More than a decade ago, I wrote somewhat the same title for my entry "my new life". Back then it was due to the fact that I became a father just 5 months prior to my final year exam as a Medical student. And of course, without a doubt, it was a huge change! Alhamdulillah, in 2008 I passed my degree, earned my MBBchBao (Bachelor of Medicine, Surgery, and Obstetrics) from University College Dublin, Ireland.
Fast forward, 12 years down the line, I am now blessed with 4 children ( A girl and 3 boys ) and a wife whose supports and love have always been second to none. Alhamdulillah.
Right after coming back to Malaysia from Dublin, in June 2008, I started my job as an intern (House Officer) at Hospital Kuala Lumpur until 2010. I completed 6 compulsory postings which included Medicine, Obs & Gynae, Orthopedics, Surgery, Pediatrics, and Anaesthesiology following which I was posted to Negeri Sembilan for my MO ship. It was a memorable 2 years in Negeri Sembilan, in Hospital Tuanku Ampuan Najihah (HTAN) to be exact.
At every level of my life, I came to the junctions where big decisions needed to be made. And without fail, I put full trust in God in every step. This is simply because I find it impossible to take decisions in life, based merely on our limited human knowledge. We have no knowledge of the future and let alone the unseen. Hence, I went on with the flow of my life, and pray to God to make it easy for me, should the steps are good for me, family, future, and the ummah.
In HTAN, Kuala Pilah, I was exposed to life as an emergency doctor for the first time which I then fell in love with. Though initially, I requested to join the Medical Department, after spending a year in ED, I took a big decision to U-turn and decided to stay instead. In 2012, I joined the Master's Program for Emergency Medicine, as an in-campus Ministry of Health candidate in the Department of Emergency Medicine, UKM Medical Centre. The 4 years period of training changed my life. I grew as a person, as an individual, and a clinician. Developed my early skills and interest in clinical research, having completed my own first research in the area of my interest; Cardiac Emergency.
During the final year as an Emergency Trainee, I came to another junction. The offer to join as a Clinical Lecturer and Specialist was too tempting to resist, considering my passion to teach, to do voluntary works, and to the newly emerging interest in clinical research. I joined the Ministry of Higher Education from the Ministry of Health alongside another good friend of mine on the 1st of August 2016.
I was once asked by a colleague, "Why did you join the University Hospital? What extra benefit did you get?"
I answered her promptly, with a genuine answer that always wobbles in my mind. " I joined the University Hospital because it is not about what I get, it is about what I can give." I am not saying working elsewhere is less productive, but I personally feel that I could contribute more by joining the University Hospital.
Thank you to Allah, the whole process of transferring ship was rather smooth. And at that same year, I received another unexpected yet huge news, that I and wife both were offered to go for Hajj. MasyaAllah, tabarakallah. It was a surreal moment for both of us. First due to the fact that we received the letter simultaneously. Secondly, knowing that our turn was supposed to be in 2027, we only had one word to utter; ALhamdulillah. And true enough, the journey had been one of the most memorable ones in our life. 40 unforgettable days on the blessed soil of Makkah and Madinah, and during the most blessed days in Arafat, we made the supplication to Allah SWT to grant us as a family to seek knowledge to the highest level we could get. I remember vividly the supplication, and the intention was only one, to please Him and to be more knowledgeable so that we could get closer to Him.
Little that I knew, my wife's supplication was even more explicit which she only disclosed after coming back from Hajj; "Oh God, soften my husband's heart to consider doing Ph.D, and grant him the best university in the world, Ameen."
4 years later, Alhamdulillah. That supplication was surely answered. As I am writing this story, I am 5 days away from my flight to the United Kingdom, to pursue my DPhil (Ph.D.) in Medical Sciences at John Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford. It was a dream come true. Never thought this would ever happen. I believe that with clear intention (niyyah) and the eagerness to chase your dreams and most importantly prayers from your wife and kids, parents and parents in-laws, nothing is impossible.
In the next entry, i shall share all about the journey. How it started and what need to be done en route to Oxford. Till then...adiozz
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