ÿþ<%@ include file="com_frame_top_with_side_bookwebsite.jsp" %> <table width="99%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" > <tr valign="top" width="100%"> <td class='mediumText'> <h3><img src="images/sunflower.gif">Preface</h3> <p> Nothing hurts me more than the loss of my parents. Walking through grief is never easy; it is heartbreaking and many times, I lost control over my emotions with tears rolling down uncontrollably during those sleepless nights. Being a free-thinker, I could only find solace in turning my grief into strength. </p> <p> One kind doctor wrote to me, "Your parents as their parting gifts have left you a legacy -- to make the world a better place." </p> <p> Indeed, my parents did not die in vain (nine years apart); my mother's death led to the "birth" of Cancerstory.com in 2000, whilst my father's death spurred me to write my first book, "What Killed My Dad?: Reflections on how to make your hospital stay safer". </p> <p> The sharing of my father's sad encounter with the public hospital system related in my first book has been found to be useful and beneficial to my readers (including passionate healthcare workers). Unexpectedly, a favourable book review on it was published in SMA News March 2009. Upon the release of this commemorative edition, another favourable book review on it was published in the NTUC Lifestyle magazine, November 2009 issue. </p> <p> I have also received a few requests for my book to be translated into Chinese. Owing to financial constraints, I am unable to do so. In August 2009, I wrote to the editors of three Chinese newspapers informing them about the release of this commemorative edition. Unfortunately, none of them were keen to share it with their Chinese readers. </p> <p> <strong> How my first book came to be written </strong> </p> <p> During my father's hospitalisation, I extended help to a young lady whose mother was receiving treatment in the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU). She was grateful and encouraged me to write a handbook to help the family members of other patients. On the 28th day of my father's death (29 October 2008), my youngest brother also made a similar suggestion. </p> <p> Boldly I accepted my brother's idea to write and publish "What Killed My Dad?" while coping with the loss of my father. The most difficult part was to control my emotions and stay collected while writing the factual account of my father's last illness, and penning my thoughts objectively to benefit my readers. Being an accountant by profession, I am used to working under pressure and meeting tight deadlines. Hence, I gave myself six weeks to complete and launch my book on 9 January 2009 to mark the 100th day of my father's death. The soonest I published my book, it would help those people who are unfortunately caught in the same plight. True enough, I received the following request to buy my book even before it was released. </p> <blockquote> <em> "My family had a very bad experience at a public hospital resulting in my mother's death, and I am in the midst of writing to MOH. I would need to purchase your book urgently." </em></blockquote> <p> A copy of "What Killed My Dad?" was sent to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in order to account for Cancerstory.com becoming a dormant website on 9 January 2009. However, PM Lee's motivational message to cancer patients remained intact on the dormant site. Complimentary copies were also accepted by Nanyang Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic and ITE College East. I hope it will provide some helpful materials for their nursing courses. </p> <p> Indeed, I am glad to know that my first book had reached out to doctors, nursing students and other healthcare workers in public hospitals (forming 32% of its readership). They found my book helpful and insightful. </p> <p><strong> About this book </strong></p> <p> Some passionate healthcare professionals (in public hospitals) have expressed their interest to use my father's sad experience for learning purposes in patient safety workshops. In this commemorative edition, I provided an in-depth account of my father's last illness and an update on the Hospital's reply to my 14-page letter dated 25 October 2008, so that it could be used for teaching purposes in hospitals and medical schools. </p> <p> It was uncanny that the long awaited letter finally arrived on Qing Ming, 4 April 2009. Sadly, it turned out to be a disappointing reply from the Hospital. Instead of giving me a full account of my father's death, it opened up more doubts when I spotted stark errors in their letter. In order to set their records right, I wrote a follow-up letter to them on 8 April 2009 (refer Chapter 1, page 46). </p> <p> Indeed, this year's Qing Ming was a sad day for me. At my father's grave, I noticed he was "surrounded" by mostly dead people who had lived a "long-life", including one centenarian. After returning to my second brother's home from the cemetery, my sister-in-law shared a recent incident where a "stranger" inquired about my father's well-being as she no longer sees the familiar sight of my father who would stroll along the walkway behind their house. Actually she is no stranger but a resident living a few streets apart without knowing that my father had passed away six months ago. Indeed, it was a sudden death. This goes to show the vulnerability of human life. My parents faced up to their mortality bravely and had left behind important lessons for their descendants; to practise the five virtues advocated by Chinese sages: compassion (ÁN), righteousness (IN), humility ( <p><strong> Turning grief into strength </strong></p> <p> Some readers who have had loved ones die from hospital-acquired infections may find it difficult to complete reading my book as it stirs up their sad and painful emotions. I knew of one reader who gave up reading it--it is only human to feel this way. </p> <p> Indeed, the grieving process can be long-drawn for some people--I am in this category. The healing process may also take a lifetime. I wrote this section on 23 August 2009, exactly one year from the fateful Day 1 (23 August 2008) with immense sadness especially since the Hospital is still unable to provide answers to those crucial questions in my letters. </p> <p> A few doctors sensed my anger in my first book, and one doctor described them as "toxic bits". If it is so, I see it as a catharsis--the therapeutic release of pent-up feelings and emotions by open discussion of ideas and thoughts. Nevertheless, please let me know if you spot the toxic bits in this book, and I will do the "surgical removal of the toxic bits", if any. </p> <p> My father had an unsafe hospital stay. More lives will be lost if nothing is done to overcome the deficiencies in the public hospital system. I hope my book will succeed in championing patient advocacy--make hospital stays safe! </p> <p><em> Lee Soh Hong FCCA</em> </p> </p> <table> <tr><td><br><br> <p><font color=red> Updated on 26 March 2010</font> <br><br> <br></p> </td></tr></table> <%@ include file="com_frame_bottom.jsp" %>