In year 2000, I was 32 yrs old enjoying life to the fullest, happily married and have a daughter name Sarah. My husband is a Metallurgist or Mineral Processing Engineer they call it, his expertise with minerals gold, tin, nickels and all alike. We followed him from one mining town to another to advance his career and also to improve our standard of living.
People said bad things come in three, I never believes it, until this particular year. We were living in small mining town south west of western Australia, called Greenbushes. Beautiful town approximately 200 people, mostly work for the mining company, some are farmers. Sarah was 4 yrs old then, so I put her in the Kindergarten nearby. Sarah did not have any previous health problem, however she does have sinus problem, that makes her dribble a lot. I still remember have to put a bib or baby apron on her up until 3 yrs old, because she dribble quite heavily and often her saliva dripped and wet the whole front area of her dress. We took Sarah to a few specialist , we had done tests regards to Down Syndrome, Autism, ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and a few other conditions, but results came negative.
Sarah went to her Kindy as usual, she was so brave, she don’t even cry. The first month went by, her teacher Mrs Haynes noticed, Sarah preferred to play alone, always fidgeting, cannot hold a pencil properly like other children her age, and sometimes space out, as if she was in her own little world. School Nurse recommended Speech Pathologist. We went for a few more tests in the nearby hospital. The tests results that came the following week, was devastated me, it shattered me inside into small little pieces. Sarah was diagnosed with Mild Mental Disability. The term “disability” it self upsets me. First I blamed my self, then I blamed my husband for Sarah’s condition. We started Sarah straight away with Speech Therapist classes, Physiotherapy classes and also Occupational therapy classes. With Sarah condition, its not only her brain is slower receiving signals, her body , her motor skills is also very weak. She might appeared clumsy at times, because she always stumbled and falls, but that was because of her weak joint and muscle. By then, I was so emotionally and physically drained, what I didn’t mention was the distance, It took 2 hours journey from home to hospital and back. Anyway, the hard work did paid off, Sarah had improve slowly, with her concentration and fidgeting in the class room.
Now, during those time, I started to feel tired, sometimes I don’t feel like waking up at all, as if a huge elephant on top of me. And the thirst unbelievable, I can drink a jug of water, it makes no different. My husband suggested that I better see a doctor. A week after blood test done , I get a phone call from the clinic said that my doctor need to see me again, regards to my blood test results, immediately I thought, goodness, must be bad news, they wont call you, if everything was fine. While driving to see her (Dr Fiona), tears just keep coming, I remembered thinking, what’s next? Dr Fiona told me I had Diabetes Mellitus. That my sugar level was too high, and they put me on tablets. Dr Fiona cannot understand why petite person like my self, considering I am very slim and fit, to get Diabetes. I was diagnosed that morning with type 2 diabetes which is non insulin dependent diabetes, so I have to basically watch my diets and take my tablets. At home, I was very upset and distressed. The “why me” questions keep pop in and out of my head. The only thing that calmed me down that day was the faith that I have in God. I believe everything happened for a reason, we have to accept it, and hopefully used the experience, as a tool to help others, and also to better our selves.
When I thought the worst was over, I had a phone call from Malaysia, it was my mother, her voice was calm, she said My father had a heart attack, and died that evening. It was in October 2000. My mother said come home, we buried dad together. She was so calm, I don’t cry at all, I just said to mom, I will try to get a ticket to Malaysia from Perth, Australia, as fast as I can. I am very lucky to get a ticket to Malaysia the following week. We buried dad together with my five brothers. I was crying, and crying and crying. I never stop crying each time I think about him. He was the best father I could ever asked for.
