1 June 2020

Dear Patients,

SOME NEWS FROM DR SELINA LEOW

Firstly, I hope that you and your family are well and have been managing through this COVID-19 restriction period. Our practice had to close on 27 March 2020 due to government restrictions but reopened (mornings only) on 11 May 2020 when restrictions were eased. Our strict infection control procedures during treatment and between patients remains at its very high standard, as it has always been.

Some of you have already resumed appointments with us and we look forward to welcoming everyone back very soon as we work towards resuming our normal business hours.

On 1 April 2020, days after the practice shutdown, I received a diagnosis of Cancer in my right wrist (my dominant hand). An Epithelioid Sarcoma is a very rare and aggressive cancer which is not responsive to chemotherapy and has poor success with radiotherapy. At this stage, there was no evidence of spread any where else in the body. The only treatment was to amputate my right forearm, wrist and hand. So, 15 days later on 16 April 2020, the amputation was done.

The thing that saddens me most is that the loss of my wrist and hand means that my career and passion for treating patients, as a dentist, is over. My patients are like my other family whom I have shared stories, watched children grow up and start their own families, laughed (uproariously in many cases) and formed a bond that has been special. But the reality is that I am alive and that this amputation will hopefully allow me to get to 100 years old (if my other organs permit it!). As my recovery becomes more full and I am allowed to drive myself again, I hope to be back in the surgery to continue the administrative and office work that I have always done. So, I hope that I will be able to catch up with you all in that way. We can still chat, share stories and laugh - I just won’t be doing your dental treatment. Ask me any questions you want - about my arm, about dentistry, about life! You know that I am always keen to chat!

I am very pleased to let you know that we have appointed a new female dentist, Dr Leazelle Graham, to help with continuation of treatment of our patients.  Dr Leazelle is a lovely, friendly person and will be a great addition to our practice. Along with our other dentists, Dr Darren Calleia and Dr Leazelle Graham, will ensure that all of our patients will receive the highest standard of dental care and treatment that has always been provided at Stanhope Dental Centre.

The healing of my arm has been amazing with the stump scar healing quickly and the need for only Panadol and Nurofen from Day 3 after the surgery to almost no pain relief now, 6 weeks post-amputation...surprising even for me! My recovery has been slow. I tire easily. It will be at least a couple of months before I am legally allowed to drive again. I try to remain positive though and am learning to do things with my non-dominant hand - showering, dressing, writing (this needs more practice though). I hope to be fitted with a basic prosthetic arm with a hook/claw in the coming weeks (pirate-themed parties will be easy!) and a more intricate prosthetic with a myoelectric hand down the track. Unfortunately, no prosthetic will ever produce the fine motor functions of a real hand.

My position as a Forensic Odontologist will continue. I am thankful for the purpose and sanity that it will bring. I will continue to lecture and run workshops here and overseas - remotely for the time being.

The isolation period due to COVID-19 has been fortunate in some respects. It has meant that I have been able to recover at home without guilt about letting the practice down. All my family has been at home as well to help and support me which has been fantastic and I have been so thankful.

Many of you had heard of my predicament already in the last few weeks and have sent flowers, cards and well wishes. All have brought a tear to my eye and a lump in my throat and remind me of how truly fortunate I am to have so many special people in my life. Thank you to everyone!

Please feel free to contact the surgery if you need to talk with us but be re-assured that everything at the surgery will continue to run exactly as it always has - with our warm family approach.

I hope to see you in the practice in the coming months as my recovery improves!

Love

Your dentist

Click Here for 19 August 2020 Update

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