YOUNG VOICE
That Damned Striped Mosquito
DENGUE is one of the diseases endemic to countries within the tropical biome. It is transmitted through a vector known as the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Signs and symptoms of Dengue Fever include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pains, and fever; while, Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever is a much graver condition complicated by bleeding and even some neurologic symptoms. Preventive measures practiced such as fogging, keeping larvae-eating fish and removing stagnant water sources to eradicate breeding sites of mosquitoes. Personal precautions include wearing of long pants, applying insect repellants and using mosquito nets during sleep.
I typed all of these without even opening a textbook, without peeping through my folders of lecture notes and surprisingly without making use of the convenience that is Google. I know quite a handful of information on Dengue. But I guess knowing is not enough. Last July 25, 2010 at 6:07 pm, I was brought to a hospital room riding a wheelchair with hydrating fluids dripping through the intravenous line. I was diagnosed of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Stage II. Yes, I vomited blood. I pooped blood. My eyes were like those of fish sold in markets, a bloody red halo was surrounding my eyeballs. My psoriasis aggravated and doctors can’t distinguish which red mark is for which disease. I looked like rubbish. I felt I was rubbish. But these did not hinder me from brewing up some insights.
1. Platelets or thrombocytes are our blood components responsible for putting a stop to bleeding. The normal value was 150,000-450,000 per microliter of blood. I had a platelet count of 10,000. That made sense. I was puking what I thought was ‘dinuguan’. I was subjected to 14 packs of blood transfusion, 13 of which to normalize my platelet levels and one to help my hemoglobin level back on its feet. But these numbers did not amaze me. I was more stunned to find out that nine strangers, two of which my father intentionally looked for, were the source of the packs of blood transfused to me, were the source of my lifeblood. They say when you’re to give a gift to someone, give something that comes from the heart rather than an expensive trinket you bought from a boutique.
It’s just a comforting thought that what can actually save you are from people you have not even met. I realized now the great deal of generosity inherent to anyone after giving up almost half a liter of your blood, your left kidney, a fourth of your liver, your bone marrow, your right eye just to save a life of a stranger. What else to do but keep the cycle going, keep the good deed proliferating. Someday when I have fully recovered and be screened okay to donate blood, I will. Thank you, strangers.
2. A day puking and febrile at home plus a day in the emergency room plus nine days in a private room plus six more days of rest equals 17 days. I wanted to freak out. I miss an awful lot of lecture and duty hours. I will be swarmed with all the make-up exams and duties when I return to school. But health comes first, it always should be. I missed that point, that’s why I got my bloody share. Sure, I consistently have high scores in exams and enthroned to the top spot every recognition program but what will be their worth when I let Dengue get the better of me? What will be their worth when I’m already six-feet below the ground? I was hypnotized to focus on one route, schoolwork. I did notice that there were other routes I should take, most important was my health. My immune system was weak. I sleep at an average of 3-4 hours per night. I sometimes ignore my tummy growling when I’m studying. I forego some meals. Well, they weren’t of an issue until a damned striped mosquito came into my life. I’m still in the process of re-prioritizing. But for now, I need to regain my strength first. After all, Health is a precious wealth. I don’t want to go bankrupt.
3. When a child suffers, a parent suffers three times more. I realized how strong my parents are. My father did not care how far and how difficult was it to procure blood for my transfusion. His entire routine of work stopped while I was hospitalized. Instead of meeting with clients, he was traveling the roads of Iloilo looking for blood, worse, he wasn’t a vampire. It is tasking enough to obtain a pack of blood, how much more 14 packs? Not to mention settling all the prescriptions and laboratory tests. My father may be the next superman. My mother, oh she had a worse condition than Dengue, she was watching 24/7 over a spoiled brat who has Dengue. I could not imagine how my mother was able to serve and clean a bedpan filled with urine and bloody poop. I could not imagine how my mother stretched her patience when I complained about the food served, the thermostat of the air-conditioner, my abdominal pains, the level of the head of bed, sticky and itchy feelings, and so on. Despite all of these, she was there right by my side singing Christian songs, smiling and holding my hand whenever I felt anxious or hurt. My mother may be a future saint. I have been hospitalized thrice in my entire life. The first two were due to dehydration and typhoid fever. My hospital rooms, doctors, nurses, medications and number of days absent at school may have change, but my parents’ concern, my parents’ patience, my parents’ love remained more endemic than Dengue.
On August 3, 2010 at 4:00 PM, I was riding a wheelchair down to the parking area with neither an intravenous line attached nor any feeling of puking up blood. I was going home with three types of medications and the hope of recovering fully.
It took Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Stage II for me to realize three important life lessons. I have shortened the path for you. Be generous. Take care of your health. Love your parents.
Don’t wait for that damned striped mosquito to flutter around you. (Reactions to reylangarcia@yahoo.com)
