What happened in the operation theatre

I underwent a cataract surgery on my right eye eight years ago. That was why when it was my left eye’s turn last Tuesday, I was at first quite sure of my calmness, claiming to be well familiar with the procedure.  However, as the wheeled stretcher was on the way to the operation room, moving past walls and doors, in and out of lifts, I found myself saying the “Hail Mary”, just as I had done eight years before. In fact, my confidence was slowly diminishing.

On arriving at a brightly lit room, obviously the operation theatre, I heard a kind voice saying good morning to me. Though the face was half masked, the big pair of eyes was seen to be smiling. Then I was told to move myself onto another bed, the operating table, above which there was a strong surgical light.

“Well done!” It was the same encouraging voice again.

With my eyes fixed on the ceiling, I could make out a few other voices, which undoubtedly belonged to the surgical team. They were heard going about their tasks seriously.

I could picture on my mind the scene of a surgical operation just like one I had so often seen on TV, except that instead of being the viewer, I was playing a part, too, as the patient. I felt adhesive patches placed on my chest. I understood this to be a device for monitoring my heart rate and respiratory rate. In addition, I also felt the blood pressure cuff fixed on my right arm and the nasal breathing tubes put on my nose. Finally, they placed on one of my fingers an elastic band aid assumedly attached to the pulse oximeter machine.

So how should I play my part well? I remembered Dr. Leong’s advice during the consultation prior to the surgery: “All you need to do is follow my guidance and act accordingly.”

I could claim to be a very cooperative patient capable of enduring slight physical discomfort. It was thus decided that the surgery would be performed without the use of injections for anesthesia and without the need for stitches. Eye drops would serve the purpose instead.

Never had it occurred to me, however, that there were parts of me that were less physically submissive. I had maintained my calmness so far, but just as I thought the surgery was about to start, I heard voices of anxiety commenting on my blood pressure. It must have been the stress of the anticipated surgery that had elevated my blood pressure acutely!  

“Have you taken your blood pressure pill?” It was Dr. Leong’s voice this time.

“Yes, I did, last night.”
"Breathe deeply and try to relax."

After some time my blood pressure reading was reported to have gone down satisfactorily. The surgery thus started. During the entire process, I was listening attentively to everything going on. As instructed, I kept looking straight at the ceiling. At first the microscope light was very bright and then it gradually went dim. Water was poured onto the eye from time to time. A lot of water was used at one moment and I learned later that it was the time when the cataract was being removed. Every now and then, I heard someone reporting my blood pressure readings. 

“Just like what is done in some TV shows,’ I thought. 

“Think of something delightful,” the encouraging voice was heard once again.

With some effort, I managed to fill my mind with some pleasant memories. Then I heard Doctor Leong’s voice, “Now this is the intraocular lens insertion process. You’ll feel a bit uncomfortable.” For the rest of the time, in spite of the slight pain, I felt more relaxed, assured that my blood pressure was causing no more trouble.

The surgery was a success. I heard voices again, now cheerful and excited. The surgical team must have been rejoicing in their accomplishment of yet another challenging task. How I wished I could sit up and thank them personally for their effort.

Indeed, the medical team deserves my heartfelt thanks for their efficient and dedicated service during my three-day hospitalization. My special thanks goes to Dr. Leong Chan (梁珍醫生), the Chief Surgeon, to whom I owe much for her professional care for my eyes over the past years and particularly for her highly skilled performance of the surgery. 

Not to be forgetten, is, of course, my gratitude to God for his presence and blessing throughout the surgery. Thank you, Lord!

Movie review - "Columbus"

picture from https://www.facebook.com/CinemathequePassion

Compared with the name “Columbus”, the Chinese name,《築動心靈》, with the first word implying the involvement of architecture, seems a more explicit representation of the theme of the movie. How architecture can touch the heart, as the name suggests, was what first inspired me to make the choice among the list of American movies scheduled for screening in this month of January.

 
Actually, the English name is well chosen as Columbus is a city famous for its many modernist buildings. Construction is presented as striking backdrops throughout the story. Buildings are part of life in Columbus. People from all over the world travel there to be on guided architecture tours. There is much discussion about these buildings between Jin and Casey, the leading actor and actress. In fact, it is the architect of a much-talked-about building, though unwittingly, that has brought the two together as Jin is his son while Casey is a student in his class.

However, the movie is more about how the heart is touched. Jin, who has frequent deadlines to meet, has to put his translation work aside to visit his father who has fallen into a coma from which it is not known when he will ever wake up. Casey, a young architecture enthusiast who works as a page at the local library, has to delay her plan of further studies because of her obsession about her mother’s meth problem. The two meet accidentally, thus initiating a friendly, romantic relationship. They gradually become soul mates, pouring out their troubles to each other. This is somehow different from what I understand about the genre of American movies, which are often typified by instant love and quick sex. I am hardly aware of a sex scene and if there is, it is presented in an implied manner. And when they say good bye to each other, nothing more than a heartfelt hug passes between them. The romance between the two is chaste; it is a tasteful romance that sees the value of friendly relationship between men and women as key to something deeper. This is a pleasant surprise to me.

For a person with a particular fondness for documentary movies, “Columbus” inspires me with its natural, true to life approach to the story. I cannot remember any of the dramatic elements except for the catastrophic collapse of the renowned architecture scholar during a speaking tour. Columbus seems an everyday- story movie with the actor and actress acting out their own emotions. This is another attraction of the movie.

Though a lay person to the film industry, I found myself slowly learning to read the mind of the director by interpreting the meticulously chosen angles. I also gradually got used to the scenes that are shown repeatedly without the appearance of the actors. Such an intellectual approach to the story makes the movie more enjoyable than most of the others that seem too intent on making the story clear and precise to the audience.

The movie may seem slow to some viewers and I will not deny having to fight drowsiness for a few brief moments. But this does not make the movie any less worth seeing. At least, it well merits the time I’ve spent writing this review.

Reflections on the movie "Radiance"

Picture from https://www.facebook.com/CinemathequePassion/

For people who see movie viewing as a mere source of amusement, “Radiance” may not be very appealing. It is somehow inadequate if entertainment is what movie viewers are looking for. It is not even emotionally engaging, not initiating laughter or drawing tears, or sending chills down your spine. As I see it, it is more like a literary piece with a faint touch of romance, one you would enjoy reading for the mere sake of its artistic value and for its pacifying effect on your mood amidst the disturbances of daily life. However, the film does arouse some positive thinking about the attitude towards life and on life itself.

Nakamori (Masatoshi Nagase) is among the “viewers” in a panel supervising the first draft of a movie commentary text Misako reads out aloud to be evaluated about its effectiveness as verbal support for the visually impaired audience. Once a professional photographer, Nakamori is particularly critical of the verbosity of Misako’s text. With the eyes open, he wants to prove to himself and to the others that, though semi-sighted, he is capable of watching the movie being screened. He still keeps his camera and makes attempts to take photos of some kids. He gropes his way along the streets, bumping into obstacles and once even slipping over a pool of vomit. This is all due to his refusal to accept his gradual sight loss. Towards the end of the movie, however, he is seen enjoying the movie with the eyes closed, allowing himself to be guided along by Misako’s commentary. He uses a walking stick, too, pacing up and down the streets with greater confidence.

We viewers are thus inspired that nothing in life is permanent. And when something is slowly disappearing, be it health or love, what is left for us to do is come to terms with the loss and try to move on in life with renewed energy and confidence.

This concept about everything in this world being temporary is also implied in a key line of the movie: “Nothing is more beautiful than that which disappears before our eyes”. It appears several times in the movie, hence some sort of a guiding ethic. Misako also talks about her futile attempt to run toward the sunset and capture the light for keeps. We thus understand that something is beautiful mainly because of its brief existence and the peak of its beauty is the moment when it is disappearing. Therefore, we are to treasure it while it lasts so that we will not later lament its loss.

As the name “Radiance” suggests, there are a lot of focuses on light presented in various scenes. Having seen the movie, I realize that it is a blessing that we can still enjoy light in its various beautiful forms and that we should not take our power of sight for granted. I am also grateful that I can watch this thought provoking and reflective movie without the help of an audio commentary.