THE PROJECT

This time I decided to contribute to a project via the KL Braille blogsite. 

Using the money through my sales of the Sampul Raya, I am donating part of the moolah for the cause which amounts to a few braille slates which can benefit around 20 students. Allow me to share the reason why – when of all the people I can choose to make a contribution – I chose them.

When I was a house officer (HO) some time ago, I suffered from keratitis as a consequence of my poor habits when wearing contact lenses. Maybe I did not wash my hands properly upon handling the lenses or perhaps its was due to long hours of wearing them. Point is, on one fine morning of a work day at 530AM, I woke up with blurring of vision. At first it was painless but my eyes were watery – I then made the dangerous decision to drive myself to the Emergency Department (ED) of the hospital I was working in. ( I was staying alone by the way and it was too early to call my nearby cousin)

I was thinking if I could get my problem sorted out quickly, I can make it in time for work at 730AM. I took a quick shower, felt around for my clothes and tried to make out a presentable outfit for the day through the blurred eyes and drove at tortoise speed through the dark morning to the ED. I registered myself at the counter like any honest citizen and waited for my turn. Being a HO I was not sure if I had anyone I knew at ED who could sped me through the line. I haven’t done my ED posting yet to even know a single nurse or MA in the department who could help this poor soul.

Thank god, a colleague I knew from my previous ObsGyn posting saw me and helped me out. I was referred to the Ophthalmology Clinic on the same morning and I was diagnosed with keratitis. I was given MC until my next appointment due in 3 days, supplied with analgesic and loads of eye drops. My eyes were so painful and teary I had to wear an eye patch and hailed a cab back home. The taxi driver literally thought I was an OKU and was very kind to help me to my doorstep.

My next 3 days at home as a partially blind person was eye-opening. I was technically confined in the house – my meals were whatever leftovers I could rummage in my fridge or canned food in the pantry. I could not watch TV or surf the internet. I just lay there on the sofa like a dying goldfish listening to the radio. And of course getting paranoid and jumpy over every single sound I hear in the house.

My vision got better, the pain was reducing in trend within that 3 days. I abstained myself from wearing contact lenses for 6 months. I am still wearing them now, only that I know better having educated myself properly. That was me being grumpy for 3 days unable to see, unable to appreciate faces and colours and words on paper and books. Imagine an individual deprived of having eyesight for the rest of their lives!

So this is me doing my own small thing. I have another mini project coming soon over the weekend as a collaborative effort with my sister funded by my mini tabung kebajikan. *cross fingers*