Pearls

“I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.”

-Marylin Monroe

Looks like my hormones scattered all over. Mood swings all through the day. I know it's the (woman) period. Again, got me fooling myself around. The heart freezes the brain, ridiculously paralyzes what the so called... logic.

View from my living room

Indira

Sweets for the sweetest Sist

Hunting for red velvet cake for a friend's birthday was what I did yesterday afternoon. Convivium cakery in Panglima Polim was the target. Unluckily, off to my know, it was weekend, and they don't serve take away order. Trying to overcome the blues, me accompanied by my friend, O, decided to have a try on this place's recommended carrot's cake, and looked for the the red cake somewhere else. 

The sign should also say, "Sunday Dine in Only."

Yeaah, still a bit pissed off here..

The carrot cake. The lemonade essence leaves this garnish not too sugary.

A day after, today to be exact, is my best friend's, A. N, birthday.

I finally got the red cake in some other place. Which really got me halfly frustrating, texted everybody here and there, and picked up the cake very early this morning. Phew. But don't worry, the taste was not disappointing. I'm so glad she's happy. And oh, sorry I couldn't afford the whole cake ;p

With dr. V.D, our (and my personal favorite) Glaucoma consultant.

To my dearest best friend, big sister, colleague, brain-in-crime, personal mind reader, or sometimes, even a second mother to me, though maybe you'd never read this, I'm wishing you a very wonderful birthday and great years to come. Thank you for all the love, laughter, wisdom and even the grumbles I sometimes couldn't stand. Thank you for always being there and loving me for who I am, with all the stubborn in me. I love you.

Sisterly hugs,
Indira

Pearls

"Fight for your dreams. Whatever that makes you happy. Even if it against all odds, I'm with you."

-My mother

There're times, when I'll be just enjoying myself, my cup and the bittersweetness of this place.
Switched from the usual macchiato, to latte, because at the very time, I know I'd better be decaffeinated.

Starbucks Coffee Teras Kota, April 14th 2012

Indira

Ophthalmologists~ do it eye-to-eye

In the last a couple of days, I have spent my very first days in the ophthalmology OR. So far, I hadn't really had the chance to perform many procedures, since as a newbie ophthalmology resident, we're only allowed to do the microsurgery in those with poor visual prognosis. But, on top of all, I really enjoy my time here. I was  having fun experimenting of taking pictures using my new tablet. 

View from OR 1A.

Mbak H, my senior in Refractive surgery, was about to perform small incision cataract operation. 

"Sculpt and chop"

Dr. S.M, my consultant in Glaucoma division, doing the phacoemulcification and trabeculectomy.

Phaco operation done by dr. B.H

A~ an old friend of mine, an anesthesiology resident, assisting us doing those operations under general anesthesia.While we do it eye-to-eye, she'll do it while you sleep.

 Patients quequeing before operation.

The recovery room.

So, scrub in, shall we? ;)

Indira

Eyes of the Innocents

I was tracing through some old folders and found these pile of left-forgotten photographs taken around July last year, when me and some friends were helping our seniors doing the research for their final thesis. The study took place in a public school in Tebet and was held for 5 days in a row. It was also held for charity, we provided free eye exams and glasses. I wasn't officially asked for documenting the event, so I didn't bring my SLR along. But, I couldn't help myself not to capture these wonderful children and moments. Sooo, I grabbed a friend's Sony pocket digicam, and just snapped around whatever I could get. Hopefully the pics still can quite tell the story for themselves :)

Good morning and welcome,

We arrived too early on the first day.

We were hungry like crazy, so we walked around a little just to calm the tummies down.
We found some street food nearby.
Seeing those toy stalls kind of recalled the childhood memories.

Tell me, who doesn't adore kueh cubit?

I bought a box of it for myself, and back then, I always used to have it half-baked.
And no, this time I wouldn't share ;P

We had our quick (and unhealthy) breakfast by the riverside. Let's say goodbye to hygiene for a while.

Mbak Aci was happy to find some cute sweets. She bought the Blackberry toy candy for her daughter.

We went back to the school, it was around 7. Some of the kids were doing the sport.

I remember the theme song that day. It was the famous Chaiyya Chayya these kids were danced into.

Each of us in position, getting ourselves ready...

Some of the boys started lining up at the registration table.

Bluey-shoey, so you're the little rule breaker, hey?

"The eyes of the innocents"

These beautiful twin dolls were very quiet. It's sad to know that they're fatherless.

The kids were so excited for the eye exams.

Kids posing for me. I still can feel their laughter of excitement.
One of them couldn't stop yelling, "Liat deh! Liat deh! Dokternya putih banget!" *me sighing*

Measuring their weight and height.
Can you feel that pure soul of innocence? Like there's no sense of disobedience. 

Mbak Aci doing the Hirschberg's corneal reflex test.

On the right hand side, a kid was having Titmus stereoscopic test.

Special visual acuity test for children, using Lea symbols.

The right pic: Bang Iqbal, one of our seniors, doing the Maddox rod test, for diplopia.

Mbak Rien, doing the Hertel, a test for ocular misalignment. 

Kids having OCT and pachymetry test. 

My desk, where I worked for the color vision test with Ishihara cards.

Me and Mbak Ria, my sister in crime during the 5 days. 

One of my patients, sooo sooo ready for the test. Such a sweetie.

My other patient... Why so serious, boy?

I wasn't giving you a math test, was I baby girl? Please don't give me that look.

At the very end, glasses to be given away if they're proven to be ametropic. Children were free to choose the model and color of their favorites. 

The happy teachers... who couldn't stop thanking us,

the happy us, felt so relieved to finally finished the tasks,

and surely the happy and wide-smiling seniors, after very long and exhausting days.

It always feels good to do something for others. To really see them smile. Such a warmth in our hearts :)

With love,
Indira