Karim goes home

AFTER 17 days in the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (I had erred when I earlier reported he was warded longer days), Karim Sulaiman, our ailing friend from Harian Metro, is now back at his home in Sri Gombak.

Hawa, his faithful wife, told me Karim feels good and upbeat about the treatment he has been receiving when he was at the dermatology ward of HKL. He was taken home on Jan 27 and will be meeting HKL's skin specialist on Feb 12. If everything goes as planned, Karim will be warded again on Feb 26 for the continuation of his treatment.

Karim's ailment affects the skin, and I'm told its called scleroderma. It is also known as systemic sclerosis, a very rare autoimmune disorder that can affect many organs and tissues. According to published accounts, the ailment is 3 times as common in women and is most likely to appear between the age of 30 and 50.

A cure for the disease is being researched all over the world. A person afflicted with the disease see changes to the skin,, especially of the face and fingers, which becomes shiny and tight, leading to difficulty with movements. Other parts of the body may also be affected, causing difficulty in swallowing, shortness of breadth, palpitations, high blood pressure, joint pain and muscle weakness.

Hawa, expressing gratefulness to everyone who has been helping Karim through his ordeal, especially the specialists and doctors at HKL, said Karim feels better and finds swallowing his food easier compared to before the treatment.

The hospital has also trained Hawa to keep Karim on several physiotherapy routines. She's hopeful that all these will help her husband on the road to full recovery. The couple continue to receive well-wishers, bringing physical and moral support.