13th March 2012 - The Scary Day

 And so, the day finally approached. The scary day of my daughter´s life. The day where she had to go to the dentist to do a "major" operation - for her age that is..... to replace 11 out of her 20 teeth she has...


Now, I know many of you readers, upon reading that said statement above will be thinking... WTF?! at the age of 4 and 11 out of her 20 teeth she is having needs to be replaced and repaired? How the F did that happened? Did the mother give her too many sweets or something? Well, then let me explain to you. Amelia had caries on her teeth, most of it. And this does not come out from pure eating chocolates, sweets or improper brushing or even not brushing her teeth at all. 


Mind you, she brushes every day, morning before going to school and after every meal she has in a day and also before going to bed. I really meant it when I said people here are kinda "health freaks" for a reason.... but anyways, no side tracking...... she was taught like this from the day she started going to Kindergarten last year. Initially, like every - ok, majority - people do, she brushes twice. Once, in the morning after waking up and then the last will be before going to bed at night. However, this changed after attending kindergarten and the teacher actually taught her brushing her teeth, and also when to do so. Hence, she does it every time she eats. Normally on weekdays its only twice - when she wakes up in the morning and night before going to bed. The rest of the times, she brushes in school when the teacher brings them to eat.


Anyways, bout a month ago, the health ministry came to do an inspection in the kindergarten - yea, they have health people coming to check the kids in all the schools and kindergartens once every 6 months. And well... the dentist came and checked her and we have a nice "love letter" recommending us to go to the dentist - which we were about to go as she needed the doctor´s recommendation letter to go to Pre School this year in August (Yea, here they have to do medical and dental check up every time before going to school No letter of recommendation / letter of approval from the doctor, the kid can´t go). So our trip was "fast forwarded" thanks to this letter.


She has caries. Dental Caries is something which is not only caused by eating too much candy sweets and not brushing teeth. If you actually read it up, it has many causes including dental hygiene and many other tiny problems. ** Being a parent sure ain´t easy... every time I need to do alot of research on behalf of my daughter ** So, we brought her to the Kids Dentist (Kids and Adults have their separate doctors, normally rarely you can go to the same one for adult and kid), which was about 1/2 hr away from our home... that was the nearest. The dentists there, not only they were friendly, they actually know how to do their job in calming the kid and persuading them to open their mouth to let them check. And.... most interesting part of all.... they actually have a TV hanging from the ceiling for the patient to be able to watch CARTOONS while being checked by the dentist!!!! 


Lolx..... Super cool technology man! xD

Checked she was.... and even had the diagram of her teeth on which is rotten and not. And.... with our nod of the heads, we got ourselves booked for the earliest operation a month later - March 13th. Talk about high tech and fast! ** I doubt I will ever get used to the speed they actually do things here! Compared to Malaysia´s style!** 


Operation day.... Today!


Had to wake up at 530am, her last meal must be before 6am, and making her eat breakfast.... guess today must be the most best day for her... being able to watch TV at 6am in the morning till 9am (couldn´t afford to have her fall asleep again and not wake up). Our operation time was even brought forward - and told last minute (definitely not appreciated, as from our home to the Operation hospital is a whole 1 hour and slightly more train ride!) at 9am to be exact!


But arriving at the operation room at 1030am, Amelia´s courage was slowly failing her. Hubby was great, actually purposely took a day off from work to accompany her there - upon her request - and was encouraging her and telling her that she can do it.... even when changing her operation gown, she was nearly in tears, but....... we managed to make her smile, and..... also took a few photos together =)
 
The painful part, for me that is, was when I walked her into the operation theatre and when they wanted her to lie on the bed... all hell broke loose!


You know, being a mother isn´t easy..... I don´t know how some mothers can don´t cry and have no feelings whatsoever when their kids are in the operation theatre etc, but.... every time my baby gets sick and even when going for her immunisation jabs, when she cries, I cry. I don´t like my baby in pain. I don´t like my baby being hurt.... be it physically or emotionally. 


But eventually, as the narcosis works its wonders, she fell asleep, and I had to leave the room.


Her operation was 2 hours long, but after operation, she slept and was kept there till 3pm. Her teeth now are all shining white. She has 4 teeth replaced with nice metal crowns. Brushing teeth now is a harder task as first we need to polish those nice metal pieces in her mouth (lucky not gold ones also :-s) and then also to take care of all the other teeth that was cleaned (seriously not even 1 stain of black in her mouth at all anymore).

So my baby´s teeth is all cleared and taken care of, rest assured for those of you who knows bout it and is worried sick bout it.


Technology here is indeed advance. Somehow, I seriously don´t understand why people back in Malaysia makes a fuss hearing she is going for Ops or doc...... Hell, they don´t bombard us with medications or rubbish the way docs back in Malaysia do. Here, even if you go to the doc with a minor cold and such, you don´t get medication for it..... for them, curing naturally is the best way of cure instead of medication! Well, for people like us, who came from a background and growing up knowing every little thing there is a medication for it... it may not sound right. But, after being here for 1 year, and encountering all the weather changes and the usual sickness that accompanies the various weather change, I can say Amelia is slightly more better off than how she was in Malaysia!


The doctors only gives medication when you are seriously critically ill. If not, there is no need to.


But, for my fellow family and etc, yes, we do have a mini medication cupboard - and its still growing - of medication not only for the adults but also for Amelia. So, the next time if you webcam with us or talk to anyone of us.... and you see Amelia sniffling, please don´t blow your top. We are more worried bout you than you are. And Amelia knows... I will not let anything happen to her.


Though I find the thought hubby always sleeping in the couch when Amelia is sick - so she can sleep with me in the big bed - very heartwarming..... His concerns, love and care over her is greatly shown in vast measures.