This journal is written as a retrospective writing, thus they may be something that got left behind unintentionally.
During the starting of the now pandemic Covid-19, I was thinking of how courageous the medical team are, especially those who need to leave their loved ones. somehow it struck a chord. Then I heard about the government creating opportunities for unemployed nurses to come back to work as the front-liners need more staff. And, as I was waiting for an interview from KKM, I was somewhat expecting to be call. I supposed all the former health care worker do.
During all of these happening, I receive a call from the Dentistry at Shah Alam on an appointment for root canal. So, as the school holiday started, we went to my mother's house which is a walking distance to the dental clinic (I you are intending to do some exercise before arriving to the clinic)
Then the Movement Control Order (MCO) was introduced, and my dental appointment was withhold to an unknown date. Not long after that, I noticed my nursing classmates was talking about enlisting as nurses for Covid-19. One of them even put a link into the WhatsApp group for that, and another link to be a volunteer. That got me thinking if I should go and enlist myself as a nurse for Covid-19, but in order to do that, I need to be separated from my family, especially from my two daughters, and one of the was still breastfeeding at that time. That feeling sure does dampen my spirit, and I was contemplating so much that my husband urge me to do Istikharah. All my adult and central family have given their blessing. During my toss and turning, the link for the form for applying to be a nurse was closed. All that left was the form to register to be a volunteer. As I don't want to let that chance to go to pass as it did the nursing form, I hurriedly fill the form to be a volunteer.
I receive the call on the day I was supposed to have an interview for KKM nurse (31st March 2020). I was to report for duty on 5th of April 2020, the day after Husna's birthday. The volunteers will be provided with food and accommodation. As the time for leaving nears, the feeling of dread looms.
5th of April comes, I put Husna to sleep as she was sleepy just before Zuhur. I do my Zuhur alone as I know the others going to take more time and I might be late if I wait for them. I give my goodbye with my family with somewhat wet eyes and a true waterfall during my time alone with my husband outside the house. But I know it need to be done.
Arriving at NIH which made me realize Setia Alam is neighboring Klang, or maybe it is inside Klang- it is not too far away from Shah Alam. But thinking that we were all unsure where we will be posted, I stay with the decision of staying at NIH during the volunteering phase. After the briefing which was held at the auditorium of NIH, we are to check in into our room. I found out that my roommate (Kavitha) will not be staying for the night as her house is near to NIH and the reason she decided to stay was to reduce the risk of her family contacting to the disease and as we will be in contact with the patients on the next day, there is no point in staying for the night. That statement intrigued me, right after Asar (I was still in my telekung) I called my husband and ask for his opinion. Hearing my phone call my family shouted telling me to come home for the night. I was only stalling as I was feeling lazy to come to NIH dead in the morning as my group decide to leave to JKNS at 630am. My husband said that he will leave me to my conscience but I need to decide fast as MCO will not allow movement after 6. At 550pm I was knocking at the door. Of course everyone was laughing at the absurdity of the situation.
The next morning I left the house as early as 530am and had my Subuh at NIH. Around that time received a WA message that my group will be leaving at 730am as the briefing at JKNS was delayed to 9am. So I decide to give the bed a nap. After breakfast we left at 745am (one of our member of the group was late). As we are nearing JKNS, I realize that JKNS was so near to my mother's house (sek 9, next to the Concord Hotel) but as we were supposedly to be posted somewhere else, I put the feeling if-I-only-know away. Then during the briefing one of the doctors stated that the volunteers can't have any co-morbid (such as HPT, DM, Heart problem or Respiratory problem). It was then I raised my hand I ask whether I need to be kicked out of the team as I have DM. They have a small meeting then and decided for me to work at JKNS helping with their PPE production. Hearing that I decide to move back to Shah Alam as JKNS is in Shah Alam which means nearer to JKNS. I also decide that as I will be the only one working at JKNS, it will be illogical for someone who have a nearer house and don't need to have direct contact with patient to be sent to and fro from JKNS and NIH alone everyday. That evening after some face shield making and face mask packing, I asked my youngest sister to pick me up and bring me to NIH to pick my things up and check out from NIH.
On Tuesday I came to work and we continue with our face shield factory. Then around lunch, the staff cleans the room as she stated that she can't stand all those untidiness. After lunch I was the only one in the room, I heard the supervisor said something about stopping producing as proper stock has arrived, and a lot of it. Then my supervisor (SN Suhaili) tells me that as they need to stop producing the face shield, I don't need to come for tomorrow. After some negotiation, I asked her to take my number and call me in case they need help. As it was the SN who told me that, I'm afraid that my suppose supervisor didn't know the SN decision and I would be scolded for skipping work. So I reported to Dr Rosnawati and Dr Suhaida (supervisor for Dr Izzah). So after all those drama, I only work for two days? Telling the story to some of my friends, they emphasize on Allah's plans for us
Starting the second week I that was supposedly volunteering I was becoming sure I will not be called again. Still, on Tuesday I receive a phone call from Dr Izzah if I'll be willing to come to PKD Klang and lend a hand. I said sure I'll leave the next morning. So I went on Wednesday with the help of Waze. The job scope was also around PPE, but in a bigger scale. The SN incharge (SN Faridah) was supposed to do everything from receiving, indenting, managing stock and everything. So when the epidemic explode which lead to a pandemic, she was becoming more and more unable to manage on her own. Volunteers does eases some of her burden, but to a limited degree. The job for us was not at all mentally or emotional taxing, but definitely a bit physically demanding. Folding and counting and removing and adding. I was relief but a bit sorry to leave on Friday as I'm feeling somewhat sorry for the SN. I'm hoping she have more assistants and assistance..
