Friday March 27, 2009
Strict regime keeps the doctor going at 80
By LEE YUK PENG
KUALA LUMPUR: At the age of 80, the determination of Datuk Dr M. Balasegaram, one of the oldest patients on dialysis in the country, to carry on with life is strong as ever.
The former head of surgery of Hospital Kuala Lumpur has lived with the treatment for the past 20 years.
“It is the will to conquer. I conquer dialysis and not let dialysis conquer me,’’ said Dr Balasegaram at a public forum “Kidney failure and dialysis: A personal 20-year journey” recently.
The forum was held in conjunction with the World Kidney Day.
Staying fit: Dr Balasegaram (left) posing with Emeritus Prof Sir Roy Calne from the University of Cambridge at the Prince Court Medical Centre. He drew laughter from the audience when he said he outlived a doctor who had asked him how long he expected to live when he was first diagnosed with the ailment.
“He has since passed away but not me.
“I can fight this battle,’’ said Dr Balasegaram, adding that his survival was influenced by his military heroes Alexander the Great and General George S. Patton.
“I read military histories, military strategies and Asian civilisations. I learned that armies collapsed from within and not from outside,’’ he said.
Strict discipline is one thing he adheres to in his diet. Thus, for the past 20 years he has not eaten his favourite steak.
He controls the amount of water he consumes. His exercise regime includes walking over 7km in 38 minutes, then a sauna to sweat out the excess water.
“Support from my family and my wife is my source of motivation to battle on.
“My wife gives me the loving care and talks to me whenever I am down. My grandchildren will ask ‘Grandpa, are you okay?’” he said.
Dr Balasegaram said he has been meticulous in attending to his body’s needs and details of drug prescription.
He said he had never thought of a kidney transplant because “when a general decides something, he will stick to it.”
However, his one regret is that he did not start a transplant programme as laws were not in place in 1969 when he was still a surgeon.
News Poll
- Man posted doctored photos of Nik Aziz
- Heartbreaking wait for mum
- The world just got bigger
- Sodomy II: Live Updates
- Opposition leaders decry court’s ruling
- 5-0 for BN’s Zambry
- Thumbs-up for Najib
- Saiful files report over death threat
- WWF: Orang asli being used
- Fleet card cloning ring busted with arrest of trio
- 60 lose RM25mil in gold investment scam
- Canberra to set new skills list
- Fleet card cloning ring busted with arrest of trio
- MAS offers CNY bargains
- Kek Lok Si all lit up to welcome Year of the Tiger
- Toyota puts the brakes on problem
- Manila joins hunt for Semporna gunmen
- Man posted doctored photos of Nik Aziz
- WWF: Orang asli being used
- PM to share CNY joy with folk of Kg Pandamaran
RSS
