Trip to Ireland

I've been in United Kingdom for merely two weeks. The HMDP training in theatre is tough as compared to my other two partners. It's up to them to decide their working hours. They knock off at their own time!! Isn't it lovely?

Well, my life here is tough and challenging. I have to adhere to their 37.5 hours of working hours at the same time go oncall at night for organ retrieval. Could you imagine after the tiring work in the day time, you have to stay up to work overtime till next day morning 6-7am?

You really have to park your phone beside you ALL the time whenever you are on retrieval call! The chances of being activated are sky high. I was oncall for 6 days and was activated 4 times!!! Yes, maybe you could say i'm such a jink....but well,the fact explains.

There's only ONE organ retrieval team in the WHOLE Scotland and north Ireland. Wherever there is a suitable candidate as organ donor in the area, RIE transplant unit will be activated for retrieval. A dedicated vehicle will transport them to the donor hospital as long as journey within 80 miles, otherwise they fly. That's why i got to hop onto a flight which Madonna used to take 2 years ago, and flew to Ireland for organs retrieval!

It was really an extraordinary exposure to be able to assist for the entire procedure. Especially with a mixture of Irish and Scottish team of surgeons! All thanks to Pam, my mentor.

This is my fourth retrieval in UK. Yeah! more to come!!!

Alright,after the eventful weeks, i'm actually in a train heading to London!! Depart to Paris by eurostar after London trip.

Do you kmow that my silly dear dear is meeting me in Paris for our first anniversary!! hahaha....

A Trip to Dundee Hospital

I was on my way to the Ninewells Hospital located in Dundee when I took this nice scenic photo. Such a nice greeny view accompanied me through the an hour and half journey to the Dundee. The hospital is under the National Health Service of UK, which belongs to the same family as my training hospital, NHS Lothian while this is NHS Tayside.

This is their authorised vehicle for multi organs retrieval whenever there is an activation. Driver remains the same person for each retrieval.

A fully loaded van with boxes and sterile items.


I was there for non-heart beating multi organs retrieval in which patient was announced as DNR status with heart and brain still functioning. Relatives have agreed with organ donations and hence activated the retrieval team which includes two surgeons, one scrub nurse and one trained personal for perfusion (similar to AU, but they do perfusion as well).


After the retrieval team has arrived at the hospital, patient would then be sent down to operating theatre. Prior to the sending, all the life supporting machines and treatments would be withdrawn. Everyone is basically waiting for the patient to die naturally with the scrub nurse and trolley fully prepared and perfusion fluid ready.


Unfortunately we came back empty-handed. Patient survives more than two hours. They called off this retrieval but, patient remains unaided until her end of life.........

I know this sounds terrible, but the organs may help others.

Princes Street and Fireworks Concert

Flew to Edinburgh only on September hence I have missed out the lovely international festival here. However, with a very kind-hearted landlady around, we were given three complementery tickets for the finale of the festival celebration - Fireworks concert at the Edinburgh Castle.

It started at 9pm and we actually were queue-ing from 630pm!! hahaha......excuse me, we are not bringing Singapore kiasu culture to Edinburgh. We were being warned to get there early if not we will never get into the garden for fireworks viewing!!

Princes street is the first street we visited in Edinburgh. I just so much in love with their building style - old England buildings are everywhere along the streets. I happened to walk pass a shopping centre which looks like a hotel to me at the first glance. Check the photos out and you will get what I mean....

Journey to Edinburgh..

It was on 4th September when I had to separate from my dearest and travel to Edinburgh, a 7-hour behind us country.

Deardear brought me to our favourite Japanese restaurant Wasabi Tei to farewell me with a sumptuous dinner. While we were waiting for the dishes, we realized that the next day is going to be their last day of business! Another Japanese owner will be taking over the restaurant as two of them are due for their retirement. It's such a waste that I could not enjoy any more delicious sashimi from them..........

Meet Kim and husband, Mag and Pek Lian in the airport at 2100 hours. Despite of having a hard day at work, the girls farewell ed me as if I am leaving for two years when it is only two months. Haha..... I feel so loved when they gave me a box of chocolates and sweets to keep my stomach full for the whole journey! They know me well enough, know that I will be crying for food during the 14 hours flight.

I am so tired now as I was not able to have a good sleep in the cabin. I was fearful of the potential DVT I might suffer......because my feet was so cold and numb, and there is no room for me to stretch my legs. As compared to the flight that I took to Seoul, this is NOT comfortable at all.......Boeing 777 is big but seats are not the best.

Therefore, good night guys..........

*Deardear, I am missing you badly..... Must take care of yourself and rest well there ya... Love you.