Dr. Hashim's JofHappiness

The ice-cream cake that was served during the family luncheon at the Ayuthya Thai Restaurant in Damansara

Birthday cake presented by my friend, Datuk Kelvin Tan

1. My last birthday fell on February 23. It was an extraordinary celebration as many well-wishes were received from several groups - first, the immediate family members. The children phoned to extend their birthday wishes; then my brothers, nephews and nieces through the whatapps of Perstuan Keluarga Keturunan Tok Din & Tok Piah Malaysia (PKTD&TPM) and Keturunan Tok Wan & Tok Siti. The biggest number were my FB friends which accounted for around 100 from many countries which include Indonesia, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, South Africa and USA, with different messages and gifts of beautiful 'cakes' (reposted here). I did try to respond to each friend early in the day but with the overwhelming numbers, I decided to address everyone that have extended their well-wishes in one posting.

The Thai dishes served

Cake cutting surrounded by family members

Birthday celebrtaion with my niece, Faezah and her family in Ipoh the following day

With the Faezah family

2. The birthday activities were as posted in the Facebook, as shown below:

Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
23 February at 22:38 · Edited ·
I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all my FB friends who have extended their birthday wishes. I responded to each one of the earlier postings but subsequently with the postings pouring in, it is not possible to respond individually....I am 77 today ...it is an extraodinary birthday. I woke up early as usual to perform my 'subuh' prayer. Got a hug and birthday card from my wife. 'Only that for my birthday', I said to her. She smiled with understanding. Got myself into my running attire and after drinking two glasses of plain water, off I went to Taman Tasik Cempaka, my regular jogging green area. Did 3 laps on the running circuit, covering about 4.5 km and at the same time met my regular jogging friends. Return home and take a look at the kitchen garden at the back of the house. Did a little weeding and watering. It has been dry for a couple of weeks with intermittent light showers. I make sure that the plants receive adequate moisture by watering twice a day - once in the morning and once in the evening....Breakfast was slightly late at ard 9.30 am with oats and chicken soup, a quarter cut of murtabak and Nescafe...Then started reading the many wellwishes on the whatsapp groups. The well wishes came, among others, from Kazakstan, New Zealand, Indonesia, USA and South Africa . At the same time communicating with my children about the birthday get-together. It was earlier suggested that the get-together be held a day earlier (Sun Feb 22) but that was aborted as the youngest daughter, Rozana, and her family were away in Tokyo and only returning that Sunday night. The birthday get-together was held at the Thai Restaurant at Medan Damansara. Two members of the family were unable to attend. My son-in-law, Nizam, apologised as he had a golf commitment with close members of the family. My eldest grandson, Syazwan Aldrin, is away in UK pursuing his study there. However, he has already extended his wishes on the FB. On returning home I was in front of the computer responding to the many well-wishes and closing my day a little late at 11.00 pm-an hour later than my usual bed time. Thanks to all my dear friends for making this a memorable day. More details on the birthday happening with photos will appear in my blog : Dr. Hashim's JofHappiness.
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3. Among the many FB friends who have extended their well-wishes include:

Azami Husin Terima kasih kerana berkongsi Dato', Semuga panjang usia, bahagia dan ceria disamping keluarga dan kawan-kawan, berjaya di dalam setiap apa yang diusahakan....Insya Allah
24 February at 09:43 ·

Anna Wong
23 February at 11:49 · Edited ·
For Dato Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab

Taz Lawrie to ‎Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
23 February at 11:13 ·
happy birthday dato heres a special film i made for you
https://vimeo.com/120298110
VIMEO.COM|BY TASLAWRIE
Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab Thanks Tas for the awesome video. Watching it made me want to go on the next plane to Almaty to meet you and do some trekking and climbing. Looking at the height around 2700m and comparing with Mt Kinabalu at around 4000m it appears manageable as I hv climbed Mt Kinabalu for 15 times, but with the thick snow and at 77, perhaps I better confine myself to lower hills.
23 February at 18:37 ·
Taz Lawrie No u can do this dato it would be a good clîmb for u we take it slowly over 5 hrs with a good pair of boots poles and u will make it forvsure,I'm waiting for u any time u turn up we go,cycling for aweek and clîmb for a week it will be the best time of your life after your wedding
23 February at 19:32 · Like

Mursid Amin to ‎Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
23 February at 10:43 · BlackBerry Smartphones App ·
Met Milad ... semoga Alloh melimpahkan ...☑ Sisa usia yg Barokah☑ Kesehatan Lahir & Bathin☑ Rezeki yg Melimpah & Barokah☑ Kesuksesan dalam segala hal☑ Kebahagiaan dunia-akhirat☑ Rahmat, Hidayah & KaruniaNya☑ Dijauhkan dari segala keburukan & didekatkan pada kebaikan☑ Sëmoga sëlalû dalam lindungan Allah SWT....smg bakti sosial trhd semua orang jd ibadah disisi Allah SWT.
Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab: Terima kaseh banyak, Mursid dgn doa dan permintaan Allah melindungi dan merahmati hidup saya. Semoga Mursid juga terus sehat, aktif menyumbang kpd kegiatan masyarakat, sukses dlm kuliah dan tugas dan sejahtera dalam hidup.
23 February at 18:41 · Like · 1
Mursid Amin
آمِيّنْ. يَاَ رَبَّ ا لْعَاَلَمِيّ
23 February at 18:46 · Like

Barjoyai Bardai created a greeting card via CallApp Contacts.
23 February at 10:17 ·
Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab Happy Birthday smile emoticon
Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab Tkasih Dr Barjoyai. Tak balik ke Bangi..kalau ke Bangi singgah di rumah.
23 February at 11:42 ·

Cheam Cheng Sooi to ‎Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
23 February at 08:05 ·
Happy Birthday to you.

Abdul Latiff Mohamad to ‎Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
23 February at 07:47 · Kajang ·
Happy birthday Dato

Mohd Zaki‎ to Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
23 February at 07:38 ·
Happy birthday pak ndak...semuga di beri kesihatan yang baik...

Syed Omar to ‎Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
23 February at 07:31 ·
Selamat Hari Lahir. Semoga dilindungi dan dirahmati Allah sentiasa

Md Pitt to ‎Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
23 February at 07:29 ·
Assalam... slamat hari lahir tuan Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab... moga dipermudahkan segala uruasn... wink emoticon

Rosnah Ismail to ‎Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
23 February at 07:29 · Kampong Baharu Sungai Way ·
Happy Birthday Dato' Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab! Semoga panjang umur, sihat sejahtera, & aktif selalu
— feeling happy.

Noredah Awang to Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
23 February at 07:28 ·
Happi buffday Abang Dato' semoga sentiasa sihat, happy, murah rezeki & di lanjutkan usia. Amin..
Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab Rasa lain macam di panggil Abg Dato
23 February at 07:33 ·

Zaitun Yassin‎Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
23 February at 07:07 ·

Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab Tkaseh Zurina atas ingatan kpd kami berdua di Bangi. Semoga Zurina dan keluarga di cucuri rahmat terus sehat, berjaya dan bahagia.
23 February at 18:46 ·

Mohd-shafeea Leman‎Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
23 February at 02:09 ·
Selamat Hari lahir
Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab Terima kaseh, Sdra Mohd-shafeea Leman atas ingatan. Semoga Sdra dan keluarga dicucuri rahmat terus sehat, berjaya dan bahagia.
23 February at 18:48 ·

Rohani Yon to ‎Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
23 February at 01:17 ·
Happy birthday Dato', semuga Allah memanjangkan umur, murahkan rezeki dan memberiksn kesihatan yang baik kepsda Dato'... Aamiin!!

Roslim Baka‎r to Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
23 February at 01:05 ·
happy bday pakndak...

Ekbert Yong to ‎Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
23 February at 01:01 ·
Selamat Ulang Tahun Dato
Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab Thanks Ekbert for the well-wishes. May you be blessed with continued good health, success and happiness.
23 February at 18:51 ·
Ekbert Yong Thank you data same wishes to you too. God bless
23 February at 20:19 ·

Alex Leow‎ to Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
23 February at 00:56 ·
This is for you in my "Play By Ear" way: http://playbyear.com.my/…/JoshuaPradipta-HappyBirthdayToYou… (safe site, in case your anti virus says otherwise) from Alex Leow

Kasim Ismail to ‎Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
23 February at 00:28 ·
Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab Tkaseh Sdra Kasim Ismail. Semoga Sdra dan keluarga dicucuri rahmat terus sehat, berjaya dan bahagia
23 February at 18:54 ·

Nita Burlat Happy birthday my friend!!!
23 February at 19:13 · Unlike · 1

Andrew Chuah-Choong to ‎Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
23 February at 00:15 ·
Happy Birthday God Bless
Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab Thank you Andrew for the well-wishes. May you and family be blessed with all the good things in life.
23 February at 18:56 · Like

Andrew Chuah-Choong Welcome
23 February at 18:59 · Like

87 friends posted on your timeline for your birthday.

Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
Birthday: 23 February

Ghazali Salamat to ‎Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
24 February at 20:02 ·
Slamat Hari Jadi Datuk Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab. Semoga terus di rahmati dan di berkati Allah. amiinnn.
Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab Tkaseh Sdra Ghazali Salamat
24 February at 20:08 ·

Nurul Safaniza‎Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
24 February at 19:48 ·
Happy Birthday Dato...Moga panjang umur dan bahagia selalu..
Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab Tkaseh Niza
24 February at 20:09 · Like · 1

Kamaruddin Md Yusof‎ to Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
24 February at 19:30 ·
Congrats Datuk ! Happy Birthday and all the best from both of us.

Patrick Lee‎ to Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
24 February at 17:50 ·
Happy Birthday Dato Hashim!
Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab Thanks Patrick
24 February at 20:10 · Like · 1

Sonny Wong‎ to Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
24 February at 16:46 · Edited ·
happy belated birthday to you
Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab Thanks Sonny
24 February at 20:11 · Like

Ahmad Shafri Lebai Man‎Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
24 February at 15:50 ·
selamat hari jadi Abg Hashim....doa dipanjangkan umur dan hidup sihat....kami juga doakan agar Kak Kama terus sihat ....inshaallah

Othman Omar to ‎Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
24 February at 13:25 ·
Selamat sambut hari lahir, moga sempat raya banyak kali lagi. Doa saya Dr. terus diberi kasihatan, kebahgiaan dan rahmat Allah
Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab Terima kaseh Dato
24 February at 16:42 · Like

Μάνια Λέαινα ΧΡΟΝΙΑ ΠΟΛΛΛΑSee Translation

Einstein Ting Jiin to ‎Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
24 February at 10:55 ·
Happy Belated Birthday~ Dr Hashim.... smile emoticon

Emmanuel Joseph to ‎Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
24 February at 10:16 ·
Many many happy returns of the day smile emoticon God bless !

Susie Francis‎Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
24 February at 09:36 ·
Happy birthday Datuk, God bless..
·
Shaiful Baharum Abdullah to ‎Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
24 February at 05:50 ·
Happy birthday to you from Shaiful

Albert Tan Sing Hin to ‎Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
23 February at 22:47 ·
Selamat Hari Jadi.

Todd Ryan Barber to ‎Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab
23 February at 21:59 ·
Happy birthday....
Hashim Bin Abdul-Wahab Thanks Todd.
23 February at 22:46 ·

Posted on Monday 2/3/2015
Any comments on the article and blog can be communicated to:
hashim.abdulwahab@gmail.com

1. In the column 'SENIOR' devoted to activities of senior citizens in the 'The Star' published on Friday February 13, 2015, Sheela Chandran featured four seniors who played the role of caregivers under the eye-catching tagline 'A Heart That Cares'. I was one of those featured, the others were 72 year-old retiree, Serijit Kaur; 67 year-old widow, Lam Lye Sim and the fourth person was Madame Shirley David. According to the article, Madame Serijit's husband, Mr. Harinder Singh was paralysed due to a spinal injury suffered when he fell one morning when he was on his walk and became bed-bound since 2012. As a caregiver Madame Serijit has displayed patience, understanding and empathic to keep the person under his care, in high spirit and not fall into depression. She keeps herself healthy with proper diet and regular exercises to enable her to undertake the arduous daily task. The second caregiver, Madame Lam, on the other hand, has been taking care of her 46 year-old juvenile diabetes daughter since she was 19 i.e for a period of 27 years. Amazing. The third caregiver covered was Madame Shirley David, who looks after her 77 year-old diabetic mother who needs to receive her dialysis treatment thrice a week. She regarded taking care of her mother as an opportunity for her own children to bond with their grandmother and to nurture the appreciation of family ties.

2. As to my role as a caregiver, the full text of what Sheela wrote in the article is given below, as the photos posted here on the article is not very clear to read.
'......Fate dealt Datuk Dr Hashim Abdul Wahab, 77, a cruel blow when his wife was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2009. "I was devastated upon hearing the news. However, I took it in my stride and accepted it as part of life. I wanted my wife to have the best medical attention," says the formr director-general of the Malaysian Cocoa Board.
After a successful surgey, Datin Kamariah Mohd Saad underwent radiotherapy for a month. She followed this up with physiotherapy and acupuncture sessions. Kamariah was given a clean bill of health in 2012.
Hashim continued his role as caregiver. Although they have an Indonesian maid who helps with daily chores, Hashim is always by his wife's side to ensure that she takes her medication and exercises regularly. He also helps her to prepare juices and herbal teas from the orgnic produce in their garden.
"I schedule my time in such a way that Kamariah is never home alone. I arrange my business commitments and activities according to her needs," explains Hashim who runs an agricultural consulting firm.
The grandfather of three is thankful that he is healthy enough to be anchor for his 73-year- old wife. He is happy to ferry her around for her medical appointments.
"Taking care of her gives the opportunity to pay back the great things that this terrific lady has done in our more than 50 years together. She has been a wonderful wife, mother, cook, housekeeper, daughter-in-law, gardener and advisor," says Hashim, who has written six books to date. Among them are Adventure Journeys in Sabah (2001), In Search of Happiness (2009), and A Senior Citizen's Journeys of Happiness (2014)'.
A more detailed discussion of the topic also appeared as an article entitled 'Taking Care of a Surviving Cancer Patient' in this blog.