Of A H1N1, hospitals, and Datuk Bro. Lawrence

Hey peeps!

Don't be alarmed at the title! I DON'T HAVE A H1N1 FLU.

=D

Just that i realized that it is as real as it gets at hospitals. =/

...

I just visited a dear former Principal of St. John's Inst, KL, Datuk Bro. Lawrence Spitzig who is currently hospitalized at Assunta Hospital PJ. He was admitted almost 2 weeks ago because he wasn't eating well at the Little Sisters of the Poor nursing home in Cheras.

Fact to be mentioned, Assunta Hospital is taking no chances with the A H1N1 thing. They've set up A H1N1 screening counters at every entrance to the hospital, and every visitor and staff alike, will be screened before entering the hospital.

At the counter, they will shoot a lazer pointer-like device at your forehead to take your temperature. At this point, i would usually squinge my eyes like (>_<) which would make the nurses laugh. haaaa~ IF you happen to have a slight fever, they will immediately call security, sound the alarm, pack you up in a human body bag, and ship you off to be quarantined for as long as forever promptly direct you to receive immediate medical attention. And you must adhere.

You can make a difference. =)

But if you're fit as a fiddle, they'll slap a small piece of sticker on you and you're free to go. Then on the way up, we saw little green stickers on the floor, on the lift panels, evrywhere la. LOL

Spot the stickers! XD

Datuk Bro. Lawrence is in the Fatimah Ward on the 5th floor. Very safe, clean, and condusive environment. The ward nurses all very young, cantik, molek, menawan, and helpful. =DD

This is Bro. Lawrence in May 2009 at the Little Sisters of the Poor. I was accompanying him while he waited for his ride to a dinner inconjuction with Teacher's Day. He was the guest of honor at the dinner organized by the Catholic Teacher's Assoc. (i think that's what it is called)\

Bro. Lawrence was always, and still is, very witty. I remember when i was sitting there with him on the porch, he actually made a joke and we both LOL-ed. haha

Tada!

His ride. Van owned by a former student of his, now the Chairman of the Board of Governers of SJI, Tuan Megat Mizan Nicholas Denney, which was probaly the only vehicle that was able to bring Bro. Lawrence around. Bro. relied on the wheelchair because his legs were not paying attention to him. =)

Bro. Lawrence is transferred on the car-wheelchair and lifted up into the van. I was @_@

Waaaaaa.

XD XD XD

...

That was Bro. Lawrence months ago. He is much thinner now because he can't eat. Nevertheless, with eyes a tad sunken and some breathlessness, he is still the same old witty man we all know came to know, respect, and love.

I want to share with you our conversation form my last visit before leaving:

Bro.: Will you come back to see me?
Me: Sure i will. Soon.
Bro.: (Gestures a thumbs up sign)
Me: Bro. Lawrence, take care and take some rest, okay?
Bro.: I have been resting for weeks now.
(referring to the fact that he has been in the hospital for weeks)
Me: *smiles* (LOL in my heart!)

** This dialoge above was actually quite melancholic and abit heart wrenching, for me, esp when he asked, will you come back... He appears to believe that he is still in school, but after a few mentions, he becomes aware he is in the hospital.

It has to do with the salt drips they administered to him. Sodium and potasuim (i think) tend to make the patient go "quirky" at times, but when it settles, it's okay. But the meds also cause him to be quite tempremental at times. At his ripe age of 91 yo, can you imagine the pain he has to endure when the nurses poke a 3 inch needle into his already thin hands?

NO WONDER he is tempremental.

IF you have met him before or been his former student or just know him as a formidable man, please pray for him that God may continue to do a marvelous work in him and heal him once again. He has no relatives here in Malaysia, save a few Brothers from the Brother's mission and a handful of close and concerned teachers and students.

Never underestimate the power of prayer.

-Datuk Bro. Lawrence Spitzig

Visit when you can, and cheer him up as best you can. He somehow responds well to music. The other day i brought an MP3 player with some of his fave songs like 'Green Green Grass of Home '- Tom Jones, 'The Young Ones' - Cliff Richards and 'Congratulations' and let him listen to them.

Boy was he happy and cheerful after that... He even tapped his fingers to the melody!

Look forward to visiting him again -- with new songs, of course! ;-p

ps. found an article of Datuk Bro. Lawrence here. Google His name for more info.