Between the Tsetse and the Zika

My previous posting prior to 'Sleep' yesterday 2nd February, was on the 27th Jan. Just after that posting, I fell sick the next day. Yes, it's either my defense mechanism is not strong or the heat was really getting to me. In all probability though, both.

So there I was again, like a guy stoned, lying on the sofa and quite like the few years back, hardly able to keep my eyes open, with my walking more like a wraith floating around and sometimes not quite the direction I wanted to go, and luckily me, not stumbling over anything that might have left this blog with no owner. A frightening thought that can be. No, not the last part but the stumbling over. Oh, they're related in sequence, eh? Never mind.

Anyway, found the strength to hop over to the nearest clinic and had to pay a bomb of in excess of RM100! "By Jove" an Englishman would say, "have they now turned to pubs?". Truth may not be that far away for with the medicine given, I was knocked out again and again till I decided to fight it out and thus, the video by Albert Hammond. Strange thing is, no sooner the video is up, I did not feel like a tsetse-bitten guy after that.

OK, Tsetse flies are not to be found here but when one look around at some officials, it does make one wonder. The Sleeping Illness is no laughing matter and in Africa it may stretch right up to the Red Sea, which is rather frightening because when you look at the map of the world, the northern parts of our country is not too far away. I mean, though we've had or do know of sleeping officials before, were something like this illness strike us there, it can be quite alarming. Maybe I am exaggerating it maybe I'm not. Like I mentioned, we've had sleeping officials before and by now, I would very much like to think our Health Ministry has looked into the problem.  Oops sorry, I'm digressing.

Anyway, soon after I upped the video yesterday, my mind ran a different direction. The doctor at the clinic was kind enough to remind me to come again should the temperature persist for more than 3 days, fearing what I have might be dengue-related. And I would have had followed through the advice had the doctor been someone with long hair and nice lanky legs to go with. As it was, the doctor was a guy and in no way was I going to pay in excess of RM100 again. But it did give me a thought and soon there I was on the road - soon after the video was upped - heading towards Sungai Buloh Hospital. Don't mind telling you that even before halfway there I was feeling much better already.

Yup, no sooner I registered at the ER, I just did not feel like moving an inch. I mean, with so many angels floating around right in front, was there a need to? It was like a ringside-seat. Hmm...don't know if that should be the right term. But anyway, move I did have to with an angel waving me delightfully into a room to check my blood which soon had me asking her in the most softest way I can, bearing in mind my voice was as husky as Willie Nelson or Joe Cocker, maybe both combined for better effect "What's wrong with my blood? Is it blue or green?" It just came out straight and I did not mean it any other way but somehow it tickled quite a few in the cubicles around. Say, can't a guy spend some quiet time together with an angel? Some people.

It was waiting time again. Oh, I don't  mind. Er...did I mentioned it already? Anyway, soon, perhaps after 2hours of  eye-candy angels, the Doctor there called me in and pronounced me fit as a fiddle and able to go home. What? What about Zika, I asked her. She said no worries as none has been reported in our country. At the corner of her lips though, I could swear she said "Tsetse up north".


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To the lovely medical staff of Sungai Buloh ER, here's a song for you.

Lull Before The Upswing

With his eyes gazed northwestwards into the blue sky above, he wondered what lay beyond. Having been fascinated with the stars since a young age, he has read quite a bit about the yonder, mesmerised by all the colourful pictures of an expanse so large that man cannot even comprehend its vastness, only to nod silently, half in awe beyond words and the other, of a child listening intently the words which may well be of a foreign language - understanding nothing but embracing it all with eagerness that  would have aroused envy and jealousy of 2 lovers lost in a world of their own.

His eyes followed the invisible line of the clear sky and blueness began to pale with the radiance of the Sun; itself an alien body in the yonder, but one that inhabit his life and many in this world.

Turning around facing the blow of the southeasterly wind, dark clouds have begun forming in patches that blotted the Sun's ray to the ground below them, making a glaring difference between the lit and not, and in huge patches, of like day and night. Their movemenst, are like the dance of an opening gala where each small cloud are like single dancers congregating to isles assigned.


These past few days, I have been slightly more worried about Emak. About a fortnight ago on her bi-Annual Medical, the doctor changed her medication for High-Blood as she was worried that the one she was on can lead to a potassium build-up leading to a blockage. But soon as Emak began taking the new dosage, she's been coughing with more phlegm than normal. Din, my elder brother, prefer to wait a while before taking Emak back to the hospital as he suspect that it the coughing might be caused by the heatwave we're experiencing now where presently, many are feeling under the weather too. Still, I keep remembering that day 3years ago when Emak had her first ambulance ride to a hospital. It is still fresh in my mind and an experience I will likely not forget.

We had just returned from Mekah for Umrah, courtesy of Emi, my eldest. The last few days there, Emak had shown signs of weakness which many said were fatigue of the journey. In Jeddah, hours before the flight, she decided to skip a short tour which she herself had requested for. While the rest in the group went on, she slept in a room and that was when I first heard of her wheezing. It was not loud, but it was distinct and I woke her to give her the puffer to use. Her tired face and movement were well noticeable but we spoke none of it for not wanting to worry her.

In any normal times when Emak is not well, she would always refused my asking to take her to the clinic citing 'Alah, sikit je' (just a minor thing). Whenever her ailments showed signs of worsening, I would have to call Din and ask him to bring Emak. And an asking from Din on such matter is something Emak cannot refuse. Sometimes I would smile by myself seeing Emak so obedient to one of her sons. Sometimes I feel sad about it. But on that night when we reached home after Umrah, I asked her and surpisingly, she agreed. The very next day, I fell ill and for most of the time during that period, Emak tended to her own needs.

About a week later, I awoke to a loud sound emanating from Emak's room. I peeked in and seeing she was not on the bed, called out to her. She was in the bathroom and replied, asking me to come in. I opened the door and found her sitting on the bowl all sweating. I tried to get her up but she was too tired and slipped down to the floor.With my weakened body, there was nothing I could do but called the family, everyone of them, for help. The ambulance arrived not too long after and Din rode in it with her. Later that evening, I was informed the doctors there had to induce Emak into a coma-like state in order to stabilise her condition. I was alone at home, praying for her well-being.

It was only a few days later that I was strong enough to walk, even then with the aid of a walking cane, that I managed to visit her. Words cannot described the shock I felt when I first saw her in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital; unconscious, but with many tubes inserted for various purposes, but mainly medicinal. As the days rolled by, her condition improved and soon the hospital stopped giving her sedatives and later transferred her to another for recuperation and rehabilitation. Two weeks later, Din took her out and straight to his house knowing I was under no condition to look after Emak.

Back to present day, when she called me earlier in the day asking me to take her to a clinic, the scenes of the episode above came rushing to my mind. I don't mind telling I was real scared. Even now.


Only the absence of colours one normally see in a carnival such as Rio or many more, kept the man aware of reality and of the approaching upswing of the Monsoon Season.




ps. I've just rediscovered using labels again (Smile and wink)