When something anticipated for materialises - my long-awaited for surgery takes place on Tuesday.

 In our lives, there will come a time when something we have long waited for happens.  For something exciting like a vacation to a faraway place, the waiting can be something comparable to anguish.  But there are other things that aren’t comparable to a vacation, and their arrival in our lives can be likened to a relief and even to our saying “finally” to ourselves.     Those of you who have been following the past few blog posts would know that I have been waiting anxiously for the cranioplasty for my skull to take place, and for various reasons, the date for the surgery had been postponed several times.  Part of the reason had been the materialising of the COVID illness, both in Singapore and in our neighbouring countries.  But the waiting is finally coming to a close as the date for the surgery has been confirmed for 4 January 2022, which is next week.  

Some of you are wondering how this makes me feel.  I am very relieved that it’s finally happening after all the waiting.  Yes, it is a serious surgery, but I am not nervous about it at all.  I have full confidence in the skills and talents of my surgeons, and on Tuesday, I will be checking into the hospital with great relief.  I have had surgery before, and coming out of the anaesthesia isn’t always the same.  I do pray for a smooth operation, and I know that many of my parishioners and friends have been praying for me all this while.  I am so grateful for their care and concern, and I am hoping that their prayers for me will continue on Tuesday when the surgeons start their work on my skull.  

The result of the cranioplasty will see an improvement of the look of my head, and I am hoping that the side effects of the surgery will not see me suffering from headaches and similar pains.  But if they do come, I shall take it as part of the whole surgical procedure.  

I have been doing some reading up on a procedure like cranioplasty, and I have learnt that after undergoing such a procedure, a patient would often require to stay in the hospital for between five to seven days. I have arranged for Holy Communion to be brought to me by some caring friends and parishioners during the hospital stay.  I have also learnt that fatigue is a common side effect, but this should subside within the first few weeks.  The common risks associated with a cranioplasty include infection, blood clot formation, seizures and even a stroke.  I do pray that my experienced surgeons will lessen the chance of my developing complications after undergoing the cranioplasty.

I am rather unsure about how I will physically recover after the surgery though.  I know that the path ahead can be rather touch and go, but I also do know that when I have a positive attitude of confidence and determination, the recovery will not be that much of a challenge.  I know for a fact that my parishioners are waiting to see me back in the active role of being their priest in Church, and I am hoping that I will be able to be back in action by the time January comes to a close.  

If you have spent time reading this blog entry has been active in praying for my recovery from the accident, I want to say a big thank you for your charity, kindness and love.  I would like to ask humbly for you to continue praying for my recovery post surgery and look forward to seeing you when my parish life returns.  This waiting process has been formative for me, and it has also helped me spiritually.  

Till I am able to function as a priest in the parish, I bid you God’s love and blessings.