It was a harrowing experience for both wife and me when Yudhi got salmonella (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salmonella) infection. The poor kid had to suffer so much too and besides that everyone suffered in the house. First we took him to the local GP who gave him a painkiller through an injection and some paracetamol. The problem is that Yudhi just refuses to take medicine…any medicine. It becomes an uphill task to administer even the smallest, “tastiest” of a dose. It’s like taming a wild horse. Someone needs to pin his legs, and then arms, open his mouth wide some prevent him from closing it shut and then pour the contents through a syringe. Even then, he manages to gargle most of the medicine out. So you can imagine how tough and tiring it can be. Anyway, we have learnt the hard way to use suppositories instead. Yudhi’s doctor – Dr Terence Tan from Kinder Clinic in Mount Alvernia is really one of the finest pediatrician I have come across. He was the one who suggested using suppositories and we are ever thankful to him for that.
Anyway, so when the fever didn’t come down, vomiting and diarrhea continued, and the poor boy started crouching, grimacing in what was probably unbearable spasmic stomach ache, we didn’t wait any longer and brought him to the hospital – Thomson Medical Centre. The kind Malay doctor there advised us that as our previous GP, he too was not a specialist and only a family doctor. After some preliminary checks he advised us to contact Dr Tan and admit Yudhi for proper treatment. There was just no bed available at all – neither at Mt Alvernia nor at Thomson Medical Centre…so while we waited for Dr Tan, the doc gave Yudhi another pain killer. Dr Tan arrived within 10 minutes and started the checked Yudhi. Most likely, its salmonella, he informed us and mentioned that since the tests can take some time for the confirmation, he would start the treatment right away. He put Yudhi on an IV drip and administered the antibiotics…in no time and without as much as a cringe from my brave little soldier. Shizu and I were by his bedside throughout the day and we decided to take turns as Dr Tan said he would probably keep Yudhi in the hospital for a few days. Shizu volunteered to stay the night with Yudhi while I would go home and sleep with Siddhu. In the evening, Shizu went home to pick up some stuff and she brought Siddhu along for a visit. Siddhu was a bit alarmed at Yudhi lying in the bed with the drip but he too was brave and asked, “Yudhi, you okay?” a few times. We didn’t let Siddhu stay at the hospital for long and Anil (Bisht), who was visiting Yudhi, dropped us home.
Next day, was uneventful except for the fact that towards the evening Yudhi started experiencing terrible pain in his wrist because of the IV drip. Corinna (Cox) came down to visit Yudhi and brought some books and colouring stuff for him and that kept him occupied for some time. And when Dr Tan came for checking up on Yudhi, and as he saw the rather swollen vein, he told me that he would discharge Yudhi but we must ensure that he takes the antibiotic for five days. Well, we came home and somehow the antibiotic was administered and Yudhi went to school exactly seven days after he was admitted. And we just folded our hands and thanks the gods for our precious little one’s recovery!
It was a milestone for the little one. He got up early, got ready without any fuss (unlike his brother ;-) and well...that was his first day of school. Both the brothers got in the bus and left. Siddhu didn't even whimper when the driver told us that we can't go together with him in the bus. Later, Shizu was in the school for some time observing him - and he was calm, composed and stayed friendly all the time.
