Checking-in to the 'Beach' Resort

Last Thursday, I took leave to admit SK into Pantai Specialist Hospital for her surgery. The admissions clerk was a very cheerful Malay girl who was smiling all the way. Even better than some hotel front desks I've seen. But truthfully, most private hospitals are starting to look like hotels with jockey service, opulent lobbies and patients zig-zagging in and out with designer luggage. It was a painless check-in procedure, but we had some trouble finding a room because the hospital was quite packed. So while waiting for things to be finalized, I had a lousy nasi lemak at their food court and ordered a large cup of Sumatran Black from Starbucks.

Although SK was entitled to a two-person room, she had to make do with a four-person room due to the constraints. Nothing much went on in the morning, except for some pre-op tests and preparations. SK changed into the hospital gown, did some shaving (tee hee) and took the ECG test. Basically she just sat on the bed, and we played scrabble on our iPhones. Chatted and bitched about her roommates. Her neighbour had the most annoying guitar riff as a ringtone. It was SUPER LOUD. Who would have thought that a Chinese aunty had the same musical tastes as a Mat Rempit.

By 1 plus, I left her to be wheeled to the OT as visiting hours were over. KT joined me for lunch at Seoul Korea Restaurant, Taman Danau Desa. She had seafood miso soup with rice, where as had ramen. Just two mains and the complimentary side dishes amounted to thirteen! Such mind-boggling variety. I especially loved their brown seaweed salad and jellyfish salad. Was so full... we could not finish everything. By the time we finished eating at 3:00pm (actually they 'threw' us out), SK was still in the ward! Her surgery was delayed. Both of us got back to her apartment and we both did some work.



We arrived back at the hospital at about 5:00pm, but SK was not out till 6:20pm. When the nurse wheeled her bed in, she was half-aware of her surroundings and shivering like crazy. Requested blanket after blanket for her. After an hour or so, she was fully-alert and even got off the bed to go to the toilet! The nurses periodically came to take her blood pressure and check on her drip. She shivered less, but was still in some pain. The doctor had not come yet to explain things as he had 4 operations that day. By 7:30pm, KT and I left. The doctor only came at 10:00pm and what he told her was quite a surprise....