Death of my young student on 2nd June 2007

4th June 2007 – A CHILD DIED ON 2ND JUNE

One of my student just died on the 2nd June 2007 on a Saturday. He is only 11 years old. When I received a phone call from his father about his son’s demise, I was close to tears. His father’s voice was trembling when he told me. It was only about one hour after his death.I couldn’t sleep for two days. I was troubled. On one hand, I was wondering, why must a child die so young (he is not even 12 years old), on the other hand, I was relieved. Relieved that this child who is so low functioning is now gone from this world…. Relieved that the family can go on …. He was born normal, a beautiful child, could speak, laugh, joked, was the clown in the family, so I heard from his mum when I visited them at home after the Muslim funeral. When he was born, he had jaundice, so stayed in hospital for a few days, after that, on off he would have high fever and also landed in hospital. He would come out fine all the time. But one day, he had high fever and also had a fall, after that, he couldn’t talk. He also started having fits. Doctor to this day, said it’s called “Adult Fits”. Probably a term to say that he will have fits throughout his life. When his father heard that his son will become sub-normal, the family cried for a long time. I can understand how they must have felt then. It’s like those unfortunate people who have cancer or any type of terminal disease.My own daughter started having fits when she reached puberty period, as a mum, I also worry for her, for her future, her career, etc. Fits is so unpredictable. The person just collapse like that, any time, anywhere. I had asked myself, what have I done to deserve this, God, why …..????

According to my student’s father, child was sleeping at around 7 plus in the evening, the father who was in the room, saw him moving. Then at around 8pm, the father went into the bedroom and checked on son again. This time, he saw son lying on his stomach and father turned him over, child was already bluish on face. The bluish part was normal, because deceased was like this when he had his fits. But this time, his eyes didn’t flutter as usual. Body was still warm, legs were a little cold. Father sensed something wrong and quickly performed chest compression (CPR) on son. Meanwhile they also called for the ambulance. Ambulance came very fast and the ambulance people also did the chest compression thing, the father put his finger near nose to feel for breath, but there was none. The medics quickly sent him to the nearest hospital about 5 to 10 mins away. In the hospital, father was told he is already dead but they will still try to resuscitate him for another 15 minutes. Alas, he cannot be saved. Father was told that hospital might need to conduct an autopsy on him for the cause of death because he did not die of old age, but, if family could produce medicine or whatever medical reports, then an autopsy would not be done. Thankfully his child didn’t have to go through the cutting up. Being Muslims, they need to bury the body as soon as possible during the day and if an autopsy was done, it’s not too good.

Father told me, few days before son’s death, deceased son had done some pretty strange things. Son wanted to be carried, by putting his hands up(child couldn’t talk). Child also did this putting hands up gesture to other siblings in the family. Thankfully, all the family members carried him. He also kept asking for more food which was not normal.Father also said it’s fated. When deceased had fits, he would let out a scream, either one of the family members would then monitor him. Normally the family would hear his scream because the house they are staying is small. (When in school, it’s the same, we will know child is having fits because he would scream.) But on that fateful day, there was a Malay wedding nearby, thus there was a lot of music. It probably drowned his scream, thus nobody came. IT’S JUST FATE.I gave them $200 from my own pocket to tide over cause this family is really poor. Although I am not rich myself (anyway, how long can I last with my low income donating??), I feel that they needed the money to pay for the ambulance, hospital bills, funeral, drinks, prayers, burial site, etc. This family is on subsidy now. Earlier, they were better off, had more children, .. until the recession came, lost one night job, the other day job slashed his pay, education too low, too old…… Mum couldn’t work full time because had to look after five children. They don’t even have a proper sofa set or a living room table. The sofa set they had had a lot of cracks on the fake leather. When I was there, saw the four other siblings sharing a small packet of Jack & Jill potato chips with gee. How many of you must share food???
Now you understand why I ask for donations in my first blog?? Am I asking too much.??? If everyone here that reads my blog

and donates to them, you will be helping many people.