It isn't as glamorous as you might imagine. I mean, I know all of you wish it were you, but only some of us can be so lucky.
It all started around 4am. Or more accurately, I guess it started 8-12 hours before 4am, eating a lovely dinner at a fantastic restaurant here in Pune. Some monster of a bacteria must have slipped in somewhere and took residence in my stomach.
I have never been more disgustingly ill in my life. I will skip over the horrid details, but just imagine some terrible picture of the worst stomach virus you can think of, and that was me.
At one point in the afternoon I woke up from having apparently passed out and sat up in my bed, sort of looking around trying to figure out what was happening. I looked to my left, saw some curtains and palm trees out my window. "Am I in INDIA?!?!" Yes, I was. I looked to my right, searching for other answers. Nothing over there. Then my stomach spoke up, and turns out he was not happy about the whole sitting-up thing, so I sort of moaned and crumbled over to my right side.
This is the position my roommate Lucy found me in later in the evening. "Do you want a pillow?" she asked me, confused as to why I was lying in such an awkward manner. "Oh yeah, there's one over there," I said flinging my left arm in the general direction that I thought the pillow was. I sort of started pathetically crying at that point. "I've never been so dehydrated in my life," I whined. "All I want to do is drink a gallon of water, but I can't." Sniffle sniffle. Tears, tears. She comforted me and assured me that this happens to every foreigner at some point. She related story after story of hospital stays caused by malicious viruses and other general medical misfortune encountered by her and others since her time in India. I listenened eagerly, beginning to feel as though this were some sort of induction into my new life here, and if I could only get through it, I would... I would... be a part of the club or something. Which is better than being alone and sick and nothing you can do about it, I suppose.
A little note on dehydration, while I am on the topic: it is a serious problem. If you ever get severely dehydrated, get to the doctor. Don't fool around. I mean it. On that note, I'd like to take a minute to apologize to my kidneys for this whole incident: Kidneys, I am so so sorry. I never realized how vital you truly were. Thank you for all you do, and I'm sorry you were forced to try to do your job with not one ounce of water. I will do everything in my power to ensure this never happens to you again. Thank you again for your superb work, and I hope we can continue our longstanding relationship. I don't want to lose you; please forgive me.
***SOAP BOX ALERT***
Also, in my delirium I started thinking about the whole health care debate in America (strange, I know, but what can I say), and I suddenly had a new perspective (shocking). I thought, Could we all just stop, take a minute, and thank God for the health care that we do have in America? I am so grateful for good food and clean water, and for access to some of the most amazing hospitals and doctors in the world. I am so thankful for medicine like antibiotics and... electrolyte compounds. I know the debate is long and premiums are high, but I don't think it would hurt to put all politics aside for a moment and all collectively say, "Thank you." (Now would be an okay time to stop reading this and do that, if you don't mind and you have a few seconds to spare.)
So thank you (God).
And thank you (reader).
Wishing you health.
No comments:
Post a Comment