“Journey to the East: A mother, A daughter, A doctor” is a narrative story of a journey experienced by an emergency physician, who was sent to the East Malaysia to contribute to the people in the Sandakan community. She was entangled in between the position as a single mother raising her son alone, with the responsibility of a daughter of leaving her parents behind and a duty to care as a medical doctor. Her vulnerabilities, fear, anxiety, pain, and frustration are exposed through the series of events she had to go through. Apart from that, she made it clear that doctors are human too, in which they bleed red if you cut them and they cry tears when they are hurt; a reality that is often not realise by many people. Apart from that, she narrated the truth behind the wall of Covid-19 pandemic in Sandakan and how she and her team struggled to contain this pandemic with every sweat and tears of theirs. During this difficult time, she had lost a person who was very dear to her, and dealt with all the emotional turbulences while maintaining her duty professionally to her patients and staffs. Getting frustrated when things do not go your way, or when you are being blamed for something that is totally out of one's control are part and parcel of her challenging career journey which eventually mold her to be a better and wiser adult.
Even though she might have gone through turbulences, the Borneo land has given her a fair blessing of happiness to enjoy it. She felt the warmness of Sabahan’s remarkable hospitality who took her as part of their family members when she knew no one. The beautiful Sulu sea which is a paradise to all sea lovers shared its mesmerising view on each visit of hers. The majestic mountain of Kinabalu has never failed to greet her with the warmest smile whenever she visited them. The blue sky and forestry always appeared to be perfect as they blend with the happy tone of the chirping birds or crickets sound whenever she passed by them.
This is the book that should be read if you are looking for the truth behind the medical profession and its dilemma. As the saying goes, “For beautiful flowers to bloom, you need the right amount of sunshine and rain.” She had the blessing of receiving the sunshine and the rain while shouldering the responsibility as a modern healer in the land below the wind. Most importantly, following this journey of her’s, she found a deep love and strength within herself to make a greater leap in her career and personal life.
22 авг 2024