It's my birthday! Our Day-3 in Penang!!

Selamat pagi terakhir Penang!!! Menggigil seluruh anggota badan, sejuk teramat! Hujan lebat mungkin malam tadi. Menjenguk Irfan, kaki dia pun sejuk, peluk dia lama-lama, bagi hangat sikit badan. Dah hangat tu, jenguk ke jendela. Subhanallah! Walaupun awan mendung tapi nampak bersih sungguh udara. Hijau, biru, puas betul rasa!! 

Bangun pagi, sebelum mandi dan mengemas beg baju dan segala, kejutkan Irfan dulu minum susu. Dia pun layan juga cuaca sejuk ni, nak tidur je. Hahaha!!

Jam 12.30 pm macam tu, kami check-out. Bersedia untuk satu lagi perjalanan jauh, pulang ke kesibukan kota KL.!

Tapi, sebelum pulang.. Ada lagi satu keunikan makanan yang kami belum pergi. Haa!! Pasembur!! Kami pun terus menuju ke Persiaran Gurney, astaka orang Penang panggil tempat tu. Fuh!! Waktu hujan, renyai.. Irfan pun keletihan masa tu sebab baru lepas mengamuk, sembelit. Dah yak yak, baru dia okay. Haha! Tiba kat lokasi, kami order apa yang kami nak. Mula-mula nampak, semua nak ambil, tamak!!!

Sekali sampai atas meja... Haa!! Selambak!! Makan la sampai muntah! Haha!!

Dah kenyang, tiba lah masanya.. Pulang ke tempat asal.. Sobs!!!!

Bye Penang.. Jumpa lagi nanti!!!

Thank you Allah! For giving me the chance to spend my days with my husband and my son.

Thank you sayangku Fandy, for everything.

And, you know, the decision for a holiday trip to Penang is purposely to reminiscing our memories back then in 2008. How time flies. We weren't a couple yet but today, here in Penang, we are married and with a child. How sweet is that. And just so you know, I love you sayang.



It's my birthday! Our Day-2 in Penang!!

Hello Penang! Assalammualaikum. Bangun dari katil, menghela nafas seketika, berjalan perlahan menuju ke jendela, selak 'sliding door', nampak keindahan laut terbentang luas depan mata. Subhanallah!! Tak ada nikmat hari Sabtu selain dari apa yang saya dapat lihat pagi tu.

Cantik sungguh! Cuaca pun ibarat macam mengundang je untuk kami pergi jalan-jalan bandar sepanjang hari tu.

 

Memandangkan kami lewat keluar dari hotel, dah nak singgah ke tengahari pun, kami terus lah usaha pencarian untuk sumber makanan. Tak lain yang dicari, Nasi Kandar Line Clear lagi!!! Bukannya apa, semalam nya makan bungkus, tak puas rasanya, nak juga rasa makan kat kedai!! Hahaha!!

Kenyang perut semuanya, kami memang dah nekad nak berjalan seharian, sekeliling bandar Penang tu. Yang pastinya, tak akan la kami lepaskan peluang untuk bergambar di Street Art in Georgetown!!

Street Art in Georgetown, merupakan hasil karya Ernest Zacharevick melalui hasil lukisan tangan dia di lorong-lorong kecil bandar, kebanyakannya menggambarkan kehidupan seharian penduduk Georgetown. Ada 8 lukisan tangan yang boleh kita terokai. Selain daripada tu, ada juga Welded Iron Wall Caricatures yang merupakan hasil metal sculptures, mengimbas dan mempamerkan keunikan yang sering diperkatakan di bandar itu. Kalau welded iron ni, ada 24 sculptures semuanya.

Haaa!! Bagi yang rajin, boleh sewa basikal atau motor, keliling bandar dan berhenti untuk ambil gambar. ;p .Bagi kami pula, kami pusing naik kereta, parking tepi jalan, turun kereta dan ambil gambar, kemudian sambung lagi perjalanan sehinggalah kami penat. Hahahaha!!! Letih weyhhh... Tak tipu! Dengan panas terik nya lagi, mujur Irfan pun syok bergambar. Hahahaha!!

Penat bergambar, apa lagi.... Cari makan lah!! Kami pi Padang Kota Lama (haaa.. nampak tak? da ada dah bahasa utara kat situ..).. Bagi saya, kat sini sedapnya Coconut Milk Shake! Nak rasa Char Kuey Teow pun boleh tahan juga. Tapi Coconut Milk Shake sini memang terbaik, sebab dia tak blend sekali semua, isi dia tu, dia keluarkan dulu, potong kecik-kecik, jadi bila tak blend, tak rasa serat kelapa tu, tak sakit tekak!! Kalau mai sini, pakat pi try na..!!

Kami kemudiannya, balik hotel, berehat tidur sekejap. Lewat petang tu, baru kami keluar balik, pergi Batu Feringghi!! Nak pi mandi lauutt!! Malangnya, petang tu tak bawa pula kamera, sebab risau kamera kena sauk bila letak kat tepi laut tu. Dah siap da ni, beli swimming suit Irfan, beli pelampung dia. Tapi takde gambar. Jadinya, tinggal kenangan dalam ingatan je la. Tak pe. Lain kali, saya ambil gambar lain dia mandi laut ke, dapat tengok ekspresi muka dia masa tu. Hahaha!!! Lawak sunggoh habaq hang..!

Malam, tak puas lagi berjalan, kami pi lagi Batu Feringghi, singgah Night Market pula niatnya. Tapi, cari makan dulu, jumpa kedai arab ni, Restaurant Hadramot. Sedap!!! Order makan Mandy Chicken Rice, makan untuk 2 orang. Fuh!!! Ayam dia, lembut, cukup perasa, main carik-carik pakai sudu je!! Nasi pun sedap, tak kering, tak berminyak sangat, rasa ayam pun kuat! Sedap! Sedap! Boleh cuba nanti eh..

Dah tu, baru jalan Night Market. Tapi tak jumpa apa pun nak shopping. Sekadar tengok-tengok je. Dah jalan dari hujung ke hujung gerai, terus balik hotel. Tidur!! Zzzzzzzzz...... 

It's my birthday! Our Day-1 in Penang!!

Tak habis-habis lagi 'demam' hari jadi saya haritu, hari ni saya nak share pengalaman seronok kami sekeluarga bercuti di Pulau Pinang haritu!

 

Seharusnya percutian ni jadi percutian beramai-ramai dengan kawan-kawan saya, tapi malangnya, hari yang sepatutnya kami bertolak ke Penang tu, Irfan demam teruk sebab keracunan makanan. Mujur, pihak Copthorne Orchid Hotel, Penang bagi kelonggaran untuk kami tunda tarikh percutian tu. Kalau tak, memang burn terus duit booking tu. Haaa..

 

 Tak lama pun kami pergi, 3 hari je. Saya pun request cuti hari Jumaat tu. Jadi, cerita dia macam ni..

 

Jumaat lepas subuh tu, terus kami gerak dari KL sebab nak elakkan traffic orang pergi kerja hari Jumaat pagi. Tolak tepi perjalanan dan hentian-hentian yang kami singgah tu, kami sampai Penang lebih kurang jam 11.30 am.

Waktu kami sampai Penang tu pun, hujan, gerimis. Awan pun tak berapa nak ceria sangat.

Memang kami dah plan, sampai je Penang, kami nak makan Nasi Kandar Line Clear! Tapi, memandangkan hujan, kami tapau nasi kandar, bawa balik hotel. Hahaha. Janji dapat makan..!!

Balik hotel selesai check-in, makan semua, kami ambil la nap sejam dua. Petang lewat sikit, baru kami pergi Bukit Bendera. Hoh! Sejuk la amat sebab masa tu baru reda hujan. Harga tiket entrance, dewasa patutnya RM8. Tapi saya dengan Fandy ada student card, dapat la RM4 seorang per entry. Hahahaha!!! Irfan free lah!

Malam tu, lepas turun Penang Hill, kami pergi cari restoran yang jual makanan laut, fresh punya! Erm. Lupa nama exact restoran tu, tapi dekat area Queensbay. Sedap!! Sotong goreng tepung dia memang mengundang!!

Selesai dah perjalanan hari pertama dan berakhirlah hari jadi saya yang ke 25!
Syok laa haii dapat jalan-jalan.!!

 

Jauh dari KL, kesibukan kerja, tanggungjawab berat semua ni, memang lepas lega. Rasa lapang dada. Dapat bersama suami, anak lagi. Tak ada yang lebih istimewa dari ni. Haiihhh...
Happy sangat lah! K bye. hahahaha!

It's my birthday, and thank you for the warm wishes!!

"Allah selamatkan saya, Allah selamatkan saya, Allah selamatkan Darleen Md Ramli,

Allah selamatkan saya!!"

haha!! Yes! It is my birthday! The big two five (",)

Alhamdulillah...

I can't tell you how overjoyed I am today. It feels so good especially when I get the chance to celebrate them in Penang at the same time reminiscing our memories back then in 2008.

 

I am so proud of myself and of everything I have been through in my life so far. Today I decided to give myself a break though there are tonnes of work in the office, and allocate my 3 days off for my dearest husband and my little cute adorable son.

 

At the same time, I feel overwhelmed with the wishes and doa which is not only dedicated to me but my little son as well. Thank you so much family and friends. I know, I can't live alone in this world, I need my family and I need my friends too. Thank you for always be there for me, listen to me, cheering me up and having fun together. I am blessed.

 

To my dearest husband, thank you sayang. I don't know how should I say right here right now. But, I love you! I love you so much. You are so sweet, so handsome despite you're gaining weight (haha!) and sayang... I know life has treated us so badly, but with you, I have this strength, this love, this smile, this happiness, this sadness and everything emotionally, but you.. You always be by my side through thick and thin. I love youuuuuuuu!!!

 

Thank you Allah for another year of life. May Allah ease our journey. Thank you!!

Thank you from us and Muhammad Irfan

Subhanallah. Alhamdulillah. Lailahaillallah. Allahuakbar.

 

Dearest family and friends..

 

I received tremendous calls, sms, whatsapps, wechat, and inbox from family and friends. I seriously don't expect this much of response and such overwhelmed feelings with all the supportive, spiritual, inspiring words.

 

Thank you so much. Thank you.

 

InsyaAllah. For as long as we are still breathing, alive, we will give out all we can for him.

 

Well, Irfan is happy too. He says hello to everyone!!!

Muhammad Irfan, a story of a beautiful boy of us..

Assalammualaikum w.b.t.

Alhamdulillah, praise to Allah S.W.T. the Almighty, for giving me the time and chance to write about something so dear to me. It took me a while to gather the courage to finally put this in words. It is the story about my precious son, Muhammad Irfan. I have kept this story to myself and family previously, but now is the right time to tell.

Telling this story feels like revisiting an old wound, painful and something that I would like to avoid. But I know this is the reality and being brave means being able to tell it without hesitancy. Truthfully, I don’t know where to start. In fact, while I’m writing this, I was afraid. Afraid to be labeled as someone who is looking for sympathy. Was it the right thing to do? In all honesty, all I want was to share my experience, especially to those parents who are in the same boat as us.

This is a story about Muhammad Irfan.

October 13^th2012, was a date I could never forget. It was the day he was born. It is true, what they say about labor; the long hours of agonizing pain, the anxiety, it felt like you’re fighting a battle, only today, I’m bringing another life into this world. God is great, the all knowing.

The moment when he was put on my chest, I was overwhelmed with this undefined feeling. His eyes were searching for mine, and when they met, I knew I had fallen in love with him. Alhamdulillah.

A short while after that magical moment, he was taken by the doctor for assessment. My battle, however, wasn’t over yet. I was bleeding profusely after the delivery and they had to take extra measures to stabilize me. The pain was unbearable. Despite being in the labor room for more than 10 hours, in my mind, I only think about my beautiful boy. Suddenly there’s this unsettling feeling inside of me. My maternal instinct was trying to tell me something.

After my condition had stabilized and transferred to the ward, I requested to hold my beautiful baby. I want to shower him with kisses and hug him with all my might but things were delayed. My mind started racing with doubts, thinking all the possible things that might happened to him. Worries overcoming me.

Awhile after, he was brought to me by the doctor. I was trying to keep calm and push out all the negativity filling my head. The doctor looked at me with her sad eyes, and placed my beautiful boy next to me. The subsequent words coming out from her mouth broke me. “Darleen, I hope you could be calm and strong with what I‘m going to tell you. We did few tests on your child and we found that his head circumference is smaller than the normal baby. We expect there is an abnormality in his brain.”

I looked deep into her eyes, trying to hold my tears, trying to digest the information, trying hard not to scream. But at that moment, being strong is not possible.

“I’m really sorry for saying this, but we expect the child to live between 2 weeks to 2 months because of the abnormality.” I felt my world collapsed. Tears gushed out like a bursting dam, all I could do was kissed and hugged my baby, told him that I love him dearly.

The doctor hugged me and excused herself after that. My husband and my parents were astounded, speechless. My husband, Fandy, hugged me and whispered words of encouragement, asking me to be strong and reassured that he’ll be there with me at every step of the way. Mama hugged me next. I know deep down she wished to turn back the time, when I’m just a small fetus, in her womb, hoping that I don’t have to go through all this. I couldn’t stop crying. My dad came near us, and said something that became my strength until this day. “Brace yourself, even when it’s hard, because God has made it this way. Your beautiful baby will wait for you in the heaven. That’s His promised.”

Subhanallah! (The Glorified is Allah)

On the 7^th day of his life, my beautiful boy, Irfan, was scheduled for an MRI. My heart screamed, looking at that small fragile body going into the big noisy machine. I couldn’t stop myself from crying. Every step seemed so painful. I could only pray to Allah, for Him to replace my baby’s brain with mine. And if it is His plan to take this beautiful life from me, I am ready. Repeatedly I prayed and prayed for the best.

Allahuakbar, God is the All mighty!

If there is a lowest point of my life, this would be it. I wasn’t completely healed from my Bell’s Palsy, diagnosed few months back. I was jobless at that time, worried sick about Irfan’s condition, and to make things worse, I lost my friends (some, not all), when I needed them the most.

We constantly have countless doubts in our minds. Question of what, why, how, kept playing, with no exact answers, made us more scared than we already were. We received a lot of opinions, perceptions from people around us. Scientifically, Irfan’s brain development was interrupted because of the Dengue Fever I had in my first trimester. That’s the crucial time for baby’s vital organs to develop, especially the brain. Even the smallest slightest error could affect his development.

Alhamdulliah, all praises are for Allah.

Now Irfan is nearing 1 year of age. “Kun faya kun”; Be! And it is! If Allah has made it that way, it will be that way. Irfan is still with us. He can’t sit or crawl or walk or respond like a normal baby in his age, but he is still with us. I am thankful and grateful for that.

We begin to relive our lives. I have a job now and my husband is finishing his studies. Irfan’s treatment, physiotherapy and stimulatherapy do costs us quite a lot, but we will try to give our best for him. As long as we are able and strong, we will work things out for him, for us. Supports from family and closed friends are endless. I admit that sometimes I feel like I’m the luckiest person alive for having this positive people around me during the good times and bad. I know who’s real and who’s not.

One thing for sure, we keep on believing and hold on to the fact that, this beautiful boy, will wait for us in the heaven, as Allah had promised. And our role as his parents is to love and cherish him for as long as he lives. Insyaallah. Our love for him is eternal. Today, his smiles and laughter helps washes off our fears, worries and tiredness.

This sweet beautiful boy of mine is diagnosed with
Congenital Brain Anomaly and Global Developmental Delay (GDD).

Muhammad Irfan, he’s the love of our lives.