Came back from Malaysia after mom's funeral was over

Both me and my wife took Tiger Airway flight and reached home close to mid-night.

Before mom has the stroke, she has instructed us that when she pass away she wanted to be cremated and with her ashes to be scatter in the sea. Our family honored her wish and did just that. Cremation was done in Shah Alam on Thursday around noon time. We rented a large boat and sailed out from Port Klang to scatter my mom's ashes in the open sea.

Has been very emotional for myself and my siblings as we are all very closed to our mom and we respect, cherish and love her very much.

Mom passed away on 14-Sep-2009 @ 20:47pm

Mom passed away on Monday 14-Sep-2009 @ 20:47pm at Hospital Kuala Lumpur.

Got a call in early morning around 8am while I was in the office that mom had a 2nd stroke and was rushed to hospital. Was in coma. Decision to be made whether to do an operation on the head or not. Continue to keep in touch with my brothers on the phone while trying to arrange a flight back to visit her. Doctor adviced to monitor her condition for 1 to 2 days first.
Took a 8:45pm flight. On arrival, got the message that mom has passed away at 8:47pm...

Felt so sad. Felt that I could have done more for her. A lot of "IF..." questions keep coming into mind.

Travelling to Malaysia to visit mom

Flight Itinerary - CONFIRMED
Departing - Singapore (SIN) to Kuala Lumpur LCCT (KUL)
Tuesday, 25 Aug 09 Flight TR 454 Depart Singapore (SIN) at 12:15 and arrive in Kuala Lumpur LCCT (KUL) at 13:10
Returning - Kuala Lumpur LCCT (KUL) to Singapore (SIN)
Thursday, 27 Aug 09 Flight TR 457 Depart Kuala Lumpur LCCT (KUL) at 16:50 and arrive in Singapore (SIN) at 17:50
Cost me $70 for two-way.

Came back from Malaysia

Went to visit mom in Malaysia on Tue 28-Jul and return today Fri 31-Jul.

She still refuse to do physiotherapy due to pain on the right arm. Her right hand also badly swollen. Her right leg has improved and can push her right leg straight when bent while laying down. Her voice is strong but still not articulate into proper words.

28-Jul TK454 12:15 to 13:10
31--Jul TK455 13:40 to 14:35
TigerAirways cost S$70 for a return trip.

Did a 10km run while in Malaysia (Jenjarom)

Trying to continue to maintain running capacity. Went to run 10km today around the neighbourhood in Malaysia. Clocked in less than 1:05hr. Heart rate mainly in Zone 2 & 3. In the final 200m, did a dash with average speed of 14km/hr. Heart rate hit Zone 4 at that time.

The Garmin monitor watch showed 11.23km, assumed a calibration error (still did not calibrate my watch yet) of 10%, the distance covered is slight more 10.11km.

With mom in Jenjarom home

With mom in Jenjarom home.

TR463 from KL to Singapore 22:25 to 23:25

Took TigerAirway TR463 from KL back to Singapore 22:25 to 23:25. Bought a pair of Adidas running socks (CREW) at the KL LCCT. Cost me RM$15.90.

Arrived airport earlier by 15 minutes. Limo was already there early to pick me and reached home before midnight.

16km run in Jenjarom Malaysia

In Jenjarom Malaysia this week visiting my mom.

Did a 16km run today. Trying to increase weekly runs total distance by about 10% to 20% for each week in preparation for Dec-2009 full marathon event. Trying to do more Long Slow Distance (LSD) runs.

Ran in the village for 12km around the neighborhood.

Ran another 4.5km around the running track in the park in front of my younger brother's house.

TR454 from Singapore to KL 12:15 to 13:10

Took TigerAirway TR454 from Singapore to KL 12:15 to 13:10 to visit mom.
Bought a 2-way low cost air-ticket.
Cost a total of S$70.00 all-in.

Vanessa and myself heading back to Singapore

Return from KL to Singapore on TigerAirways. Cost S$30 each all-in.

Thursday, 11 Jun 09 Flight TR 463
ETD Kuala Lumpur LCCT (KUL) at 22:25
ETA Singapore (SIN) at 23:25

Bring Vanessa to visit her grandma

Brought Vanessa to Malaysia to visit her grandma who had a stroke about 3 weeks ago. Mom was very glad to see her.

Took JetStar cost S$92 for both of us.
Flight 3K 685 JetSaver Light
ETD Singapore (SIN) 13:40 PM
ETA Kuala Lumpur (KUL) 14:35 PM

Mom discharged from hospital

Mom's blood test came out ok at 2.5 (goal was between 2.0 to 3.0 for the wafarin treatment). So mom was able to be discharged from hospital and gone back home to stay in my younger borther's house. Drove my mom back home to Jenjarom.
Her right hand and leg cannot move. Also cannot speak properly... but can her mouth can make some sound.
Left Jenjarom in the later part of afternoon and drove home to Singapore as wife is working tomorrow.

Drove back to Malaysia with wife to visit mom

Brought along my wife to visit mom in Subang Jaya hostipal. Left in the morning and head straight to the hospital.
Mom should be ready to be discharged from hospital either tomorrow or Monday.

TigerAirways from KL to SIN

Travel back Singapore to accompany my wife to travel together to Malaysia tomorrow to visit my mom.

TigerAirways from KL to SIN
TR453 08:45 to 09:35
Cost S$30?

Mom feeding herself at breakfast and try sitting up on a chair today

1. Doctor said should let mom try to use her limbs as much as possible such as feeding meals for herself. This morning let her tried using spoon to feed porridge to herself. She did it quite well and with some spills but minimal. Just put some tissue papers close to her neck and chest area to catch those drop outs. After the porridge, she wanted to eat the bread. The nurse put strawberry jam on the 2 pieces of bread. She took the bread on her own left hand and feed herself. After finishing the 1st piece she took and finished the 2nd piece of break as well. She drank a full cup of milo using a straw.
After breakfast she took the medicine for her high blood pressure. It is pill pounded into powder form as she cannot swallow pills yet. The powdered medicine was mixed with water and she can drink it using a straw or with spoon.
She did well today and ate well.

2. The physiotherapist came around 10:30am today. Did the regular exercise for all the joints for her right hand and leg. For hand, bend the fingers to close and then open. The move the hand around the wrist area, Then bend the hand over the elbow area and open. Then bend the hand over the shoulder area. Each excerise do is repeated 10 times before moving to the next exercise.
For the right leg, move the toes up and down. Move the foot around the heel. Then bend the leg around the knee area (or to combine with movement around the hip area as well). Each exercise repeated 10 times before moving to the next exercise.
Today there is a new exercise. Use the working left hand to hold the affected right hand (clasped the 10 fingers acrossed each other). Then use the working left hand to pull the affected left hand up and above the head. Repeat for 10 times.
Her affected right side still not functioning. And her good left side is also well and not very strong.

3. The physiotherapist also shown me today how to move my mom from the bed lying down position to the sitting position on the bed side. Then move her over to a sitting chair. She advice to pull the pampers or trousers to move her instead of pulling the arms from under the shoulder as it may dislock the hands fromt he shoulder. After she sat on the chair, use a bedsheet or tower to tie her around the chair (not too tight) to hold her in place. Let her stay in sitting position for 30 minutes before moving her back to the bed. She did well today.

Met staff nurse today and she advice maybe better to get a help (either part time of full time) to help out when we bring mom home. Reason is that most family will be busy and have thier own things to do. It can help minimize tension to get a 3rd party helper and share the cost among the children based on her own personal experience. Family and relatives may not be able to attend to her full time whole day as each has their own work and other commitments.

Her body temperature and blood pressure is normal today. She is still taking high blood pressure medicine today.
The blood thining medicine Warfarine is given only after dinner. This Saturday will conduct blood test to see if the Warfarine dosage is correct and ok. If result is ok, she can be discharge from the hospital anytime after that.

More info on Warfarin :-
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-blood-thinner.htm
http://www.strokecenter.org/patients/anticoagulants.html
http://www.heartpoint.com/coumadin.html
http://generalmedicine.suite101.com/article.cfm/warfarin
http://www.medicinenet.com/warfarin-oral/article.htm

Stroke - signs and symptoms

Sometime lack of knowledge or ignorance can be dangerous !!

Stroke - signs and symptoms

Stroke is often referred to by doctors as a cerebrovascular accident, but the term is not an accurate one since stroke is rarely an 'accident'. The underlying conditions of a stroke (called cerebrovascular disease) are usually present for years before a stroke occurs, although the symptoms of a stroke may occur suddenly.

There are sometimes quite specific warning signs of an impending stroke. By recognising the warning signs and taking action, you may be able to prevent a stroke or reduce its severity. It is important to be able to recognise the warning signs in order to get medical help as quickly as possible.

Transient ischaemic attacks
Transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs) are caused by a temporary cut in blood supply to the brain, due to the partial blockage of an artery by a blood clot or debris. TIAs have the same symptoms as a stroke, but they are temporary and do not usually cause long-term brain damage.

A TIA, or mini-stroke, is a warning of an impending stroke. A person who has had a TIA is at greater risk of having a stroke or heart attack. Early identification of symptoms and a diagnosis from your doctor greatly reduces the chances of a major stroke.

A TIA is:

• Transient – symptoms usually last for less than 24 hours.
• Ischaemic – failure of blood flow to part of the brain or eye.
• Attack – sudden onset of symptoms, which vary from person to person depending on which part of the brain or eye is starved of blood.

Symptoms
Symptoms of a TIA are very similar to those of a stroke. They can include:

• A numb or weak feeling in the face, arm or leg
• Trouble speaking or understanding
• Unexplained dizziness
• Blurred or poor vision in one or both eyes
• Loss of balance or an unexplained fall
• Difficulty swallowing
• Headache (usually severe or of abrupt onset) or unexplained change in the pattern of headaches
• Confusion
• Unconsciousness.

The FAST test is an easy way to recognise and remember the signs of stroke or a TIA. Using the FAST test involves asking three simple questions. If the person has a problem with any of these functions, dial triple zero (000) for an ambulance immediately.

FAST stands for:

• Facial weakness – can the person smile; have their mouth or eyes drooped?
• Arm weakness – can the person raise both arms?
• Speech difficulty – can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?
• Time to act – act FAST and call 000 immediately.

If you suddenly experience any of these symptoms, get to a hospital immediately. Remember, stroke is a life-threatening emergency.

Symptoms occur in a variety of ways
The warning signs or symptoms of stroke may occur alone or in combination. They may last a few seconds or up to 24 hours, and then disappear. These signs are mini-strokes and should not be ignored. They indicate a hidden problem with blood flow, which could trigger a stroke. The severity of the symptoms depends on the area of the brain affected and the cause.

Where to get help

• If you experience symptoms of a stroke, dial triple zero (000) for an ambulance or get to the emergency department of your nearest hospital immediately
• Your doctor
• National Stroke Foundation Tel. (03) 9670 1000 or 1800 787 653

Things to remember

• The symptoms of stroke can occur suddenly.
• Transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs) are an important warning sign that a stroke may occur in the future.
• Early identification of symptoms and a diagnosis from your doctor greatly reduces the chances of a major stroke.

You might also be interested in:
Stroke - the after effects.
Stroke - the risk factors.
Stroke and high blood pressure.
Stroke and migraine.
Stroke can occur in children.
Stroke is a brain attack.
Stroke prevention.
Stroke prevention for high risk groups.
Stroke risk - quiz.
Transient ischaemic attack.

Want to know more?
Go to More information for support groups, related links and references.

http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Stroke_signs_and_symptoms?open

Mom had a stroke

Took a flight back to Malaysia in the afternoon to visit my mom (78 years old) who just had a stroke due to blood vessels blockage in the brain.

Flight from KL to Singapore

Took TigerAirway back from KL to Singapore.
TR457 16:40 to 17:30.

6km run in Malaysia (Jenjarom)

Was in Malaysia to visit my mom who was not feeling well. Need to continue to train for my run to prepare for this Sunday PA Passion run event (15km).

Completed 6km run as planned. Timing is 34:16 min. Average speed is 10.5kmph.

It was quite a leisurely and easy run for me. Heart rate mostly in Zone 3 and reached zone 4 only in the final 300m.

This will probably will my last practise run before the Sunday event.