to expedite the process by urging the staff to follow up on our paperwork. Finally, after over two hours of waiting, we received the invoice, which listed many items in detail. The total came to nearly RM28k! It’s astonishing how a finger surgery with reconstruction can cost almost RM30k. This makes me anxious about the potential costs of Cass’ upcoming urinary tract surgery, which she will likely need in two years. All medical costs related to Cass’ urinary tract and kidneys will not be covered by her insurer as it’s a congenital issue, unless proven otherwise.

Fortunately, Alycia’s insurance will cover the majority of the hospitalization costs, though we still have to pay a maximum of RM1k along with some miscellaneous charges. This financial relief is a silver lining amid the cloud of medical expenses.

Reflecting on last year, Sherilyn was hospitalized in July due to a severe bout of hives, and now it’s Alycia’s turn. An eerie detail that sticks with me is the way my right eyelid twitched non-stop for a week before Alycia’s accident. It seems my eyelids have a knack for warning me of impending trouble, nine out of ten times.

As we navigate these turbulent times, I am grateful for the resilience of my family and the support of our insurance. Here’s to hoping for a smooth recovery for Alycia and a health-filled future for all of us.

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The surgeon told Alycia this morning that she has to remain in the hospital for one more night as her wound is still bleeding😢 .

Today I helped Alycia to shower in the hospital. She hasn’t showered since the terrible mishap on Thursday night after she got home from uni. Even with a bloodied and painful finger, she was whining about not being able to shower. She’s a clean freak like me and for clean freaks like us, having a shower at the end of each day is so important. It felt awkward bathing my adult daughter but a mom’s gotta do what a mom’s gotta do.

Alycia was so happy that she could finally remove the OT gown and get a refreshing shower, especially a hair wash! I could feel her relief after the shower🤩

I brought her laptop today so that she could work on her assignments.

To be continued…

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Alycia Whatsapped me in the morning to tell me that she’s the 15th on the OT wait list and the nurses cannot tell her what time her surgery will be because surgeries can run into complications and may take longer than expected. At around 5pm, Alycia told me that her surgery will be at around 9ish to 10 pm. So I told hubby to only pick me up from home at 7 pm. But less than an hour later, Alycia Whatsapped me to tell me that she will be going into the OT soon! Hubby and I hurried to SJMC.

When we arrived at SJMC, Alycia was already in the OT. We sat outside the OT for almost 3 hours. I kept asking the nurses if the surgery was over but was told that it ain’t over yet. Worried set in. Could Alycia’s cut be so deep that the surgeon (Hand and Microconstructive doctor) was taking a longer time to fix the finger?

Finally I saw Alycia in the recuperating bay. I was expecting to be next to her when she opened her eyes but it wasn’t until another hour later that we only got to see her in her room. The nurses had wheeled Alycia back to her room from the back door and we were not even informed until much later when one of the nurses left the OT after work and saw us still waiting. That was at around 11 pm.

By the time we reached home and showered, it was already way past midnight. It was another night of insomnia and sleep deprivation for me. Whenever I sleep past my usual bedtime, I will have trouble falling asleep, what more with so much goings-on and anxiety the whole day. The high cortisol levels flooding my body since the day of Alycia’s mishap has been causing me insomnia and sleep loss can also increase cortisol levels.

Even as I’m typing this post, I am still feeling insomniac and it’s 10.30 pm now. I know I’m going to be feeling very sleepy over the next few days when the cortisol levels in my body goes down now that Alycia’s back home.

To be continued…

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