I have had the experience of spending my entire weekend in the hospital caring for my dad who was ill. He was having mild symptoms during the weekdays but over the weekend it got worse and I had to take him to a government hospital not too far from our home because that is what I could afford.
The stress in a government hospital was something else I was going from office to office for payment and collection of hospital cards so that we could see the doctor. We got to see the doctor and after various tests, the doctor concluded that he would need admission for the necessary treatment. His admission lasted over the weekend and I decided to stay with him every day at the hospital because I wanted to offer him support.
My brother was in charge of cooking meals and bringing for us. My dad didn't have an appetite so I'd always encourage him to eat even if it was little. I also made sure the nurses attended to him on time. Sometimes the nurses could be a handful.
At that point I was already exhausted
Image is mine
Spending time with him at the hospital made me communicate well with the doctor and I understood what he was going through. There are certain meals he wouldn't eat anymore and some he would eat because his blood and sugar level was high.
In the evenings, I always keep him company and gist with him. Staying generally at the hospital was overwhelming and filled with exhaustion, fear, and anxiety. There was no proper place to sleep in the men's ward. Sometimes I'll just sit on a chair and sleep or rest my head on the bed. Mosquitoes didn't show mercy either because the mosquito nets were only meant for the patients.
This experience provided an opportunity for me to show love and care for my dad tangibly and also to support him when he needed it most. Taking care of someone with health issues teaches resilience and empathy.
Being around people with various health issues showed me how important health is. I was reminded that human life is frail and it could just be gone in the twinkle of an eye. So let's cherish our loved ones while they are still here and alive.
Have a lovely weekend!