Yesterday, was that special day. Family visit to Star-care Hospital. Ingrid, ET and I.  The 15^th of March 2012.  A busy day it was.    


We were supposed to have the ultrasound scan at 9AM, and then, 9.30 was the appointment with doctor. The plan was, that after the hospital,  I drop Ingrid at her work place. They were having a kind of staff get together. Families invited too.  I could not see myself sitting there and doing a BBQ! Yes, I said BBQ!  Apparently it was to be a fun filled time of socializing, exchanges notes, darning socks and making jam bags!   The temperature gauge stood at 32.  How on earth does one sit around a BBQ and enjoy food?  It is beyond me.   And then later in the evening at  6pm we were on a  Treasure Hunt organized by a dear friend of ours.  The theme was Treasure Island. Hence, we were all pirates!  Four or Five teams of pirates were formed.  We combed the city for clues that will led us to the treasure.  A bit of cheating happened there. But then...It was fun!


And then dinner!  An evening of pillage and plunder!!!  Rape is not allow in Oman, hence that was dropped from the list of activities.   My only concerns right through out the evening was, that we share the neighbourhood ocean with Somalia.  Hope they did not get wind of the event. You know what I am thinking!  We do not want competitions from the professionals.   ‘Ho! Ho! Ho! And a bottle of rum…’

Back to my story...

We were at the hospital a little before time. 10 minutes.   We asked the reception about the Ultrasound section, where she promptly directed us to the Radiology section.  A lovely malayalee lady, kind and very hospitable welcomes us,

 ‘please sit here, ok?’ pointing to the waiting area.

'Can I take the newspapers? ' Ingrid asks a few moments later.

'Of course madam, that is for you?'  The lady says with a smile.

'Thank you!'  a smiling Ingrid replies.  It was last weeks newspaper, Ingrid tells me.

A while later, I notice a TV on the wall, that has not been switched on.

'Can I watch TV?' I ask.

'Yes sir, that is for you only.  Everything here is for you!'  she says smiling brightly.

'Oh, thank you. Then can I take the TV with me when I leave?'  I ask.

She gets into a fit of laughter and says,  'No! No! you can watch here only.'

I really think hospitals must have ladies like this. They make people happy.

It was  9.30, and way past the time of appointment for the scan and overlapping with the appointment with the Gynecologist.  We were supposed to have our appointment with Dr.B.K at 9.30. 

'Could you please inform Dr.B.K's office that we are stuck here. And, that we will be late!' I tell then lady.

'Dr has not come yet, but no problem.  We have had an emergency no…' Something about someone bleeding. That is all I understood.

I am fine with that

9.40, we are guided into the scan room.  A stern ‘I do not smile at strangers’ kind of lady is the sonargraphers.   I am almost sure that is what they are called.  A series of questions,

'What is the scan for?'  she asks.

'It is an Nuchal Translucency  scan' I say, and mutter. 'Why can’t they read the doctors note and save us the trouble'.

Again, she goes, 'Why are you doing this scan?'

'To find out if ET is growing tentacles????'  I nearly say. What kind of a question is that?

'The doctor wanted to do the NT scan.'  I say pretty irritated.

'I know it is an NT scan. But why?' She says with a tone of irritation.

Ingrid takes over. Thank goodness for that. 

'My sister has Downs syndrome.  Hence, it was recommended.' She says.

'Oh..ok. Thank you.' the lady says.

And I am thinking.  An NT scan is done to pick  early signs of Downs syndrome, and only for that.  What was that question for?  hmm..

Having that said, I also must say the lady was nice. She spent a lot of time doing the scan.   Initially she did it externally, and then she wanted to do an internal one too.   So much information on the reports, that it is going to be like looking for a needle in a hay stack to find the little things I might like to know. 

And then we saw it all,  ET is in full swing.  Seems like ET is not the ‘sit-down-and-wait’ kind of being.  Hands swinging, Legs thrashing, heart beating...Everything happening.  I am sure ET even  waved at me.  I have proof of that!! Look at the picture.Really! 

Now, looking  closely at the picture it also seems like ET has only 4 fingers.  Do I need to worry? No!  The angle does not show the pinky!   I also think the fingers are so long!   Ah…useful to hang from trees!

The data is,

NT Measurement: 1.2mm 

Nasal Bone:  3mm 

Heart Rate:  138 bpm  

Fetal Length: 10.1 cm  

EDD:   13^th September 2012 

The NT measurement of up to 2.8mm is said to be normal at 13-14 weeks. It grows in proportion to the weeks.  Nasal Bone is all within limits of normality.  Heart Rate of 138 beats per mins is ideal, we are told.   And ET is 10.1cm CRL. Wow!  All getting in place now.

ET is up to its tricks again.  Doing my head in!!!  ET has  done something and gone into a  kind of time warp.  But this time, ET has gained the 4 days that went missing, 2 weeks ago.  So we are now back in line with my calculations.  I think ET will end up being a pioneer in space-time sciences. The world needs intergalactic  movement. And the only way that will ever happen is by skipping time.  A sort of Time dilation thing!

It like saying,  'Lets meet up  in 10 days for a coffee'. And coming back tomorrow and saying. '10 days gone, where do you think is a good place for coffee?'

The lady’s are very kind.  They transfer everything done at the scan on to a CD.  All the pictures and data.   That is our copy.  So now ET can have its own profile page on facebook.  Since, we have pictures and all the details.    

We are late for the doctor’s appointment.  The time is 10.20am.  But it is alright. Since, she was informed. She see’s all the reports and findings and everything is in order right now.  The issue now is, do we go for the triple test. Or the combined test.  

Apparently, the NT shows to be normal.  But the call is ours.  As part of the triple test is a blood test whcih will show if  ET is in the high risk range for Down's syndrome.   Ingrid asks the doctor, 

'How much will it cost?'

'Let me check,' and the doctors goes through some worksheets on her computer.

'60 Riyals' she says.

60 RO????  What on earth for?  Anyway, we agree that it must be done.   

A blood test will check for serum levels of AFP, estriol and beta-hCG with a 70% sensitivity and 5% false-positive rate.   In addition Trisomy 21 is checked. What it means is that the condition is caused by the presence of an extra chromosome.  Chromosome 21 to be precise. That is checked. They will also check for Trisomy 18, which is know as Edward's syndrome(Wow! A syndrome named after me!!). Here again, it is the same check. To find if Chromosome 18 is in excess by 1.

She also wants Ingrid to take a  Anti-Tetanus Toxide shot. Just in case.

 

We are scheduled for the next appointment on 16^th April 2012 at 9.20am.  One month. A routine visit.  All is well.

Outside we are ushered to the lab room.  Apparently, it cost so much because it is done overseas.  Oman does not have the facilities.  We left the hospital all happy about the events of the day so far. Dropped Ingrid at her work place.

I was back to pick her late in the afternoon.  Reluctantly,  I walk into the compound to find the very un-sober lot of teachers seated around a table.  A healthy mix of people.  I am offered something to drink.  The alcoholic kind!  And, I say, 

'Thank you.  But, I am driving!'

They all look at me with absolute shock,  with a expression of ‘Whats that got to do with driving’. Well....

At the table are a good lot of South Africans, an Arab-Australian and his wife who screams of being Lebanese, Syrian or Jordanian.   She conveniently ignored me, as it might not be good for her reputation. Who knows, my skin colour might run!!   They have a kid who is loafing around the compound as if he owns it.  Never will I let ET be one of those.  Public conduct of a person is what defines character to the observer.   

Oh, and then  there was this other guy.   Who looks like an Indian, walks like an Indian, talks like an Indian, cooks like an India and has a name that is Indian, but always vehemently claims that he is not Indian.  I don't blame him for that.  I am no different to him.  What is it with us international Indians?   He still lives with his parents and likes playing cricket. How very un-Indian is that?   Still, I must say, his marinating of the lamb for the BBQ needs special mention. It was delicious.  I had to know, how he went about it.

'How did you make the marinade?'  

'That is the my specialty' he proudly claimed. No sense in being modest here.  'I first salt the meat and leave it for about 20 minutes to bring out the juices.'

I am thinking….salt only brings out water. And juices from meat?  It sounds like the meat was put in a blender.  One glass of cow juice!!!  I faintly remember reading somewhere that cow juice was milk. Think it was in Sweden.

'And then, I rub in the  ginger and garlic'.  I can picture a Arabian goat being massaged with garlic and ginger.  I am losing the plot here now.  Vivid pictures of a goat sitting at a local massage palour floats in my head.

'Then I put in some spices and soak it in Yogurt overnight.’

'I see!  Yogurt?  That must really soften the meat?' I say, 

'Actually….it is not just that…’ , we are interrupted by the  arab-australian chap, who has a name that rhymes with 'fried' or 'dried'. He announced that he and his family are leaving.  

Lesson for ET.  Do not do a BBQ at 12 noon, when the temperature is 33c and expect people to think...Yeah!  BBQ!  Better off, sitting with the Rubiks cube!