Open letter to thank doctors and medical staff of Queen Mary hospital

There are several personnel and departments for my case, viz. Dr. Johnathan Lau (ENT), Dr. Vivian Mok (H&N), Dr. Ambrose Ho (H&N), Dr. Joseph Chung (H&N), Dr. Kelvin Mo (H&N), anesthetist Yow Chee Kung and all medical staff of the ICU2, D6 and K16S.

關於我的情況是涉及多個醫生及部門，耳鼻喉科劉佳音醫生，頭頸科莫蔚琪醫生，何頌偉醫生，鍾漢平醫生，巫文亮醫生，麻醉師Yow Chee Kung（剛在7月6日收到電郵，邱次剛麻醉師的中文名稱是邱次剛。）及ICU2、D6、K16S所有醫護人員。

Brief statement of happening
事件簡述

Dr. Johnathan Lau has arranged an instant operation to open a temporary tracheostoma on Aug. 18, 2009 after three tumors were discovered on my throat. Such fast action prevented me from suffocation that might kill me.

劉佳音醫生在2009年8月18日因我喉嚨出現了三個腫瘤立即安排手術來造出一個臨時的造口來呼吸避免我會因此而窒息至死。

Dr. Johnathan Lau and Dr. Kelvin Mo have saved me on Jun. 8, 2010 when I had big blood clots in my tracheostoma that almost leading to suffocation.

劉佳音醫生及巫文亮醫生在2010年6月8日當我因有大血塊堵塞呼吸進行緊急清理挽救了生命。

Dr. Vivian Mok, Dr. Ambrose Ho and Dr. Joseph Chung of H&N have handled the surgical operation to remove my throat and lymphocyte of both sides on Sep. 28, 2009. Their skill gave me the best outcome one can expect.

頭頸科莫蔚琪醫生，何頌偉醫生，鍾漢平醫生負責我在2009年9月28日的割除喉嚨及淋巴腺手術，使我得到最佳效果。

Anesthetist Yow Chee Kung has treated me twice with his expert skill. The first one on Aug. 18, 2009, the choice was for local anaesthesia instead of general anaesthesia in the first stage to be sure that my lung would work fine when the temporary stoma was created. The second one was on Sep. 28, 2009, arranging the air flow for my lung and general anaesthesia for the operation to remove the throat and lymphocyte of both sides, with closing of the temporary stoma replacing by a permanent stoma.

麻醉師Yow Chee Kung（不知什麼原因在瑪麗醫院的網頁上，麻醉科專家是沒有中文姓名，我曾寄電郵給該網頁的主理但至今仍未有收到任何回覆）剛在7月6日收到電郵，麻醉師的中文名稱是邱次剛。以他的專業技術處理了我兩次。第一次在2009年8月18日決定初步是採用局部麻醉來確定在臨時造口後我的肺部能夠繼續呼吸。第二次是在2009年9月28日在割除喉嚨及淋巴腺時與關閉臨時造口製造一個長期造口的過程中安排提供氧氣及全身麻醉給這個手術。

On Aug 4, 2009, after passing out on an ambulance, I did not know what happened thereafter. When I woke up, I was in the ICU2 of Queen Mary Hospital. With several shift of nurses, I was handled with the best medical services for recovery that made me falling in love with the ICU, forgetting that this is a place for critical life threatening cases.

在2009年8月4日當我在救護車上昏倒後，我是失去了知覺。我醒來時已是在瑪麗醫院ICU2。幾更的護士以最佳的醫療服務來照顧我，使我愛上了ICU忘記了這是有生命危險情況的地方。

On Jun. 8, 2010, when I felt smothering while waiting for doctor in the D6 of Queen Mary Hospital, I was rushing into ICU2 for rescue. The fast reaction of the nurses from putting me on bed, setting up laryngoscope, calling doctors, to assisting everything for the life saving operation is phenomenal.

在2010年6月8日我在D6等候醫生時出現了窒息現象，我被急忙送入了ICU2搶救。護士們以極快的速度進行病床安置，內窺鏡設備及急召醫生是令人驚訝的。

On Jun. 8, 2010, after the Rescue dept., I was taken to D6 around 8 am waiting for doctor because my condition was not serious at that time. But on 4 pm, I suddenly had a smothering feeling and called the nurse. Their co-operation to put me on a bed, packing all my belongings, setting pulse oximeter etc. and rushing me to the ICU in a shortest time. I believe that this fast reaction is one of the factors to my survival.

在2010年6月8日上午8時許由於情況仍算穩定我由急症室轉到D6等候醫生。但在下午4時我出現了窒息感覺及照會護士。他們齊手把我放上床，收拾個人物品，安置血氧計及以最快的速度運到ICU。他們的效率對我的救活起了極大的作用。

Before Sep. 28, 2009 I had stayed in K16S before the surgery when doctors had to check the conditions of my body and arranging the schedule of operation. After surgery, the first stage of recovery is hard and critical. That is the period when services of nurses and medical staffs are important for all patients. Their professional skill, tenderness, care and dedication were so great that my days there became a sweet memory instead of pain.

On Jun. 18, 2010 I was transferred from D6 to K16D. This time, I stayed for about a week and had their best attention for my recovery from infection of the stoma.

我在2009年9月28日的手術前在K16S進行各種檢查及等待手術排期。手術後康復的頭段時期是關鍵性及較痛苦的。這段時期護士及護理人員對病人是極重要的。他們極佳的專業水準，溫柔態度，無比關懷及專注使我在這段時期由痛苦變成了甜蜜回憶。

在2010年6月18日我由D6轉到K16S。這次在一個星期內得到他們悉心照顧我的造口在感染後的康復。

Individual details
個別詳細情況

Dr. Johnathan Lau
劉佳音醫生

Aug. 4, 2009 after passing out on an ambulance that intent to take me to Grantham Hospital, I was taken to Queen Mary Hospital for rescue. Then I was transferred to Grantham Hospital. On May 18, 2009, a new advisory doctor did not accept that my voice problem’s assumption and ordered an immediate laryngoscopy. Thanks to his judgment, they saw three pieces of tumor sitting on top of the throat. So they sent me back to Queen Mary Hospital and asked the ENT section to follow up. They also had a doctor taking the photo and note to accompany me for the ride and handed over to the houseman. The ENT doctor, Dr. Johnathan Lau, ordered a bedside laryngoscopy and confirmed that if the tumors continued to expand, I might be dead in a day or two. Therefore an immediate operation within one hour was arranged to open a stoma in the neck for breathing and getting some pieces of tumors for analysis. My life was saved because of the advisory doctor’s judgment and your immediate action, Dr. Lau.

2009年8月4日我在本來運送我到葛量洪醫院的救護車上昏倒，於是把我急忙送到瑪麗醫院進行急救。之後轉回到葛量洪醫院。在8月18日一位新到的顧問醫生並不接受我聲線問題的假設，他立即安排胃鏡再檢查。多得他的判斷，他們發現在喉嚨位置出現了三個腫瘤物體。所以立即送我回瑪麗醫院及通知耳鼻喉科。更派一位醫生帶同照片及資料與我一起到瑪麗交給當值醫生。耳鼻喉科的劉佳音醫生要即時在床邊的胃鏡，確定如果腫瘤繼續擴大，我將有生命危險。所以要立即在一小時內進行手術在頸部開一個臨時造口來呼吸及取腫瘤樣本進行化驗。我的生命因那位顧問醫生的判斷及閣下，劉佳音醫生，的快速處理而保了下來。

Dr. Johnathan Lau and Dr. Kelvin Mo
劉佳音醫生及巫文亮醫生

On Jun. 8, 2010 in the early morning, I had a feeling that there was something inside the stoma that I could not eject by any means. This told me that something bad would happen soon, so I took a taxi to the Rescue Dept. of Queen Mary Hospital. I told the nurse there about my case. They arranged an X-ray of the lung and then transferred me to the D6 waiting for Head & Neck doctor to see me since I was quite stable at that time. But on 4 pm, I had a smothering feeling and called the nurse instantly. Then I was moved to the ICU2 and after checking that there was blood clot blocking the airway with just a tiny slit that spared my breathing, they called H&N, ENT doctor for urgent rescue. Dr. Johnathan Lau and Dr. Kelvin Mo rushed into the ICU2 within a very short time and started to take the blood clot from my tracheostoma.

Dr. Johnathan Lau started to work without any protection. When I ejected droplets of blood, sputum and dirty things upon him, he just had time to ask for a face shield but his hair and white robe became the target for the ejection. After some times, there remained a big blood clot down below, you, Dr. Lau, asked me to eject so that he could use the forceps to catch it. But that was not easy. We kept trying and several forceps were exchanged, finally with a strong ejection and his fast reaction the big blood clot was caught and pulled out. Every one in the room clapped with joy. I immediately found that fresh air was breathing in and because I could not speak I just said to myself “Dr. Lau, you save me for the second time, thank you”. The total time for this operation was one hour.

在2010年6月8日早上我感覺有些東西在造口內不能噴出來。這告訴我將會有麻煩出現，所以立即乘的士到瑪麗醫院急症室。我告訴護士我的情況。因為我的狀態尚算穩定，在照了一幅X光片後就把我送到D6等候頭頸科醫生。但在下午四時我忽然感到窒息及通知了護士，就把我急急送到了ICU2。檢查後證實我的造口內有大血塊而且只有一條極窄的裂縫維持呼吸，他們立即急召頭頸及耳鼻喉科醫生來搶救。劉佳音醫生及巫文亮醫生在極短時間內趕到及開始把造口的血塊抽出來。在開始時劉佳音醫生並沒有任何保護。當我噴出血點痰塊等時，他只能及時帶上面罩，他的頭髮及白袍成為了噴發的目標。在進行了一段時間後，仍有一塊很大的血塊在下面，閣下，劉醫生，叫我用力噴它上來等他可以用鉗子夾住。但這次並不容易，在多次努力及更換幾個鉗子後，終於在一次大力噴出後閣下生快速夾住及拉了出來。房間內所有人都快樂地鼓掌起來。我立即感到清新的空氣吸了入來，因我不能說話只有在心中說：劉醫生你已是第二次救了我，多謝。整個過程足足一個鐘頭。

H&N Dr. Vivian Mok, Dr. Ambrose Ho and Dr. Joseph Chung
頭頸科莫蔚琪醫生，何頌偉醫生，鍾漢平醫生

After confirming that my throat and lymphocyte of both sides had cancer tumors, the doctors of Head & Neck decided that I needed a surgery to remove the throat the whole lymphocyte on the right and partial lymphocyte on the left. They said that there would be three scars on the neck. The surgery was scheduled on Sep. 28, 2009 around 8:30 am. I reported to K16S three days ahead and they tested everything before that date. You, Dr. Vivian Mok, Dr. Ambrose Ho and Dr. Joseph Chung of H&N handled the surgical operation.

As usual, after going into the surgery room and anaesthetized, I did not know anything until the nurse called “Ha, the operation is completed, wake up!” That was 4 pm. When I was bought back to my bed, I asked the medical staff to give me my mirror and mobile phone so that I could see my neck and send message to my wife that the operation had completed meaning that I was still alive.

在我的喉嚨及兩邊的淋巴腺確定患了癌症後，頭頸科的醫生認為我一定要用手術來割去喉嚨，右邊整個淋巴腺及左邊部份淋巴腺，也說明了我頸部將會有三條疤痕。手術訂在2009年9月28日上午約8時半。我在三天前到達了K16S，他們在那天前進行了手術前的一切檢查。你們，頭頸科莫蔚琪醫生，何頌偉醫生，鍾漢平醫生負責這個手術。

正如一般相同，入了手術室及打入了麻醉藥後不久我已經是昏迷了，發生什麼都不知道直至護士說：“喂，手術完成哪，醒來！”。時間已是下午四時。在我被送回病床後，我立即要求護理人員把我的鏡子及手提電話取出來，我就可以看看頸部如何及發短訊給我太太告訴她手術做完即是說我仍在生了。

The zipped look of the two scars, not three, was perfectly spaced and joint. I believed that my quick recovery was due to their perfect skill for this complicated surgery. Worth to note is that I cannot find any marks at all on the neck in a few months afterward. Although it is a bit late, yet I should still express my deepest appreciation for all of you, Dr. Vivian Mok, Dr. Ambrose Ho and Dr. Joseph Chung, for giving me the best outcome for such kind of surgery.

拉鍊式的兩列疤痕，不是三條，很完整及平均地封住。我深信我快速的康復與他們為這複雜的手術付出的高超技巧有絕對的關係。值得提出的是在三幾個月後我的頸部已看不到任何疤痕了。雖然是有點延遲。但我應該仍向你們，頭頸科莫蔚琪醫生，何頌偉醫生及鍾漢平醫生，提出我最深切的感謝回應你們給我這種手術的最佳結果。

Anesthetist Yow Chee Kung
麻醉師Yow Chee Kung（不知什麼原因在瑪麗醫院的網頁上，麻醉科專家是沒有中文姓名，我曾寄電郵給該網
頁的主理但至今仍未有收到任何回覆）剛在7月6日收到電郵，邱次剛麻醉師的中文名稱是邱次剛。

You, Anesthetist Yow Chee Kung has treated me twice with his expert skill. The first one on Aug. 18, 2009, the choice was for local anaesthesia instead of general anaesthesia in the first stage to be sure that my lung would work fine when the temporary stoma was created. The second one was on Sep. 28, 2009, arranging the air flow for my lung and general anaesthesia for the operation to remove the throat and lymphocyte of both sides, with closing of the temporary stoma replacing by a permanent stoma. The two surgeries were smoothly performed and I had the best outcome thanks to your work.

邱次剛麻醉師，閣下以專業技術處理了我兩次。第一次在2009年8月18日決定初步是採用局部麻醉來確定在臨時造口後我的肺部能夠繼續呼吸。第二次是在2009年9月28日在割除喉嚨及淋巴腺時與關閉臨時造口製造一個長期造口的過程中安排提供氧氣及全身麻醉給這個手術。兩次的手術進行非常順利，多得閣下的工作，我得到最佳的結果。

Nurses of the ICU2
ICU2護士

On Aug 4, 2009, after passing out on an ambulance, I did not know what happened thereafter. When I regained my sense, a young and pretty face was in front of me. A gentle and touching voice said “Ah, you’ve wake up, do you know where you are?” I thought that I was not a Muslim and did not kill any American, I should not be like what they said that……... Due to my blinking eyes, she said, “You are now in the ICU of Queen Mary Hospital since you fainted on the ambulance yesterday”. From then onward, I was treated by you with the best care one could expect. That made me fell in love with the ICU, forgetting that it is for critical and dangerous condition of patients.

在2009年8月4日當我在救護車上昏倒後，我是失去了知覺。我醒來時看到一個青春美麗的面孔。以溫柔及感人的聲音說：“呵！你醒來了，知道在什麼地方嗎？”。我想想我又不是回教徒又沒有殺了美國人，我不應……..看到我眨眨眼，她說“由於你昨日在救護車昏倒，你是在瑪麗醫院深徹治療部。”從那時起，你們以最佳的醫療服務來照顧我，使我愛上了ICU忘記了這是有生命危險情況的地方。

Without real experience, I think that no one will aware that our medical system has provided us with such kind of best service. With the cost of over ten thousand a day, HK citizen needs to pay just one hundred dollars. Oh, how great that is.

沒有親身體驗，我相信沒有人會知道我們的醫療系統給我們提供了這樣的最佳服務。以超過一萬元的成本，香港市民只需付一百元。呵，這真的很偉大了。

On Jun. 8, 2010, after a smothering condition due to blood clot in the tracheostoma blocking my airway, I was sent to the ICU2 for emergency rescue. After arriving there, you quickly arranged everything from dressing to setting up laryngoscope and calling H&N, ENT doctors, assisting all works until I was rescued. Your efficiency and concentration is so great up to the joyful clapping when I was finally released from the last big blood clot put me into tears. This is the highest humanity that protects us, how fortunate we are.

在2010年6月8日我出現了因血塊阻塞出現窒息現象，我被急忙送入了ICU2搶救。你們以極快的速度進行更衣至安置內窺鏡設備，急召頭頸及耳鼻喉科醫生，協助一切工作直至挽救完畢為止。你們的效率及專注是極佳在最後的大血塊抽出來的歡呼鼓掌把我的眼淚都迫了出來。 這是保護我們的最高人道行為，我們是多麼幸福。

in fact, what we know about the hospital is neither the Authority nor Doctors. You and those of D6 and K16S were in front of me physically and my impression was based on naturally. You had done a great job for that.

事實上我們認識醫院絕不是醫管局或醫生。你們和D6及K1t6S等正是在我面前的人，我對醫管局及醫院的印象自然地從你們而來。你們對這方面有傑出的貢獻。

Medical staff of D6
D6護士及護理人員

On Jun. 8, 2010, after the Rescue dept., I was taken to D6 around 8 am waiting for doctor because my condition was not serious at that time. You had advised H&N and expected the doctor to come when available. But on 4 pm, I suddenly had a smothering feeling and called your nurse. At least four to five nurses and medical staff of your dept., co-operated to put me on a bed, packing all my belongings, setting pulse oximeter etc. and rushing me to the ICU in a shortest time. I believe that this fast reaction is one of the factors to my survival. After the ICU, I was brought back to D6 from Jun. 13 to Jun. 18.

During my stay there, some patients had complaints about this and that. Not me, I always in good terms with all medical staff because I understood what could one expect and what they could do for you. In fact, from the doctors to all of you, medical staff, the manner and performance had been greatly improved and almost many times better than before when Hong Kong was still a colony. I do appreciate your services for those six days.
in fact, what we know about the hospital is neither the Authority nor Doctors. You and those of ICU2 and K16S were in front of me physically and my impression was based on naturally. You had done a great job for that.

在2010年6月8日上午8時許由於情況仍算穩定我由急症室轉到D6等候，你們已通知了頭頸科，醫生將會在完成緊急工作後來。但在下午4時我出現了窒息感覺及照會你們的護士。你們最少有四五位護士及醫療人員齊手合力把我放上床，收拾個人物品，安置血氧計及以最快的速度運到ICU。你們的效率對我的救活起了極大的作用。在深徹治療部之後，我被送回D6及在那裡由6月13日,至18日止。期間不少病人有各種的投訴。我絕不會，因為我明白可以期望什麼而你們可以做什麼。事實上，由醫生至你們，護理人員，的態度及表現已有極大的改善，比以前香港仍是殖民地已好了幾個番了。我極之感謝你們在那六天給我的一切照顧。

事實上我們認識醫院絕不是醫管局或醫生。你們和ICU2及K16S等正是在我面前的人，我對醫管局及醫院的印象自然地從你們而來。你們對這方面有傑出的貢獻。

Medical staff of K16S
K16S護士及護理人員

Before Sep. 28, 2009 I had stayed in K16S before the surgery when doctors had to check the conditions of my body and arranging the schedule of operation. This period I could find that all of you, medical staffs of K16S, were friendly and professional only. After surgery, the first stage of recovery is hard and critical. That is the period when services of nurses and medical staff are important for all patients. Your professional skill, tenderness, care and dedication are so great that my days there became a sweet memory instead of pain. From early morning to late night, the nurses had checked my tracheostoma and readily to clean if any sputum etc., were found. The caring was even greater than by me.

在2009年9月28日手術前我是在K16S等待醫生檢查我的情況及安排日期。這段時期我只可發覺你;們，K16S醫護人員，是很友善及專業。手術後康復的頭段時期是關鍵性及較痛苦的。這段時期護士及護理人員對病人是極重要的。你們極佳的專業水準，溫柔態度，無比關懷及專注使我在這段時期由痛苦變成了甜蜜回憶。由清晨至午夜護士們都會檢查我的造口，一旦發現有痰等出現就會立即清理。關心的程度比我個人更甚。

On Jun. 18, 2010 I was transferred from D6 to your ward, K16S. In fact, a few days after the plastic tube was inserted to my tracheostoma in the ICU, I felt that the breathing out was very difficult and my body might be building up with carbon dioxide. Since it was arranged that I had the laryngoscope on Jun. 18, 2010, I prepared to ask the doctor to remove the tube if there was no more blood clot. Yes, there was no blood clot found. When I was back to D6, they told me about the transfer, so I prepared a note and intent to tell the nurse afterward. I did so after going to the K16S. The nurse instantly started to clean my tracheostoma and soon found that my condition remained bad. So she called for a senior, who soon suggested removing the tube. That released my breathing. Then you began to keep an eye on my tracheostoma.

在2010年6月18日我由D6轉到 你們的部門，K16S。事實上在深徹治療部裝上造口的膠管後，我已感到呼吸有點困難而身體也可能積聚二氧化炭‧由於已訂了6月18日進行氣管鏡檢查，我已準備在沒有血塊出現時要求醫生把膠管取出。但當我回到D6時，他們說我會轉往K16S，所以我預備了字條預算通知護士。到了K16S我交了給護士，她立即開始幫我清理造口但發現我的情況沒有改善。所以她快速找了一個高級護士來協助‧他很快就提議把膠管取出來。這樣就解放了我呼吸的問題。由那時開你們就一直留意我的造口情況。

in fact, what we know about the hospital is neither the Authority nor Doctors. You and those of ICU2 and D6 were in front of me physically and my impression was based on naturally. You had done a great job for that.

事實上我們認識醫院絕不是醫管局或醫生。你們和ICU2及D6等正是在我面前的人，我對醫管局及醫院的印象自然地從你們而來。你們對這方面有傑出的貢獻。