In my previous 2 posts, I wrote that my 4th aunt(mother's side) had passed @ 23th November due to lung cancer. Similarly, my 94years-old grandma had diagnosed with lung cancer and had passed away at 6th August 2011 at 8.35pm.
Initially, she was fine but fell down and broke/sprained her spine early this year. Therefore, she was admitted to NUH. That was when I had visited her again after last year lunar new year. I got shocked! She had became extremely skinny皮包骨, and lost most her memory. She was only able to recognise her 6 children who were my uncles, aunties and my dad. Others, she either named them wrongly or shake her head saying "I don't know".
The lunar new year had arrived again. We paid her a visit at the hospital. She was still in bed and couldn't sit up due to her spine's condition. But she was cute...she said "Come again next time"下次再来. You know, elder people are superstitious...shouldn't wish the person to come to hospital again. 欢迎到医院呀!
Weeks later, the hospital gave my dad a call. The hospital had run through a few test and had told us that my grandma was suffering from 4th stage lung cancer. Same as my aunt(mother's side)! After more weeks, she was forced to discharge due to shortage of beds. And here come the problems...
She was unable to walk, difficult in breathing and a pile of medicines. After some family discussion among my dad's sibling, they had decided to send her to Hospi and then nursing home. The nursing home was near to my house. My dad visit her almost every night including weekend.
On 5th August, my dad received a call from the doctor telling that my grandma was in a bad state. Hence, she was only able to live not more than 3days. Then, the doctor provided us 2 options:
1) Leave her at there and continue to provide medicine
2) Bring her home with oxygen tanks & let her pass peacefully...we chose this!
We brought her home and placed her on the bed. Meanwhile, she kept removing the oxygen tube which made her uncomfortable. Oxygen tube removed...put back...removed..put back...repeating.
The next day, some of the relatives came and visit her. And I went out...
At 8.45pm at 6th August (Sat), I received a call and was informed that my grandma had passed away. I rushed back home and arrived at 9pm. The GP came at 9.30pm and issued us the Certificate of Cause of Death(CCOD). Then my dad went to the nearest police station to exchange for the Certificate of Death.
Remember to bring and provide the following with the CCOD:
1) The deceased member’s IC
2) Are the deceased member going to be burial or cremation?
3) Where will the deceased member be locate?
After obtaining the Certificate of Death and finalised with the funeral arrangement, others left while some stayed to accompany my dead grandma. This was because it was late and funeral arrangement could only be carry out on next day. We were unable to sleep and took turn to burn her some insane paper...
The funeral last for 7days. It was a tired exhausted period.
Life was really unpredictable. Normally there no symptoms during the early stage of cancers. When we discovered, it the end. Checkup yearly? Ya, all of us understand that prevent is better then treatment 预防胜于治疗. However, it too costly for the checkup. A simple checkup cost about $90 while a full body checkup cost more then $500.
What do you suggest??
