Monday, Day 1, 08 Aug 2005It was noon when we know about this situation. One of us would like to have a lunch together with the monk and calling the other friend who was actually at the hospital already. On the phone he was mentioning that something bad has happened and we had to rush to Budi Kemuliaan Batam Hospital. Getting this information, some of us were rushing to the hospital meanwhile the other was looking for any contacts that might help us.
The teacher association started to collect some donation.
We had already made a decision to send this baby to Jakarta concerning the passport that would take sometimes to be processed. In fact for this emergency, the Imigration staff gave us full support, passport for the baby and the father could be finished in 2 hours, with no additional charges. Later on we received the information that the hospital in Jakarta had never had a success record for such case.
We contacted one by one public social charity foundation to ask for opinion and assistance. None of them give a quick response. Actually at the first step there were two hospital that we proposed within our groups, KK or Mount E. Later on PSMTI (Paguyuban Sosial Marga Tionghoa Indonesia / Chinese Social Foundation) Batam give a recommendation to Mount E. The hospital had a baby patient as well two years ago with the same condition with successful record and was also recommended by PSMTI.
All arrangement was made with the Budi Kemuliaan Hospital including preparing the passport for the baby and father. The baby was sent to Singapore in a mobile incubator and accompanied by two nurses. All expenses for transferring the baby to Mount Elizabeth was born by Yayasan Budi Bakti (represented by Mr.Rudy Tan) in the sum of SGD 1500.
It was already 5 pm Batam time.
We have to catch the next earliest ferry to Singapore. We took the 6 pm over Wavemaster ferry. All Wavemaster staff showed a good cooperation, the captain on board, Mr.Yudi, also ensure us that the baby will be safe up to Singapore.
There was three of us, Romi, Fendi and the baby's father (Wijianto) and two nurses. We realized at that time that we had not arranged any ambulance to pick up the baby and there was no assurance that the hospital will have a spare mobile incubator. Captain Yudi as the person in charge assist us to contact their Singapore Agent to arrange the ambulance but we got bad news, no mobile incubator. We, however had to discuss with the nurses. Decision was made that the mobile incubator from Batam will be used to send the baby to Mount E Hospital accompanied by the nurses otherwise we have to bring the baby to the hospital without any incubator.
We were desperate at that time, fortunately the nurse agreed and Captain Yudi assured them that the incubator will be safely returned to Batam. It was 8 pm Singapore time when we reached Horbourfront Singapore International Ferry terminal. Ambulance had already stand by, the immigration showed a very good cooperation.
One of us has to take the cab because of the passenger limitation in Singapore.
It was almost 9 Singapore time when we reach the hospital.
We rush to the accident and emergency care unit. We were shock because there was no information sent from the Hospital Batam representative which had been contacted by PSMTI. Anyway the hospital gave a very good cooperation, they took care the baby immediately meanwhile the other staff contacting the Batam representative.
We only have SGD 3000 cash which we borrowed and placed it as deposit.
We were exhausted, nothing much that we could do, we have delivered the baby safely to the hospital. The hospital advised that there was some infection with the baby and the baby need to be treat a.s.a.p. Nothing we could do but to approve any step to be taken to safe this baby.
We rent a room at the nearby housing to relieve our stress. We need to rest after a big effort, there is still something that we need to do... raise the fund for this baby.... as the night gone by.....
Tuesday, 9 August 2005It was 7 am when we reached the hospital, we still felt the breeze.
The baby's condition was reported quite stable. He would had his first surgery on 8 am. We chanted few parittas before the baby surgery started. Before entering to the surgery room, the baby gave a good cooperation as he was looking at us and trying to tell us everything will be okay, he will survive.
It was 9 am when the surgery finished and the doctor advised that the baby was in good condition. About 50% of the intestines already placed inside of his abdominal. It requires about 3 - 4 weeks more. The doctor need to push the intestine a little bit each day to give time for the abdominal wall to develop slowly or otherwise the baby cannot breathe because the lung will have no space. The estimated total cost informed was SGD 15000 - 20000. The doctor was optimist.
We need to rush back to Batam to inform others about the medical action taken and also the total cost estimated. We take the 2 pm ferry from Singapore. ........
It was 7 pm Batam time, we gathered at Bodhi Dharma Playgroup building in front of Buddhayana Temple.
There were about 10 - 15 persons gathered. We were discussing our plan to raise the fund. There were Buddha Tzu Chi Foundation, PSMTI, Buddhayana Foundation, MBI Batam City and other participants.
Buddha Tzu Chi Foundation mentioned that since the baby has already in good hand, they will try to help on the donation. PSMTI will try to raise the fund as well within their internal contacts and network.
It was decided as well that Romi and Steven Japari to go to Singapore the next day to get the new update. A new bank account will be opened for this case. The cheque will only be valid if two from the three persons signed. Signatories are Steven Japari, Ven.Nyanya Karuno and Mr.Saufa (Public Relation from PSMTI, involved as personal not as representative).
Future plans were also discussed, if the donations received is more than what we need, a charity foundation will be built to help other children with the same condition.
The gathering was ended around 10 over pm Batam Time.
Wednesday, 10 August 2005Early morning, around 8 am Batam Time, Steven Japari, Ven.Nyana Karuno and Mr.Saufa open a new account at Bank Central Asia, Batam Headbranch, Jodoh. Account to be opened under Steven Japari name.
Around noon Singapore Time, Steven and Romi have the chance to meet the doctor and asking all the update.
The baby was doing fine and the infection could be treated well. Overall the baby condition is good and still depends on the life support machine and under Neonatal Intensive Care Unit observation.
Since the baby depends on the life support so the overall estimated charges will be around SGD 30,000 – 35,000.
They need to rush back to Batam.
First news sent by using mailing list.
It was 8 pm Batam time when we gathered again. It was decided that there will be a charity committee to be held. The committee will be as follows:
Head of committee : Steven Japari (head of MBI Batam City)
Secretary : Fendi
Treasurer : Romi
Public Relation : Gimun Sulaiman
It was decided that by Saturday, the committee had to give a visit since it is the last day of the critical condition.
Thursday, 11 August 2005The baby condition was reported in fairy good condition, the oxygen level had to be raised to 25%.
Friday, 12 August 2005No condition could be obtained from hospital because the hospital would only update the condition to the baby’s parents.
Saturday. 13 August 2005We reached Singapore about 12 pm local time. We have to take lunch first because we haven’t taken any breakfast that day.
About 1 pm we reached the hospital but we had no chance to meet the doctor, we gave the nurses the authority letter from the baby’s parents so we could get any information.
The baby condition was stable, and he looked so calm and so cute. If we did not pay attention on the stomach, then he would just looked like a normal baby.
We took several pictures. The nurse had given us all information that we need, the baby need to be given a special nutrition since they could not feed him milk. There will be another additional cost for this, but nothing that we could decide or did at that time. We knew that the medical action taken by hospital is correct and can safe the baby from starving.
It was reported as well that the baby had gases so they have to put a tube to let the gases out.
Overall the baby was in very good condition.
We went to the admission to ask for the charges details until 13 Aug 2005. The bill was SGD 10,000 over.
It was 7 pm when we returned to the hospital and for this time we had a chance to meet the pediatric. The doctor explained to us that the baby condition could be fully recovered in about 5 – 6 weeks time. Oh my god that was what in our mind at the first time, the first information we received was the baby will be fully recovered within a month. This meant there will be additional hospital charges and additional doctor fee need to be paid. The estimation has risen to about SGD 50,000.
If you divided 10,000 with 6 days exclude the doctor fee, then you will have the figure about SGD 1500 per day. Wow… if 6 weeks than we will need about SGD 60,000.
The nurse advised that she will call us up tomorrow (Sunday, 14 Aug) if the surgeon come.
That night, we just sat at the hospital, nothing that we can do. We only speak out our frustration and stress to some people there. We had the doubt that we could raise this sum of money in a very short time.
It was 9 pm over when Fendi and Wijianto showed up at the hospital, we had been waiting for them the whole evening at the hospital. We only could update them that the baby is okay and now the most to concern is the charges that we need to pay.
We just remembered that the baby’s permit in Singapore is only for 14 days, we had to ask for extension. But the admission staff could not give us more information, we had to contact the concierge the next day.
We spend a night at Singapore… bringing all our stress as the night gone by. Fendi and Wijianto slept at his brother’s place. Meanwhile we spend a night at nearest hotel with our own expense.
Sunday, 14 August 2005It was 10 pm over when the nurse called us, we were in the middle of our breakfast. We ran to the MRT station and ran to the hospital once we reached the Orchad MRT station. Despite of all traffic signs, we just ran. We only know that the doctor could not wait us too long.
We met the pediatric again and he mentioned the overall condition was good and special nutrition had been given. We had to wait for the surgeon to know how the baby intestines condition.
We need to get the extension permit form from the concierge and get the letter from the doctor. Fendi’s sister will assist us to go the immigration office for the baby’s extension.
We sat in the hospital cafeteria for sometimes while waiting for Fendi’s sister to come.
Nothing more we can do, so we plan to return to Batam. On the way, we take our lunch, and hey… why don’t we buy a 4-D for this baby, who knows it will strike and the amount can be used to help him.
So far we didn’t know how much donation already received.
We reached Batam 5 pm Batam time and drove Wijianto back to his home and to update her wife on the baby’s condition.
In the night, we had a meeting with PSMTI. They will assist us to collect the donations.
