It has been sometime I lost contact with a good friend of mine who lives in the next state (two months I think). And last week I found out that he had been admitted into the hospital because of tuberculosis, that severe lung infection. With the school recently open, I was unable to set some time to meet him (I would be too tired to drive far after a tiring day at work).
Today, a few friends and I promised to give him a visit.
A couple of my friends who spent the night in my living room. I have a guest room, with a spare bed at the back of my house, but they prefer to sleep in the front. Witness how my teddy bear was choked during sleep. This is already 8 a.m. in the morning.
I was surprised when my sick friend instructed us to wear masks when in the same room as him. Then I remembered that tuberculosis (T.B) is a highly infectious disease. So everybody wears a mask. See the masks... they looked like duck beaks! I wore mine for five minutes and took it off because I could not breathe easily. My friends kept wearing theirs though...
This is my sick friend. He was very very ill before, and is way better now. In fact, days ago he was unconscious and in a very bad place. We are very happy that he is recovering well. At the time we arrived, he was about to start eating his hospital lunch, which is rather unappetizing for me (boiled vegetables and a boiled egg with some gravy).
We bought him some sweetened bread and he said he cannot eat them. So I took half of them back. We left after an hour an a half, me still not wearing the mask. We were required to wash our hands with soap or disinfectants outside his room.
I am so sorry that we cannot come much earlier. I am so sad that a friend had to be too ill to contact his loved ones. Hope you recover soon Noorfairul Faizal :)
We will walk and talk together soon.
I have to include this picture of the biggest cup I ever seen and bought. On our way back, we stopped at a food court and I saw a small stall selling hazelnut coffee milk. While my other friends had their lunch, I only have this to sip / drink / quaff. This cup is almost 4 times bigger than Starbucks' and 3 times cheaper! Yay to enterprising new businesses!!
p.s. - I don't post pics of my own face this time because there were none that are worth posting. pity me :(
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14 comments:
I hope your friend makes a full and speedy recovery. TB is such a serious illness and I know it's starting to make a comeback in our modern world. Before World War II, it was common here in Canada too. During that period, I had one auntie who died from it and two others who each lost a lung. But then they went on to live long and productive lives so it was worth it.
Wow, so sorry your friend has TB. That's a very rare disease here, and patients are usually quarantined. I'm surprised you were able to visit him with only a duck mask, but am glad you did.
When I first looked at your huge cup of hazelnut coffee, I thought it was Starbucks. Tricky!
Your sleepover friends are funny. I would have claimed that big teddy bear too!
Wow! So scary that your friend contracted tuberculosis. I'm glad that he's recovering, and I hope you stay well. (I kind of wish you'd left your mask on!)
I love iced coffee, and particularly with hazelnut flavoring. If I found a shop selling a big cup like that, I'd buy one too!
Hi,Ramuz,
So glad! It seems like your friend is gradually recovering! Yes, tuberculosis is a highly infectious disease but it is rare anymore. You should not have taken your mask off as you were in his room!??
By the way, the Japanese like to wear masks very much. I always reserve about one hundred of masks available at home. It is not to avoid smog here. Masks have many effects to protect your throat from germ, flying pollen and drying air and so on. It would be a big surprise for you to see many Japanese wearing masks in crowded places, trains, stations, schools and hospitals of course.
Stay well!
Hello Debra :)
TB is actually extinct in Malaysia for a very long time. But we now got new cases, especially from immigrants or people travelling abroad.
Living with one lung? It must be not easy to have our breathing capacity reduced to half.
I will send your wishes to him :)
Hello Abby :)
We are able to be in the same room with him because he the incubation period is over for the patogen. Meaning he wasn't that contagious anymore.
I might want to return to have that coffee again :)
Usually the teddy ia just for show and was rarely hugged. So I think some TLC is overdue for it.
Dear Tee :)
The mask is seriously hindering my breathing, because it was a rather heavy duty thing, not like the common surgical mask. And i also like to take chances...
I also bought some premixed hazelnut coffee powder. But it was not as good as the huge cup. I might need to broaden my search.
Hello Tomoko :)
I know it was risky and very dangerous.
Yes, i have noticed that particular Japanese culture. Some of your face masks are very cute! (Cat or mouse masks)
Is smog a daily problem? Or it only happen in the city?
wah...u din wear mask go not scare get infected?
Oi Tenchi;
If i die earlier, may the world be a more peaceful place la.
Hahaha.
Hello,Ramuz
I remember smog was at peak around 1970 in industrial areas of Japan. My place is very near to the big city,Osaka. I think smog rarely happens there. I do not think severe smog happens even in Tokyo now. Unfortunately,the places facing to the Japan sea side is worried about smog flowed from China.
I will go to Tokyo tomorrow to see my mother. so I will be able to show you some photos of Tokyo on my blog soon. Have a good day!
That is pretty scary about your friend. I'm glad to hear that he's feeling better. I wish him a full recovery.
And yes, Yay to enterprising new businesses! Starbucks can use some competition. They are way over-priced!
Dear Tomoko :)
Like i mention before in your blog i am jealous of the blue skies you have there.
And thanks in advance for showing the Tokyo pics soon. :)
Hello Martha :)
I was just texting him and maybe visit him again this weekend. He is feeling way better and asked me to bring some fried chicken.
On my way home, i may give the coffee shop a visit again :)
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