A Hero in Disguise - A Frontliner's Story

A Hero
in disguise

BY

DEVANDRAN RANGASAMY
EMILY JOHN WEJIDAS

EVELYN RITA ADICKALAM
SARASWATHY KASHINATHAN

THE DESIGN TEAM EMILY JOHN WEJIDAS
P105790
DEVANDRAN RANGASAMY
P105786

EVELYN RITA ADICKALAM SARASWATHY KASHINATHAN
P105070 P105096

GGGE6293 CURRENT TRENDS IN LANGUAGE TEACHING RESEARCH

I sat on the floor leaning
against the wall, feeling
exhausted with one hand
holding my head and the
other on my knees. It
has been a double shift
continuously for the
past 5 days.

“Eddy!!! Quick, we have
another case, this time
it’s a 7 years old boy. He
has the symptoms and
now he is having difficulty
breathing. You are wanted
in the ER, come quickly.”

“Eddy! Can you hear me?”

“Yes! I heard you… Coming.”

My feet are glued to the
floor, unable to move as
though screaming to me to
take a break! But cases are
not taking any breaks. I
got up slowly and went to
room 3.

In room 3, doctors and nurses
were attending to a small boy
with an injection into a vein
via an intravenous
injection (IV).

He was crying nonstop. His
fever was 39 degree Celsius…

My attention was distracted
by the coughing sound from a
nearby couple who happened
to be the boy’s parents.
Aaaah…!!
Another case involving a
family.

Tringg! Tringg! Suddenly my
phone starts to ring.

“Yes dear…” on the other side was
my husband.

“The whole family is waiting for
you, what time are you coming?”

“Goodness! I totally forgot! I am so
sorry, you guys carry on first, we
just received a new case; we
suspect the whole family could be
infected too!

“Don’t worry, I will handle them all.
You go ahead dear,” he said.

My tears flowing, I thanked God for
such a patient and understanding
husband.

“Call me once you finish, I will
come and fetch you, OK”, he
insisted.

“Sure, I will”, I assured him.

Suddenly I heard someone calling
out, “Eddy come and collect the
specimen, we need to swab
urgently”.
“I am coming”. I put my phone
away and hurried to do my duty.
“You are the expert here; only you
can do it fast and efficiently”,
said Mala, my colleague from the
same ER department.
“Yes Mala, I’m coming!”

I am trained for this I went near the boy and
procedure: in the asked him, his name. He
beginning it was replied he is Azmi and he
difficult but now I came with his parents. I
am an expert. told him what I am going
to do, and it might hurt a
little bit.

I took a long stick with a
very soft brush on the end —
kind of like a pipe cleaner, up
into his nose and twirled it
around for a few seconds.
The soft bristles will collect
a sample of secretions there
for analysis.

The swab must go pretty
far back, because cells and
fluids must be collected
from along the entire
passageway that connects
the base of the nose to the
back of the throat to get a
really good specimen.

The boy started to
feel uncomfortable
and cried, I tried to
calm him and slowly
took the specimen.

Turning to his parents, I After, 2 hours of waiting
performed the same the results were out and we
procedure. Once done, I had prepared them to be
asked them to go to the taken to the Sungai Buloh
isolation room while waiting Hospital where the main
for the RTK rapid test Covid-19 patients were
result. treated.

“Sister Eddy, doctor is calling
you”.
“Why Lisa?”
“I think it’s about today’s
report.”
“Oh ya! Tell him I will
complete the report and see
him in 20 minutes, OK.”
“All right Sister Eddy.”

I need to doff the PPE
before completing the
report. The thought of my
pillow and the soft bed…
Aaaaa! but not without
completing this report for
the day. It was so important
to have the daily statistics.

First, the doffing of PPE. I Next in line is the head cover
have to remove my gloves, and removal of the surgical
perform hand hygiene, next N95 mask. Again… after
remove my gown and again, removing each one of it; we
perform hand hygiene, must perform hand hygiene.
followed by removing my Finally remove boot cover
face shield. The drill is, and once more; perform hand
“Don’t forget to perform hygiene.
hand hygiene.” Aaahhhh!!!



It’s 9.30 already. Mmmm…
another 30 minutes. I have to
take a quick shower.

Looking at the paper, I feel like
tearing it off; I need my bed…!

Duty calls. I need to complete
the report. Mmmmm!

Ok! All that is done!

“Where is Sister Punitha? I need
to pass this report to her.”

“There she is,” replied Mala.

“Hi Punitha, right on time; come
I will brief you on the whole
report.”

“Yes, please Eddy. Thanks.”

I am done!

My small wrist-watch shows
it’s 11.00 p.m. Time to call
my hubby.

Before leaving my
workstation, I need to
perform hand hygiene again.
Aaahhhh!!

“Hi Bie!” “What’s for dinner?” I
asked.
“Hi Ed! So, what happened
to the boy?” asked my “There is leftover food
husband. from the function just
now,” he answered.
“He is confirmed of Covid-
19 and was sent to Sungai
Buloh Hospital for further
treatment.”

It was a silent journey;
thank God he is an
understanding husband.
Never complained.

By the time I reached home
the children were already
in bed and my in-laws were
already fast asleep.

I had to soak my uniform
in hot water mixed with
detergent and later, put
it in the washing
machine. I had to make
sure not to mix my
uniform with other
clothes; then took my
shower.

Once I had my so-called
dinner or rather it’s
supper for me, I headed
to my bedroom feeling
utterly exhausted; I
cannot think of anything
else except laying my
head on my pillow.

My hubby came and
applied ointment on
both my feet. It was
very soothing, and I
didn’t realize when I
dozed off.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

I shut my alarm
clock while my eyes
were still closed!

Another night had ended and
it’s another morning routine
all over again!!!

This is my life as an
Emergency and Trauma Staff
Nurse.

OUR HERO IN DISGUISE

Sister Loh Yen Nee Nee
Staff Nurse

from a Well-known Hospital from Klang Valley

The End!

ILLUSTRATOR CREDITS: This presentation template was created by Slidesgo, LECTURER
NURJAWADAH BT JASMADIN including icons by Flaticon, infographics & images by Freepik DR. AZLINA ABDUL AZIZ (UKM)