War rumours

In the midst of my campaign I am bombarded with war rumours. This is bound to happen with the ease of access to the highways, broadbands, emails and internet. There are as many war rumours as there are victims of the war and survivors and caregivers. And there are even more war rumours coming from unscrupulous war scavengers, always ever ready to make money from casualties victims and survivors. These war scavengers will even sell junk technologies, nutrition’s and new magic cures. There is NO ONE MAGIC CURE. There will always be more disinformation than information.

All war rumours from victims and survivors from the war, are generally genuine and sincere, we should not discard them totally as they mean well. However they are always not necessary workable solutions. Unscrupulous corporations will use the vulnerability of victims’ want to survive. Victims want Hope. Any Hope. Unscrupulous corporations act like angels, but they are disguised in clever psychological and marketing techniques. Values in their products are hyped up stuff.

I am in part, a war rumour myself. I will continue to dig up war rumours in search of a genuine remedy for myself and other victims. But how do I separate the chaff from the stalk? I apply my own rules of engagement as follows:

1. Successful war rumours from survivors are generally genuine. They are worth a second thought.

2. War rumors supported by medical researchers are fairly good. However they need more independent researches and confirmation.

3. A good rule of engagement is not to take it in totality. Look for the caveats and motives of the rumour. Bad rumours will stand out like a sore thumb.

4. Always listen and read the fine prints and also in-between the lines.

5. I will be very cautious if it is a free trail as they are always filled with hidden costs. They say that there is no free lunch.

6. I am also apprehensive of some testimonials supporting the products.

7. I always test the products using the ‘truth of the matter test’.

8. If a person says it is 100% good, it is 100% junk.

9. I always visit regulated sources for information. My guiding foundation will always be based from Dr David Servans-Schreiber’s book ‘Anti cancer: A new way of life’

10. There is no one cure for all. If the product does not pinpoint t a specific type of cancer, it is to be discarded.

We should never allow our fears and hopelessness distort the truth of the matter. We do not have fears and hopelessness as help is always at hand.

Allen Lai

Lesson learnt No 9

GOD won’t grant us our wants, HE will always grant us our needs. We will have to work it out to get our wants from HIS grants.

End of Mission

“The guns, thank GOD, the guns...” I borrow this Rudyard Kipling’s quote from the Gunners Club. I am really thankful to GOD and the guns. Today is the end of my fireplan HUKM Phase 2. I took the last fire mission personally. ZU1011. All guns firing with their barrels blazing hot. I observed full impacts on the target. I did not see any enemy surrender. The enemy will not surrender, they will try to hide to fight another day. I will not take prisoners. The rules of engagement in this front is unlike any conventional warfare. Kill or be killed. My enemy engaged me at the wrong front. The enemy underestimated me and he will pay for his mistake. I will not spare any quarters.

Phase 2 comprising 12 more fire missions took its toll on me and almost did me in. I could barely sustain Phase 1 with 20 fire missions. A total of 32 fire missions are a lot to take. I am glad that I am graded FE at my last PULHEEMS test. I am fairly fit before the fireplan. Others fighting in the same front with me, were in a worser shape than me. One had to do a modification and was stopped in the middle of her fireplan and she was evacuated to the base hospital. My whole terrain is drenched dry and the most sensitive point was closed for operation. I literally could not do my daily business in the morning and night. The pain I endure in each trip to the field toilet is indescribable. The torn and cut areas in between my legs caused by the rubbers of my running shorts would not heal as quickly as I would like them. I will have to continue to walk like a pregnant penguin for the next two weeks. I also have prickly heat pin pokes all over my terrain. I cannot apply any soap, lotions, creams or medications, as the radiation retained in my terrain will not subside for the next two weeks. My body radiates out heat and aches, I have short stressed spells of head spins and nauseas. Otherwise I am fine.

I was given medical leave for 6 weeks before I report to HUKM again. The CO of Oncology Regiment told me that all was well with my fireplan. However it will take up to 6 weeks before full intelligence and operational reports can be collected and collated.

I thank the HUKM personnel for standing by me daily. They had stood by me, and others with full dedication to duty and professionalism. They had no fear of the hazards in the frontline, nor were they affected physiologically by the daily interactions with combatants like me. And I admit that most others are really non- combatants and they had fear and despair in their eyes. Most untrained and unprofessional personnel will need constant counseling when facing such traumas on a daily basis. I salute the present HUKM staff doing their job. I will be glad to share each and every one of my medals with them. They had earned it as well. I brought a nice cake and some biscuits to celebrate my victory with them and my fellow frontliners. They appreciated my camaraderie.

I must thank my wife Peggy, for standing by me and my family. She deserves the KPK medal, a medal my brother John Lai received whilst in service many years ago. He described the KPK medal as 'just short of the PGB medal' as his bravery was not in the face of the enemy.

Finally I wish to thank you, my family members, friends and everybody else who had offered prayers and thoughts for me. A big thank you.

LESSON 10

ALWAYS THANK GOD.

Combat Rations

Having been in the front line for almost a year now, I am now convinced that our conventional combat ration is unsuitable to sustain current operations against Big Charlie. Conventional supplies in fresh ration and combat ration are adequately nutritious, but not necessary sustainable in new combat environments. This is now so with higher toxicity and pollution levels in every form of food, water, air and environment. New Carcinogens are being discovered almost on a yearly basis. Food scientists, Nutritionist and Dieticians worldwide are coming up with new studies to prove and encourage eating food that are specific to combating Big Charlie. In the wake of increasing numbers of new casualties to Big Charlie, there is a spurt of new findings in the properties of plant and animal foods. There are as many confirmed researches and findings as there are scientist interested in this field of research. So much so that there seems to be a lack of control and coordination of researches and findings by any central body. Most of the time I find studies contradict themselves and are inadequately and unsatisfactorily concluded.

My personal understanding is that, there is no one magic food or mineral that will be good for every person. What is good for some people may not necessary be good for you. My understanding is actually quite simple, as no two person has the same DNA, body chemistry level, body energy level, body toxicity level and oxygen level. For example the proverbial Jack Sprat who could eat no Fat and his wife could eat no Thin. And also there are more than 150 types of Big Charlie. Dr David Servan-Schreiber, who wrote Anti Cancer: A new way of life, Dr Patrick Quillin, author of Beating Cancer with Nutrition and Dr Colin Campbell of The China Study are some of the leading doctors in food research. Not to mention also of Dr Lai Chui Nam founder of Lapis Lazuli Light Resource Centers.

I find Dr David Servan- Schreiber’s work to be adequate enough as all other works concur with his. The following combat ration is good in fighting most types of Big Charlie (Not in any particular order of food values):

Green Tea for its Polyphenols and Catechins.

Turmeric (Kunyit) for anti inflammatory properties.

Ginger for anti inflammatory properties and being a powerful antioxidant.

Cruciform Vegetables for its sulforaphan and indo-3-carbinols.

Garlic, Onions, Leeks, Shallots and Chives being ancient medicinal herbals and has anti bacterial properties.

Vegetables and fruits rich in Carotenoids for its Lycopene and Vitamin A.

Tomatoes for its Lycopene, excellent for prostate cancer.

Soy for its blocking angiogenesis properties.

Mushrooms for its Polysaccharides and Lentinian.

Seaweeds for Fucoxanthin and Fucodian causing apoptosis in cancer cells.

Food rich in Selenium for boosting effects of antioxidant mechanism.

Flaxseed oil rich in short-chain vegetal Omega-3.

Sunshine for Vitamin D.

Fish rich in Omega-3 for its fish oils.

Probiotics for its friendly bacteria.

Berries for its Ellagic acid and Polyphenols.

Citrus Fruits for its Vitamin C.

Pomegranate Juice for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Red wine for its Resveratrol and Polyphenols.

Dark Chocolate for its antioxidants, Proanthocyanidines and Polyphenols.

The above list is extracted from Dr David’s book. Take sometime to understand and digest them. Boy, do I like dark Chocolates.

Allen Lai

Lesson Learnt No.11

Knowing what you eat is not as important as knowing what is eating you.

Learning the Enemy Language

We are familiar with anti-aircraft, anti-tank, anti-personnel but anti-angiogenesis? What about apoptasis, metatasis, proanthocyanidines, and Coenzymes?  Wow, I hope I had spelt them right. I still cannot pronounce them though.

I did a crash language course just to understand the enemy. Big Charlie generally uses Greek and Latin languages, syntax and nuances. But I wouldn’t be surprise if the language used also contain some Sanskrit. It is highly recommended that we learn a word a day to be abreast with Big Charlie.

To keep this post as brief as possible, I link you directly to the US National Cancer Institute’s reference dictionary:

http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary/

Allen Lai

Lesson Learnt No.12

Nah, You already know this lesson.

Reorganisation Phase

It is now more than 3 weeks after my final assault on the enemy position. The fight had been decisive. We went in under full artillery cover, captured and held the objective. The enemy was very well entrenched. Thankfully even enemy trenches with strong OHP could not withstand our Photons bombardments. The enemy suffered maximum casualties and also most of our forward assault troops. All fire missions were danger close missions. Acceptable safety distances and precisions were ensured. Battle wounds and scars were everywhere. And battle fatigue is taking its toll. I don’t think I can withstand another intense assault like this. This was as much as I could take. No more. No more, I cried in my mind. But I must press home. I must maintain the momentum. Enemy defenses were beginning to break up. We broke in and fought deep into the objective. Deep penetrations into the enemy lines were achieved, thanks to the fire support. I took a look around the battlefield at others who were fighting their own battles. Many had suffered more than me. Most had suffered unbearable pain and nausea. Many cried and begged to be relieved. One combatant could not finish her fight and was pulled out of the battlefield. She must live to fight another day, another time. I could only encourage them to hold on, often reminding them that we have a bit more to go. Only a bit more to go. Come on Go! Go! Go! I could not let them down. I must bite the bullet. I must finish my assault. I would relate to our ARTEP physical tests. It is home run. I can do it. They saw my courage and thankfully held their ground.

The smoke cleared and the dust had settled. Reorg had been in full swing. I brought up more ammo and supplies. Did a full staff check and called up more reserved troops to take up occupied positions. I was told it would take a full two weeks to recuperate from radiation fallouts. Radiation in the objective does not dissipate immediate. It remains there killing everything in its range for the next two weeks. And my troops are still fighting from trench to trench. It now calls for close quarters combat. Hand to hand combat. Bayonets! Fire support cover had ceased. I must improve my immunization system as I can easily catch infections and inflammations. No soap, lotions or creams are allowed. No matter what ailment prevails. My body radiates heat even in air-conditioned environments. My skin is parched and brittle. I have prickly heat spots all over my body and I scratched like hell only to draw blood at each scratch line. And no toilets please. My rectum feels full all time and I suffered each time I did my business. I am drained of all my energy and I feel lethargic all the time.

I took two weeks off, doing nothing. Just eat, drink and slept it off. I went to Port Dickson for a nice and quiet weekend. I participated in the Relay For Life event held at Bukit Jalil NSC stadium. I also spent time to help out several of my fellow combatants who needed help most. I took my mind off the battle by reading heavily into photography. A new hobby for me.

I will know the outcome of my battle in a month’s time. I am fine now. I just know it. My body tells me so. I have been given a second chance at life.

Allen Lai

Lesson learnt No 13.

If maintaining health is expensive, try illness.

Total Victory

Today, six weeks passed my final assault and fireplan, all surveillance, damage assessments and intelligence reports are in.

The CO Oncology Regiment had called for an O group in his Tac HQ. It has been a total victory for us. Both the tactical approaches of Hormone and Radiotherapy were very effective. Radiation shelling were all on targets. No more signs of active enemy. All dead and gone. Dead and gone without a trace. PSA reports 0.09 down from an all time high of 27. There were collateral damages, but within acceptable levels.

I am glad that I had learnt my target acquisition, target survey and application of fire well. Our fireplan was effective because of the correct weight of fire, concentration, precision  and target plan. A big thank you to HUKM personnel's professionalism.

The next course of action for me is to do another appreciation of the situation. I must now secure the objectives, hold all ground and move rapidly into defence phase. I need to send out surveillance patrols to seek out any more enemy lurking around. 

Thank you everybody for your morale support and hope you had learnt something from my experiences. 

Happy Hour anybody ? A toast to the guns.

Allen Lai

Cancer Update from John Hopkins Hospital

I cut and paste a circular received from concerned people. This is a fair and informative update on how to understand the underlining factors to cancer and how to avoid it. And for those who were unfortunately down with cancer, it is still not too late to read the article below.

I subscribe to these new insights and I will continue to manage my fight against cancer with the principles described herein.

1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.

 

2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime. 

3. When the person's immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors.

4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors. 



5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system. 



6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastro-intestinal tract etc., and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc. 



7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.   



8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.



9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications. 



10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites. 





11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.




WHAT CANCER CELLS FEED ON:



a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal,Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in colour. Better alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea salt.

 

b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soy milk, cancer cells are being starved.



c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.



d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. 

To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).



e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties. Water--best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.




12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines become putrified and leads to more toxic buildup. 





13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells. 



14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the body's own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells. 



15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. 

Anger, unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life. 



16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.

Ibrahim - Closure

How do I close this episode in my life? Ibrahim was my first charge. But close I must. It is not easy for I must seek my soul and inner self. Should I feel any guilt; any short comings on my responsibilities? Why? Why wasn’t I given more time? No I did not procrastinate. I did my best. Yes I did. Yes we all did. No, I will not even try to find any excuses.  I cannot interfere with Allah’s plan for Ibrahim.

We did everything we possibly could. We had touched Ibrahim’s heart and he did ours.

Ibrahim had shown tremendous progress and he was allowed to be discharged from HKT. His last photos received from his father were very encouraging and even his last video showed that Ibrahim had said “Terima kasih Uncle” very loudly and heartily. “Terima kasih Semua”

Ibrahim had succumbed to leukemia in the morning of 29 July 2010. He was peaceful and free from pain. He was laid to rest next to his grandfather in his kampong family grave plots. Ibrahim is finally with Allah.

I had learnt so much in such a short time that I had known Ibrahim. He had given me an insight to courage, humility and love. I had experience strength and resolve that I had never experienced before. I had known the true feelings of Feel good Feeling good. I had seen no boundaries, no colour, no creed. It had brought out the leadership in me for I had always Served to Lead. Everything has a closure and I close this sad chapter with an open heart.

Thank you Ibrahim. Rest in Peace.

Ibrahim Last and final update - Gone but not forgotten

It is with great sadness that I wish to inform you all that our Ibrahim had passed away in  his kampung in Kuala Trengganu, yesterday Thursday 29 July 2010 at about 9.30 am.

His father had asked me to thank everybody who had cared and loved  Ibrahim.

I personally wish to express my gratitude and thanks on behalf of Encik Mazlan's family and our late Ibrahim, to all of you who had offered prayers, thoughts, care and kind contributions for Ibrahim in his hours of need.

Ibrahim had touched our hearts as we did his.

Ibrahim, rest in peace. We won't be in the way of Allah's plan for you. You had left us early but we won't forget you. Thank you for making us humble and collectively stronger in compassion and deeds. Please run or ride with us from heaven above, making us safe for always.

Our deepest condolence to Encik Mazlan and his family.

Uncle Allen

Ibrahim Update 8 - Towards getting better

Encik Mazlan had SMSed that Ibrahim is getting much better after palliative treatments in HKT. Our additional food and nutrient supplements are working well with him too. He is beginning to eat pizzas and things like that. Ibrahim has gained back some weight in him . However his full blood count is still on the down side despite blood transfusions. Given that there is no signs of remission in his leukemia, it is imperative that his white blood cells would remain high. As it is, all these are excellent progress so far and we feel that Ibrahim would be off palliative treatments soon. If all is well he should be discharged from the hospital sooner than later.

The next treatments would be another full session of chemos to be administered as soon as possible to arrest the growth of the cancerous white blood cells.

On our side we are making Ibrahim as happy and comfortable as possible. May Senn is currently in Kuala Trengganu for office work. She will visit Ibrahim to cheer him up with pizzas and stories of our runs for him. Kooky and Paul Lee participated in the annual Port Dickson International Triathlete Race last weekend. Both had pledged to give their finishing medals to Ibrahim. How nice of them. This should certainly cheer Ibrahim up.

PCM members will ride for Ibrahim this Friday night in Putrajaya starting at the Palace of Justice at 9.00pm. Come and join us for this ride and contribute a small token for Ibrahim. This is the least we could do for the month of Ramadan.

For more information on this ride please call me at 013-3948839 for details.

Ibrahim Update 7- Weekend Therapy

Friday is weekend in Terengganu and several other states in Malaysia. Mazlan had smsed that it was a full day with visitations from relatives and friends of the family. Ibrahim was really happy and was able to eat a bit of hospital food without vomiting. Ibrahim was actually back to his old self.

We had dispatched the four bottles of Seven + extracts immediately to Ibrahim and he had received them safely. Mazlan had captured a video in his mobile and sent to me. See below. The video above speaks volumes for Ibrahim. He spoke loud and clear “Terimah kasih Uncle”

Terimah Kasih ! everybody.

Ibrahim Update 6 - another angel passed by

One day several months back as I was cycling round my block one evening I stopped to assist 2 ladies in distressed. Which gentleman wouldn't? Tina and her lady friend was riding when the latter fell down. Now don't you laugh as she was learning how to ride a bike only at a very matured age. She wasn't hurt but the chain came off the rear spocklets. The gentleman stopped and said "Can I help ?" and did. We exchanged hellos, pledged to ride safe and went on our ways.

Fast forward yesterday. I was just starting to do my training run around my block when Tina, whom I had not met since the last time I helped in the episode described, came up from behind and said "Hello Allen, long time no see. I was trying to catch up with you but somehow in wain." we exchained pleasantries and I told her about our Ride for Ibrahim Do with our PCM gang next friday night.
Tina responded immediately and said she will ride PCM next week and would like to give some nutrietious extracts for Ibrahim. She is a reseller for exfuse products. I welcomed her contributions and made arrangements to receive FOUR bottles of SEVEN+ to be couriered imediately to Ibrahim in HKT.

I Googled exfuse.com to learn about SEVEN+ extracts. I won't try to impress you what the extracts are. Please google for it yourself. Suffice to say that it is God sent remedy for what everybody is looking out for. Certainly it is pricy enough to be in the Ivy leaque's choice supplement. Thanks Tina for the four bottles and one for me as well.

Our super logistician Kooky dispatched the extracts to KT at 4 pm today. I went shopping with my care giver today and bought a proper juicer and some glass cups and plates for Ibrahim. Ibrahim should not be using any plastic things from now. We are starting to looking into the smaller details to propel Ibrahim to better health on a fast track.

Ibrahim update 5 - All is well that ends well

The crisis to get fresh red blood for Ibrahim ended well at 1645 hours. Syabas to HKT. Transfusion was administered immediately and all will be well again. I had just transferred online RM500.00 to Mazlan to used as petty cash in KT. There you are Ibrahim, you are fixed up and we hope there will be no other crisis lurking round the corner. God has sent in the artillery troops. Soldiers in KT had been alerted and they shall be on call. All stand down. Once in a while we should be tested for our competency to crisis management. I would believe I had just passed my test, with God's help of course.

Kooky Kash is one kool Kooky. She had always rose to the occassion under all battle conditions. I must add she is very infantry. She too passed her competency test in this crisis. Kooky had called me to say that she had O+ blood group set and will be ready to donate her blood for Ibrahim. Thanks Kooky. I am glad to have you as my partner in any situation. You rock.

Back on the normal front Kooky and I had planned to dispatch some nutrients and stuff to Ibrahim in HKT. Kooky is really resourceful and can make things happen at the drop of the hat. She will purchase the nutrients from Nestle at staff price. That should give us some super savings as the nutrients I believe, are super expensive. She will also make the arangements to dispatch the package by courier service soonest. Her talents in logistics will make most of us awe. Kooky is a 'solutions person' as she will have solutions in her pocket for any occassion.

Thanks Kooky.

Ibrahim Update 4 - Call up for blood doners

Ibrahim's photo just came in by MMS. He looks good.

It is 3 days now since Ibrahim was transferred to HKT. He seems to be reasonably stable as he has started to eat piza on his own. He had many visitations and his father is happy.

Ibrahim's blood content is still so unpredictable. Just got a call from Mazlan. Ibrahim's red blood count moved up to 9 points as suppose to a normal range of 4.0 to 5.6.  In cases of leukemia where rouge white blood cells grow at a tremendous pace, these bad white cells will soon take up more space in the blood stream. Hence red cells will be curtailed perilously low.Very very dangerously low. It may result to brain damage if the brains does not get enough oxygen via red blood cells. I am not sure why HKT's blood bank may not have enough type AO positive for Ibrahim.

I have told Mazlan to go to the nearest army camp in KT to source for emergency blood. He is to use my name. The duty officer of the regiment will call me up for authentications.

While all this emergency briefing to Mazlan is going on my mobile interrupted me.

God is great. Please, please, believe me for this time only. It cannot be anybody but God getting an army lady officer from MINDEF to call me if I would like to attend any regimental functions during our Corps birthday this weekend. Again I was saved by the bell, as I was also franticly trying to get somebody in MINDEF at the same moment. I instructed the lady officer to contact the Malay Regiment stationed in Kuala Trengannu to round up blood donors. Once contact is made, the rest is SOP. (Standard Operating Procedures.)

Thank you lady officer and I still do not know your name.  I'll find out to thank you later. You have just saved our Ibrahim's life. I can sense your confusion. You took your instructions well from and old officer whom you had not met before, but only know my name. God sent you to me.

Ibrahim you hang on. Blood and more Piza is on the way.

Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban

Ibrahim Update 3- Palliative care at its best

Palliative care work wonders. Received SMSs from Mazlan that Ibrahim is settling down nicely in HKT. He is visibly much better than yesterday. He had plenty of visitations from his relatives and Mazlan is busy assisting the visitations. We will be getting Ibrahim’s kampung address so that we can send essential items / foods to him via courier services. I am in constant touch with Mazlan via SMS. When he comes back to KL for work, he will tell me who to contact in Kuala Terengganu. Thanks to mobile phones, SMS, the internet and the courier services. We are indeed living in a very well linked world.

Palliative care includes the actual medical treatments and administration provided for by the hospitals. Palliative care also include essential human touches and human soft skills.  The sum total of medical treatments, care givers attention and other human touches all add up loads of synergy effects to Ibrahim’s prognosis.  We had all done our part and Ibrahim should be on his way to full recovery and he should be able to receive his next planned phase of chemo’s shortly. Good planners are always several steps ahead in the game plan. Big C hit the wrong guy. Ibrahim’s friends are one tough group of people who will always belong to the winning team.

Mazlan and I are already planning into the final phase for Ibrahim’s medical treatment; Bone marrow transfer (BMT). Mazlan has agreed to approve the procedure. Ibrahim has a younger sister 8 years old called Kakak and a younger brother 2 years old called Adik. They would have the best and natural source to match Ibrahim’s marrow. Once we know the cost involved in Ibrahim’s BMT, we would be approaching NGOs and the corporate sectors for assistance.

Anybody who is in the Ivy leagues or know somebody, who knows somebody in these leagues, please give us a hand for any leads. Thank you.

Ibrahim Update 2 - Transfer to Hospital Kuala Trengannu (HKT)

Ambulance ready to roll out

Waiting in the ambulance for too long. Mazlan drawing emergency medication for the journey at the famasi

Prayer before leaving

Dosing on and off

Note the drips still attached. A happy father.

Mazlan SMSed me close to midnight last night. IB akan pindah keHKT pagi esok pulkul 8. Thanks to everybody for their help. What ? Something is definitely wrong. We have already firmed up that Ibrahim was to undergo palliative treatments in HUKM until he is stronger. No balik rumah tunggu masa.

 I immediately called Mazlan to find out what happened. He could not explain coherently, but I summarized that Ibrahim was not doing very well earlier in the day. Mazlan was called up from his office and the doctors had explained to him that they had exhausted every treatment. There is nothing more HUKM can do. He was advised that Ibrahim should be brought back to his kampung. He could be transferred to HKT the next morning by ambulance. Ibrahim’s condition had worsen, all critical readings were very bad. White blood cells read 147, placelets 9. Blood transfusions did not stabilize him any more. He was in great pain, as he had maxed out his morphine dosage. New pain started in his stomach, he was throwing everything fed in from his nose. Ibrahim was visibly very uneasy and short of breath.

I told Mazlan to be steady, myself not so. Jangan Panik I said. It is alright ,semua ini biasa. I wished it was so. My heartbeat must have maxed out too. I told Mazlan that I could not come to the hospital immediately but will be there the next morning. I was coughing badly. Mazlan was to be close to Ibrahim, be there for him. Everything will be alright. Ibrahim was wired up with all monitoring machines tagged to his toe, finger and chest. Should the graph go horizontally, the will be a long beep. Nurses were only 20 steps away and they visit his bed every half hour.

My mind was racing, my heart was beating off beats. God, not now. Not Ibrahim. “Breathe Ibrahim, breathe”, I shouted in my mind. An order to myself, as I often shout “breathe Allen breathe” when struggling uphill in my runs. I know that’s all Ibrahim needs to do, breathe. He can go into a coma next as great pain causes body shocks easily. Never mind, but breathe. I’ll be with you tomorrow morning. Just hold on. Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban. (If there is life there is still fight)

I did not wake up the next morning, because I never went to sleep. Why the “sudden transfer” was in my mind the whole night. My coughing did not help either.  Very illogical. Every patient from other states wants to be transferred to KL hospitals, not the other way round. Maybe the only reason I can guess is HUKM don’t want to have bad statistics in its wads. HUKM will not push Ibrahim around.

I was at HUKM first light and met a dazed Mazlan next to Ibrahim, who did not look all that bad. My mind was very corrupted with Ibrahim in a bad shape for the whole of last night. He was OK, smiled weakly and mumbled something. I didn’t have care for anything, Ibrahim survived the night. We high-fived and Ibrahim did his usual deep breathing drills each time we met.  I dug into my haversack pack and took out my iPAD for Ibrahim to play with the games that I had downloaded for him. He was in seven heaven driving a brand new Merz AMG.  He had forgotten his pain and ordeal. I was very relieved. God had answered our prayers.

I pulled Mazlan one side. OK Tell me what happened ? He had said that he had signed all papers for the transfer to HKT and he did not know what he was thinking or doing. Saya semuanya anggup sahaja. Mazlan was certainly more in a worser shape than his son. Never mind we’ll go through with the doctors again when they come around. Mazlan started to shake. I don’t blame him for his feelings, as he knows what the transfer had meant. Any father won’t think straight. Parents and Caregivers often breakdown as well.

I wanted to tell Mazlan a true story that came to my mind. But did not.  Instead, I said “Mazlan, I had prayed to God, if God wants to take Ibrahim, please take me instead. I am old and Ibrahim is young and has a long life to live ahead.”  I know in my heart, God would not agree to my plea, for He would want me to help Ibrahim. He knows I will, so He won’t take me away. Mazlan felt very much better after that.

The doctors came around. I introduced myself and requested for the rationale for  Ibrahim’s transfer. The doctor replied politely that it was parental wish, and it was traditionally the requirement for patients to go home to their kampungs to be with their families and kampong community. The essence of my case was always what was good for Ibrahim’s survival, not what was good for the family’s societal  requirements. The doctor had also emphasized that it was also a religious requirement. I cannot fight two very important decisions. The Muslim requirement and the family’s requirement. I turned to Mazlan and asked him in front of the doctor if he understands and he had requested for the transfer? He was affirmative. Done. Ibrahim will be transferred to HKT. I then checked all preparations were in order, that Ibrahim would be able to withstand the long 7 hours journey, that the ambulance had all the necessary CPR equipment. Mazlan and two medical personnel would accompany him in the ambulance. Ibrahim’s data on his vital organs were surprisingly fairly stable. Best was a very strong blood pressure reading. Ibrahim had even grumbled that he wanted to balik kampung in a bus. That his Nintendo needed a new charger, that he wanted wanted new games to play. My iPAD must have influenced him, for that was the very purpose I had brought it along. When Ibrahim grumbled, I knew it was a good sign for him. He is alive. We promised him everything he wanted. His eves lighted up when I hinted Hari Raya was round the corner. He will soon get new baju melayu and a big duit raya packet. Which kampung boy wouldn’t respond like Ibrahim?

All done, they rolled out at 9 am and we had ta pau food and drinks from the canteen. I also gave RM200.00 petty cash to Mazlan for the long journey. We prayed for safe journey.

 Ibrahim checked in HKT at 4 pm at wad 5DC. Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban.

Ibrahim update 1 - Palliative treatment

 Kooky with Ibrahim

This is the winning smile we wanted to create. Ibrahim will be off the terminal list soon.



Following Ibrahim's recent relapse, he was in a critical stage and was admitted once again into HUKM at 4.00 am Friday morning. Before he could fully recover from his treatments for his testicles. Cancer had attacked all over his bones and joints. Doctors oncall had categorised him as too week to be administered for anything else other than morphine, morphine and more morphine. Later in the day Ibrahim was able to be dripped with saline, minerals, and blood transfusions. It was ER all the way.

Then the specialist came around, but then they still could not proceed with the dreaded chemos. Ibrahim must be stabilised first. Calls were made to HKL's national central blood bank for more blood transfusions. No more can be done for Ibrahim, who was now sedated in morphine and was in a state of delusion. Ibrahim was placed for palliative treatments and administration. Meaning relieving pain or alleviating a problem without dealing with the underlying cause, cancer.

Ibrahim's father, Encik Mazlan was in a state of total shock. He never thought of calling me or anybody when Ibrahim was admitted to the hospital. The doctors had told him that Ibrahim was a terminal case. He may take him home if he wants to. Who wouldn't be shocked by such cold but insensitive prognosis?

Encik Mazlan eventually called me the next day, Saturday. He had tried to explain the situation to me, in all jumbled facts. I rushed immediately to see Ibrahim in the Pediatric Wad to find him really done in, and in a the worst condition I had ever seen him. His mother, siblings and an uncle and auntie were already there. All "tunggu masa". I managed to extract out the bit and pieces from Encik Mazlan. I pleaded with the nurses on duty for me to see Ibrahim's daily report cards to no avail. Confidential and I am not authorised access. The IV nodes, oxygen, drips hanging down and Ibrahim being wired up spoke for itself.

I was fortunate that the doctor on call  did his rounds early in the evening. I caught him at the reception desk and he was good enough to spend some time with me. We discussed Ibrahim's condition in detail. He was very sympathetic and clear in his discussions. The hospital could not do anything more than palliative treatments. Ibrahim must recover on his own. I won't pen the doctor's stand on Ibrahim's chances of survival. I can't. I have faith in Ibrahim. He has fighting qualities. He had looked forward to my visit. His eyes told me that he was alright.

I then bargained with the doctor. Would Ibrahim be better off in the hospital or go home? He was caught off guard and said of course he will be better looked after in the hospital, nurses, equipment, ICU etc etc. Ok then, thank you doctor, Ibrahim is staying and not going home to tunggu. Please state Ibrahim's requirement for continuous palliative treatments in the hospital. I wouldn't have anything otherwise and I speak on behalf of the father. Please send an urgent note to the departments' nutritionist. Spare nothing. Ibrahim will fight and we will all fight for him.

Kooky and I had planned to visit Ibrahim this evening. Kooky had done a wonderful job sounding the alarm bell. She had created a tsunami of responses in her networks. She had managed to collect RM3266.00 for Ibrahim's fund todate. AND, she had said she expects more to come. Kooky was so upbeat that she SMSed me as the collections increased each time, minute to minute like bookies did in last football world cup. Relax Kookie my first joke on you.  Allen Lai is in the best mood today.

On top of the contributions, there were calls for coordination of visitations. All hands were on deck. Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban (If there is Life there is still fight). I was amazed that everybody wanted to do something. Thanks guys, we are team. Kooky and I finally agreed only to invite Nurina (a triathlete and nurse by profession) to come along. Thanks May Senn for cueing Nurina early. We had discussed and shortlisted the emergency foods for Ibrahim. From Nestle's to Appleton's to..... We will ensure Ibrahim will get the best food. Thank you for you generous contributions and well wishes.

The most heart warming thing to see during our visit was to see kids with kids. Kooky's children Nady and Citra had tagged along. Nady wanted to give Ibrahim his personal favourite Transformers toy. Nady was taught that if he wanted to give something to somebody, he must give his most favourite toy. He had no reservation, no regrets and no boundaries like his wonderful mom. Nady rocks. An unconditional bond was made on the onset. Nurina and Citra had also given him a soft toy each.

We know that children in the terminal list are often given their last wish. The therapy is aged old and serves the purpose of making the child happy so that they forget their pain and sufferings. This indirectly will make their bodies want to fight to live for another day. I promised to take Ibrahim for my bike rides with PCM and runnings with Pacesetters when he is well. I promised to buy him a bike when he can ride one day. The day will come. I promise.

Together we will not loose Ibrahim, not without a fight. Agi Idup Adi Ngelaban.

PCM Rides for Ibrahim

Kooky is causing a tsumami. It is a rave now. She informed me today that PCM will be riding for Ibrahim on Friday night 30 July 2010, holy month notwithstanding.

I am lost for words to see the how the speed and responses for call ups are zapping in the networks. Blogs, websites, comments, Face books, Tweets, SMSs and mobiles. Land lines not verified yet. Runners, cyclist and triathletes are now responding with lightning speed and near the to the speed of light.  Believe me, I am really old school. Thank you all.

PCM is Putrajaya Critical Mass. Families come in doves to Putrajaya every last Friday of the Month for a social ride on their bicycles around the city lights. I have been riding safety warden for the evening and every body knows me as Uncle Allen as I would be lighted up like a Christmas Tree, always there at main road junctions controlling traffic.

If you have a bike, do come and join us. It is fun.
For more information please visit :

http://putrajayacriticalmass.blogspot.com/2010/07/putrajaya-critical-mass-30-july-2010.html

Call me @ 013 3948839 anytime to directions to Putrajaya.

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