My Grandma

My grandma is getting old. She is 84 years old this year. Recently she has been complaining about her legs being weak and painful. She could not walk too far before being tired. She is suffering from Osteoarthritis (which is a type of arthritis that is caused by the breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage of one or more joints). Most people who have osteoarthritis would feel they were affected most at the knee joints. In fact, my Mom had a severe case of osteoarthritis many years ago, and eventually went for 2 operations to insert metal plates into each of her knee joints, to replace the loss of cartilage. Now she could walk without any more pain.

But my grandma is too old for such an operation. Grandma has always been a very active person. In her own words in Teochew, she told me "I have to slog ever since I could walk as a girl; helped with housework, look after siblings, and after married, look after children and endless housework". Even now, my grandma is still cooking for my 2 aunts who live with her, and 3 of my uncle's children (as my uncle and wife are based overseas). A typical day for her would be ... waking up at 3 or 4 am, she would chant prayers and mantras, then she would water the (several) plants, boil water and prepare breakfast. At 6am she would go to the park nearby for 2 rounds of walking by herself. At 7am she would be home to have breakfast before going to the wet market to buy each day's food. Then the rest of the morning she would be kept busy with light housework and a little laundry, after which she would prepare lunch. After lunch, it has become a daily habit for her to walk to the nearby mall/supermarket, not to buy anything, but just walk. Then she would meet, sit and chit chat with her neighbours downstairs for while. At about 3pm she would take a short nap. By 4pm she is again busy preparing for dinner. Usually after dinner, her bedtime would be around 8 or 9pm. It is unbelievable she does so many things in a day FOR A 84-YEAR-OLD!!!

Yesterday I took time to bring her to a clinic in Jurong West, to see a doctor who specialises in giving a type of injection for cartilage treatment. The SYNVISC is a type of treatment called a viscosupplement. It lubricates and cushions your knee joint and relieves pain, which can allow you to move more freely for up to 6 months to 24 months (depending on individuals). It seems that many patients have tried this method and found them to be very effective.

The doctor advised grandma to go for it which would require a course of 3 injections over 21-30 days period. In the meantime, he gave her a pain-killer injection; one for her left shoulder blade, and the other on her left knee joint. When the pain killer was injected, at the same time, the syringe also withdrew out liquid from her knee cap. This light yellowish liquid, said the doctor, was what the body system produced in replace of cartilage (which was gone). And this liquid was the culprit causing the pain. He said grandma should feel very good after this pain killer injection. Next week, we are most likely going to start on the SYNVISC injections for her. Hopefully she would be able to walk freely without pain soon.

All along, during our family vacation, we would always try to include Grandma in those trips. We would like her to see the world, to relax and enjoy, as this, I felt, was the reward for her slogging for so many years, especially after Gong Gong passed away (she was only in her mid 40s!). And she is an easy old lady who does not mind eating whatever food placed on the table, or sleeping anywhere or going any place. I think it is the company she enjoys.

Below are my collection of some photos taken during our holidays with Grandma. I was the photographer of course. Here was Grandma in Adelaide (in a Barossa Valley winery), in Germany (at a famous bridge overlooking a huge castle behind), Melbourne (at Great Ocean Road, she was so cold with the winds then), and Holland to see tulips (in Keukenhof, the world’s largest flower garden)!!

And here was Grandma in London (outside Buckingham Palace), Grandma in Paris (near the Louvre Museum), Grandma in Italy (in beautiful Nice) and Grandma in Disneyland!

I hope grandma gets well soon, so we can go holiday again.