Crab Island

Not being one to refuse a crustacean served on a platter, a trip to Pulau Ketam (that's Malay for Crab Island) promised an opportunity to indulge. What more motivation did I need to pack the overnight bag. With my visiting parents in tow, I pursued my next escape from the city.

Urban train routes are quite unlike their handsome cousins, the high streets running though towns, flanked by characteristic showpiece establishments- elegant and expensive dining and fashion shops, banks with names known by generations and generous landscaping.

the KTM Commuter train from the centre of KL out to Port Klang (one-way, one hour ride cost RM4.10)

The rail route which would take us out to the coast, stretched out along the least desirable pockets of real estate, opening up insights to the life of different norms and mores. Peeling backyard fences stand defensively with little of value to stand guard over, heaps and mounds of trash growing to keep the main streets beautiful, broken shanty towns of suffocating density and industrial wastelands playgrounds to children.

been there, done that. now abandoned

Boarding and alighting commuters provided a variety of entertainment and the hour on the train passed. I was happy to find out that the next ferry to the island was the slow, chugging wooden variety and not the sleek fiberglass craft that would have taken half the time to reach our destination. This was already the beginning of the enjoyment of the escape and speed had little to offer.

First things first on boarding the wooden ferry. Best to get a seat where the route to leaving the ferry is least obstructed. Being the first to alight was not important but rather if an unfortunate incident were to happen, we might best be able to leave the craft quickly and smoothly. Preoccupied with safety, I was glad to be able to locate the life jackets. Walking up for a closer look at the jackets tied to the ceiling, I visually examined how they were secured. No point having them if you can’t get to use them when needed. My mild paranoia is fed by incidences of ferry sinkings and the staunch practice of non-maintainance in our host country.

Pulau Ketam hosts a population of about 8,000 supported by fishing. Entire villages are built on stilts over the mangrove which covers 80% of the island.

wondering around along weather-worn wooden walkways and free-ranging dogs everywhere made my day

Like going back in time, motorised vehicles don’t exist here (well with the exception of the occasional motorized bicycle!). Getting around on foot or bicycle along wooden planked or concrete walkways provide a safe and relaxed environment and young children seem to be everywhere, cycling around on an errand or just cruising with friends way after dark. Simple elements that radically change how life is.

re-purposed plastic pails, jerry cans etc make interesting bicycle baskets

The dawn hours see a flurry of activity as the fishermen head out to sea trailed by flocks of sea birds sharing the same hopes.

local boatman deftly using the foot and leg

the island's powerhouse

long concrete walkways and houses on stilts strung out along river inlets

a commercial activity spied in alleys- shelling shrimp

the shrimp meat is sold separately from the shells which is sold to make shrimp stock for prawn noodle soup

a little island friend who accompanied us to dinner

wondering what else to do with your argyle socks? here the arm sock is a fashion statement!

a colorful wall mural flanking the entrance of one of the many temples on the island

the smell of salt in the air and the last crimson light,
a perfect close to a perfect day

Hope smiles!

Smile,
it is the key that fits the lock of everybody's heart. -Antony J. D'Angelo

Rescued animals are more often than not, scarred by their time on the streets, struggling to survive. This often leaves them psychologically and emotionally imprinted with fears of people, unforgiving elements in nature when they are without shelter and whatever else that may have caused them hurt as not many are sympathetic to strays. Their eyes tell stories of anxieties, fears and sadness.

Hope was withdrawn and quiet when we first met her. Perhaps with her disability, it was best for her to lie low and not draw attention to herself as she was really rendered vulnerable. For me, I looked forward to the day when she would feel secure enough to allow herself to express how she felt and to reach out.

Last week Hope smiled for the first time since we've known her!!

The next day she kept grinning! She doesn't do this all the time and not everyday. But we know now she's feeling different from before. When she greets me in the morning, she often pokes her paw out at me, making contact and getting my attention. She has started reaching out.

It's been one month and 10 days since Hope came to stay for home care and rehab and she's been the best company! Quiet and attentive, and always there!

I've begun to live my days in dog days- 7 dog days in one human calendar day (or something similar).So much to get done in a day and so much has happened each week.

In my last blog post on Hope, we were concentrating on strengthening her front legs with the wheelbarrow walk. She could only drag her hind legs. She hunched over her front legs and walked with difficulty as her front legs were not accustomed to bearing her weight.

That was three weeks ago.

With baby steps forward week by week and an unfailing routine of physiotherapy and exercise helped with lots of fun and motivation, we watched for every little sign that might indicate that her nerves were reconnecting. Her hind leg reflexes are now strong and obvious, where before it was so difficult to detect, we had to ask ourselves if we were imagining it. We needed to see if she had a sense of her hind legs and if she had voluntary control of them.

Hope can now stand in a stationary position on all four legs without any assistance for almost half a minute. She's now a runaway wheelbarrow as her front legs have really strengthened and she gets impatient with her hind leg exercises!

It's time to make changes to her routine to speed healing and recovery. Previously we worked on the Passive Range of Motion exercises (PROM) as she was mostly lying down all the time. Now she's gained muscle tone in all four legs, a sense of well-being, confidence and she's ready to take on a change.

The vet visited her last week and for the first time, she showed a distinct pain reaction in her left hind legs which is the most affected limb. This is the sign we've been hoping for as it indicates some nerve connection and that the function of her limbs are connected to the brain.

Hope getting lots of rest between her daily full exercise schedule!

Besides her PROM, her new Physical Therapy (PT) routine now includes the Active Joint Range of Motion exercises to increase joint mobility, flexibility, strengthen muscles, enhance conditioning and endurance and weight-bearing ability. With support groups, forums and many kind and helpful people out there who are also struggling with the wellness of their paralyzed companion animal and willing to share what they are doing, I've picked up accupressure techniques from video instructions. Hope gets her massages three times a day but don't for a moment envie her.

Again with shared information on the net, I found a design for a cart which would suit Hope's current disability and necessary PT routine. Two women, H and A. who were also involved in Hope's rescue off the streets, spent an afternoon, taking time off from work to help me put the cart together, not to mention them also sourcing for the materials beforehand.

The Hope Mobile - the sling is still being modified

The cart has taken Hope's PT one level up. With her supported in the cart, we're able to work on more exercises properly than if I were to juggle supporting her and working with her on her active PT.

With the cart we can now work more on proprioceptive exercises. Proprioception is the sense which detects limb position. Also weight shifting exercises so that Hope's walk will be more balanced as it seems like her left side is more affected by her injury. Ambulation exercises in the cart has her in a more correct posture than the wheelbarrow and they are helping to re-educate her how to walk all over again.

In time to come when she's more confident in the cart and when her legs are strogn enough, she'll learn to move around in her cart. Currently we're mostly using it for physical therapy.

Hope holding a more natural posture in her sling

The best thing after a full day's work!

Hope is like a road in the country;
there was never a road, but
when many people walk on it,
the road comes into existence. Lin YuTang