They say surgeons are a stubborn lot. Married to one, I can certainly vouch for it. Never a peaceful moment whenever he is on his bike, until I receive his dah sampai text message. On this special day, my love and doa to you Firdaus Hariri, for a safe and blessed journey in life together with our children, a fulfilling career doing what you love best: giving back to others and for more joyful moments together. Happy birthday, with all my love. Always.
*********************
The first time I heard of distraction was in a cab ride to Aberdeen from our home in Happy Valley, Hong Kong. We were discussing topics for his Masters thesis and he mentioned that he thinks this would be a good topic to focus on. Given that it is a relatively nascent procedure in Malaysia, it would be a valuable knowledge to bring home. As always, I said to him, go for it.
Doubly qualified maxillofacial surgeon was never planned. Much of our life journey in fact was never planned, it was always due to unexpected turn of events, unforeseen opportunities, really, rezeki dan ketentuan of the all Mighty. The slot in TV AlHijrah with Adik Adam was a classic example, the right place at the right time. He was invited to share his maxillofacial training journey and while waiting to be on air, coincidently overhead the programs host talking about his plan to bring Adik Adam in the studio. Apparently the host has been trying to get Adam but to no avail. Alhamdullilah, rezeki Adik Adam.
After Masters, came the opportunity for MBBS Degree, again unplanned, financially, emotionally, physically. Perhaps not many would like to pursue (an extremely demanding) undergraduate program when he is already a specialist, breadwinner to the family and father to two young children, but Firdaus is always driven by a great love to contribute back to society. When opportunity comes, it is because we are meant to contribute back.
He has sleepless nights before every major operations. I still recall his first major distraction operation he flew from Hong Kong to Kuala Lumpur with his supervisor Professor Cheung to perform a procedure in Hospital Seremban. I see his researches, pictures and skeleton model of his young patients and always, always I feel amazed at the strength of the parents of these young babies. And I understand, what Firdaus together with his team does (with Allahs grace of course), touches people, changes life. He has patients he sees from infancy, and he is with them to see them grow and have a chance at a normal life like any other children.
He has always shared with people that his journey was never easy. During the difficult moments, apart from our parents, two other individuals play an important role to where he is now, his mentor, Prof Dato Dr. Zainal Ariff, the current Dean of Faculty of Dentistry in UM, as well as his supervisor, Prof Cheung in HK University. Prof Cheung is the yardstick he always uses now that he himself is a supervisor to his post-graduate students.
With his students now in UM, Firdaus is always critical, always demanding perfection, always demanding discipline. He will always remind them to carry the right attitude semasa menuntut ilmu. And I can also say it was HK under Prof Cheung that instilled his discipline to produce at least 1 or 2 research and publication annually.
It is absolutely true that a doctors life is never his own. 14 years journey to complete his training as a Maxillofacial Surgeon and I thought I would have him back. I thought my three children would have their Papa back. But as a mother looking at the many young, young patients that come to his once monthly craniofacial clinic, I know it is all worthwhile. And we try our best to share with our children the work their Papa does.
The last few months have been unexpected to say the least. Never had we imagined we would be sharing our experiences with students from all over the country, much less be invited to share our stories with Malaysian students in Alexandria, Cairo and Jordan. Hundreds of specialists went through the same journey, undertook the same sacrifices. Every one of them, and each one of us, are all fighting our own battles. Truly, we are humbled.
Thank you everyone for all your well wishes and support. Thank you to his Old Putera Association (OPA) gang, the Bloody Super Seniors batch who he always speak highly of, growing up together for 5 formative years of his life. Thank you to his colleagues and friends. Thank you especially to our HK gang, they are now family and have been with us through ups and downs, who knows all our stories, good and bad. The ones we count on to keep us focused. Thank you to his team in UMMC. Thank you to his patients and especially parents of his patients, for their trust in him and his team. They are truly a beacon of strength. May Allah grant these parents and their family His blessings.
And finally, to see where he is now, undeniably we owe all of that to our parents, his and mine. Undeniably.
