Last night, Clarissa got me worried as she started vomiting non-stop from about 8pm. In the end, at about 1am in the morning, we decided to take her to the hospital, as she was also complaining of severe tummy ache which has never happened before. Luckily the doctor diagnosed her of stomach flu only, and it was supposed to be nothing serious. But the doctor did say that if the vomiting and tummy ache does not stop, then I will need to bring her back today.
She does feel slightly better today, but as I had never taken her to this hospital before, I was not 100% confident that they are correct. So, when she still complained that she has tummy ache this morning, I decided to call her pediatrician, Dr Foo, who has been attending to her since birth. And that brought me to a very sad finding. I was told by the hospital that Dr Foo had passed away in June. I was in total shock (even until now), because he has always been such a healthy and rosy cheeked man in his fifties.
Needless to say, the hospital will not reveal on how or why he passed away, so I decided to google on him, and found out that he died of pancreatic cancer after a short battle. I would not say I am close to him or what, but I cannot help feeling a sense of deep lost, that such a talented and kind doctor has to leave the world so soon.
He is one of the only doctor that Clarissa has no problem visiting every single time. Not because he has a lot of toys in his room, but he had never failed to give her a kiss every single time she visited him. He will always greet her with a smile the moment she stepped into his room asking - "How are you Clarissa?" Everytime after he was done with the examination, he never failed to ask us, the parents, if we have any other concerns. And if I have other queries, like whether she can travel at young age, or I find some unusual things on her, all I need to do is call his clinic and he will definitely answer and make me feel calm again. Most of the time, I bet he did not even remember who we are, but he will still treats my child with concern and care, all out of genuine sincerity. In this current materialistic world, how many doctors would have done or behaved this way?
I am deeply saddened by the news of his demised, and that Clarissa would never have the chance to see her "favorite doctor" (as how she fondly calls him) ever again. I am glad that during her last visit to him, which if I remember correctly was somewhere beginning of the year, that I told him Clarissa said - "Dr Foo is my favorite doctor" - and he was very happy about it.
You may not remember all your patients, but all your patients will definitely remember you of your gentle manner, calm composure and kindness. May you rest in peace Dr Foo Ong Pin of SJMC.
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