DNA Tan

When it happens to you......

Had a bad scare last week. Hubby was referred to National NeuroScience Institute at TTSH after a feedback to the SAF MO after feeling numbness in his left arm a couple of months ago. That sparked a concern and he managed to 'jump the queue' at national level to squeeze in an appointment within a week. Saw a regular neuro doctor at NNI who conducted some tests, requiring him to follow some actions and then decide if there's anything wrong with him. Early diagnosis was, suspected mild stroke. Seriously, wasn't something as serious as that supposed to happen to someone else? Or we thought so....

More specific tests and scans were recommended and ordered, but being a restructured hospital for the general public, we have to queue for all the tests, namely ultrasound, MRI, ECG, blood tests and lastly, a concluding consultation with the stroke specialist. Okay, fine. That was already frightening enough. To top that, the mentioned tests were scheduled a month after each other, having the final consultation with the stroke specialist in October. Gosh, must we spend the next few months in pure anxiety?

That's when the panic-stricken wife dashes to the washroom for a good cry. 2 thoughts hit me hard. Firstly, are we going to lose our physical/emotional support? Secondly, the financial support? It then dawn on me that hubby doesn't have enough life insurance to allow us to sustain our current lifestyle if he were to one day, if God forbids, leave us before the children are independent.

We didn't want to be trapped in the suspense, which I think is killing me slowly and painfully, so we decided to admit hubby into Mount Alvernia, where we can buy our 'peace of mind' overnight. Tests were run and scans were done. Waiting for the results proved to be harder than going through the tests. Seriously, I cannot help but worry about issues over and above hubby's condition. True that I want him to be healthy, get discharged in the pinkest of health and continue taking care of us, but what if he doesn't? What if the worst happens, that he'll leave us sooner than enough? What if he doesn't leave us soon enough? Okay, this is pure evil, but the thought of the mountains of bills, kids to juggle, ailed spouse to take care and still have to worry about bringing back enough bacon for all the above, freaked me out. Mothers are supposed to be the strongest anchor, but perhaps I'm not that strong.

Luckily, hubby cleared all tests and his condition was simple a 'transient' one, whereby there is a temporary blockage of the arteries which cause temporary weakness in the hand. This condition does not lead to anything more major but perhaps needing to watch his diet from now on. Phew! This episode gave us a higher level of understanding of the importance of each other, a deeper appreciation of life insurance and a more dedicated mission to spreading the importance of being healthy and getting enough life insurance to protect against the uncertainties.

This is the 'Aunty' part of my entry, where I hear from people about different concoctions of drinks that'll improve health and lower cholesterol. And I'll spare no means to keep my hubby healthy and strong, so that he can continue being the physical, emotional and financial support for us.