How can it be normal when it's not??

Where: My anger spot

My soon to-be 4 year old son, Ammar, has been complaining that it is paintful when wee-wee-ing. That's not normal for sure. So hubby quickly took him to the clinic and was informed by the doctor that our son's private part growth may not balancely developed. This, I am sure a rare case but I think it is still pretty normal in a way (Well, I guess I don't have to spare the details, do I?) More to that, Ammar may have to undergo an operation. Or circumcision at a very young age. The doctor handed hubby a referall letter to the specialist hospital, one of the well-knowns in KL even the royalties would choose to be there.

Off we went to the hospital. Ample parking space. Admission was strict in concern to the H1N1 outburst. Registration was considered fast. Great services so far. Even at the pediatrition suite, everything when through the normal procedure. 1 doctor, 2 consultation rooms, 3 medical assistants. No, make that 4! And loads of sick children. Mostly expatriats. So you can imagine the excellence international standard of commitment we're getting.

After the brief checkup, the doctor suspected it could be just a bacteria infection. Circumcision may not required. What Ammar needs may just be a gentle massage to stabilise the growth. But still, Ammar urine sample is needed for case identification and urgent treatment. "Ibu, make sure you leave us your mobile numbers and we will quickly contact you after we got the results at 3pm and see whether Ammar needs to be admitted for ward treatment as soon as tomorrow morning..." My reply was, "I have given my number and hubby's. Here's our house number in case you can't reach any of us..." There, 3 contact numbers. Impossible that the hospital will miss any of us. Would they?

3pm, no call came in. Not to any of the numbers given. Not even at 6pm nor 8pm. (How could they call when the clinic closed at 4pm!) I rang in around that time and no one was there to pick up the phone. And of course there won't be no call overnight. It was a long wait. The next morning, Ammar still showed the sign of in pain. So when the clinic opened, I gave it a ring. A familiar 'experiencely aging' voice was on the other end. Anxiously and desperately to know the result, I was still able to greet, chit-chat and be as friendly as can be.

The reply was: "Oh, how can we call you at 3 yesterday. It takes some 48 hours to process the results. Anyway, the first result just came in but the doctor has to see it first. Looking at it now, it's NORMAL. But the doctor will see to it tomorrow together with the second result..."

Me: But the doctor's impression yesterday was like super urgent? So, the doctor hasn't seen the result yet? Can please quickly call me then? But if the result you said is NORMAL, meaning there's nothing's wrong with Ammar. But he still said it's paintful this morning.

She: Oh the doctor is on leave today. He will only look into this tomorrow. Will it be possible that your son fakes it? Do you pamper him too much? Sikit-sikit pun cakap sakit?

Me: WHAT?? Yes I pamper him but never teach him to lie. To whom am I speaking now??

She: XXXXX here. Um. So you don't want to wait for the DOCTOR? Do you want to see another doctor here? We can arrange it for you. Can you pls leave me your number?

Me: I'VE WRITTEN 3 NUMBERS YESTERDAY. RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU. HOW CAN YOU STILL ASK THIS AGAIN??

She: Oh okay, hang on, let me check the folder. (AND SHE KEPT ME WAITING FOR HALF A MINUTE SHOUTING HELLO? HELLO? HELLO??) Gosh, I really don't need that at that time!!

Me: Miss XXXXX, I still want to hear what your (super) DOCTOR has to say. Make sure he calls me. And you don't have to arrange for another doctor in YOUR HOSPITAL. I'm taking my son somewhere else!

Later that afternoon, Ammar, me and hubby were already at Naluri, meeting the familiar face, Dr. Khairul. Comparing to the super doctor who just checked Ammar's private part, Dr. Khairul checked up to his tummy and kidney. He too suspected urinary infection. Once again, Ammar had to pass his urine sample. Dr. Khairul did make a note that his hospital despatching cases for test by 4.30pm but Ammar was not able 'to go' until 4.45 (only after a bottle of 100PLUS!) So we expected to get the results only by the next day. At least, we knew what to expect this time.

10 minutes to 12 midnight the same day, I received a call from Naluri confirming the bacteria infection in Ammar's test results; therefore antibiotic treatment should start right away. We are no longer left in the dark now, you see.

Morale of the story:
1. Hubby always beleive in Dr. Khairul's personal touch; I always believe that children are the purest living creatures - lying is the last thing on their mind or Ammar must be a great actor to fake the pain for days!
2. A doctor explains his thoeries and consequences; more to that, a good doctor shares what makes he worries and what clueless parents like us should do/expect because he's a father/parent too
3. A doctor, or through his assistant, calls back on the same day, when he said he would
4. Never ask your customer for contact numbers when your nature of business deals with emergency OR after you've made all your first time customers writen their contact number 3 TIMES!
5. FAKE IT MY #$% + *BLEEP* the hospital and it's excellence international standard of commitment!!

My anger still high but my patience takes pride. I'm cool now. The End.