one misfortune after another
my life came to a standstill when i was hospitalized for the last 4 days. i was confined to a 40 square metres room, together with 4 other patients. the IV drip hindered my movements and i can’t walk around without one raised arm for the packet of sodium chloride, while my other arm was immobilised. in fact, going out of the ward was impossible without a wheelchair. trips to the common bathroom and toilet took me 26 steps, to and fro.
deprived of an internet connection, i spent the days reading and napping, only interrupted by nurses for meals, BP test or medication. i was fortunate to have the bed beside the window, which i spent a few moments every morning looking out onto the carpark of the home affairs building and noticed the same cars in the same carpark lots (obviously i couldn’t read the car plate number, but the car type and colours look alike). visitors were told to leave by 8 pm and lights off by 10 pm. by then, i would be left on my own again, with the night lights from the windows to remind me that it’s night, there’s nothing much to look forward to, except for a good night’s sleep.
after the 4 days stay in the hospital, i discover more about myself. i can live without internet connection for 4 days but not without a friendly chat or the freedom to roam around.
the nurses in the hospital are all on masks and it feels hostile to speak to one, in an environment where sickness and illness hung in the air. i’m glad to have finally recovered and discharged. and i wouldn’t be able to blog in the comfort of my home, should i not receive the care and attentiveness from the nurses (i only see my attending doctor once – on the first morning of my stay).
