An Honor to a Fellow Colleague

Life is fleeting.

I still remember Dr.Khor, UM graduate, houseman of HTJ for the last 8 months, when i first met him back in Obstetrics posting. He had arrived to start work at the labor room about the same time i was posted there. A friendly chap, especially to the IMU students. Always joked around with us, so it was fun tagging behind him. He gave me lotsa of chances to set lines (of which most of em he had to redo after i mess up), taught abit of knowledge to me (which was not the same as the textbooks) and i assisted in one delivery with him. That 1 week was memorable, waiting alongside him for mums to deliver (which happened all at once, late at night). Its true then that at times of stress and crisis, bonds of friendship become stronger.

I bumped into him again in Surgery 6 months later. Ah, it was a precious 4 weeks i spent with him then. We always walked up to him with the same question "Dr. Khor, any interesting cases in ward today?" And he would not hesitate to point out a few, as if he was ready for our arrival everyday.

It was a Weds that i stayed back with him and a few juniors. 3 MVAs had just arrived in the dim-lit surgical ward, one with his face in pieces. Dr.Khor was the only houseman in the ward at that time, so he was frantically sewing up the patient's face while awaiting the arrival of 2 more from casualty. With the bad lighting and getting the suture mixed up with the hair, i took turns with 1 junior to hold up 2 pen torches so that Dr.Khor could see. Reminds me of the days i spent holding the lamp with the broken fixture for him to repair an episiotomy back in the labor room. Dat night, he oso gave me the chance to do my first cathetherisation (on a "live" model). Unfortunately, i screwed up with the sterility process and such, again he had to undo my mess. Well, in the end, the catheter went in, and i returned to helping to hold the torch for the rest of the night. A memorable night indeed.

The last words we ever exchanged was after my surgical exam. "How was ur exam?" "Bad shape." "Dun wurry, no problem wan." "Haha, thanks Dr.Khor. See you around!"

How shocking it was to hear he had passed away in an accident 3 days later.

How sad, when u think about the times u witness a resuscitation succeed in the AnE dept, or even helped out in one, and managed to bring patient back from near death. Dr.Khor had probably helped to save many patients' life. It must be really unfair that his own couldnt be saved.

Even doctors, no matter how much good deed is done, are not immortal.

We musnt let his death be in vain. Strive to work hard, and continue in the wake of Dr.Khor's calling. His mission in life. Medicine beckons.

Life and death is a tough issue to talk about. Buddhism tells of the eternity of life, of passing from one life to another continuously. The karma u have created in this lifetime will surely bear fruit in the next, and I pray that i can work with u again, Dr.Khor, in the near future, in ur new life. Surely u will return to this honorable calling again!

Working hard to carry on ur calling, i pledge.