THE story “The detour en route to becoming a nurse” in The Malaysian Insight recently has inspired me to tell another true Malaysian story close to my heart. No names will be mentioned, so there is no element of glorifying any person. Only those involved in the events will know.

It was a normal working morning. The phone rang at my office at the Malaysian Armed Forces Academy, now known as the National Defence University (NDU) at the Sg Besi military camp. 

“Our daughter was involved in a serious road accident near Sandakan. She was a passenger in a car driven by another doctor. Someone died in the accident. It is in today’s newspapers. She is in Sandakan Hospital.” This type of news is every parent’s nightmare.

We rushed to Sandakan and reached the hospital late in the evening. She had serious facial injuries. The plastic surgeon had done an excellent job in the operation to hide the facial scars.

That accident became a turning point in the doctor’s career. She was transferred to a hospital in Kuala Lumpur. She switched her medical specialisation to Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Her medical stories from her workplace are always about accidents. 

There was even one story in which she cried as she told us about. A motorcyclist had been brought to the hospital in a condition beyond treatment after the accident. The only words that kept him alive for a few hours was news that his mother was rushing from the kampung to see him. He died after his mother reached his hospital bed.

In 2012, she was given the W.H. “Bill” Leonard Commitment to EMS Safety international award. The following is stated on the award certificate: “In recognition of your lifelong outstanding approach and focus on enhancing the safety of EMS service for the patients, providers and the public.” 

Since then, she has travelled to so many countries attending conferences and seminars on EMS matters and had given keynote papers at many international seminars. On January 1, 2016, she was given the Kolonel Bersekutu (Pertahanan Awam) award by the Malaysia Civil Defence Force’s director.

I hope this story will inspire other Malaysians. Dedication to work is always rewarding. It is a recognition money cannot buy. It is not only God watching you, others are watching you, too. – May 18, 2019.

* The writer reads the Malaysian Insight daily.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.