MY LAST HOSPITAL EXPERIENCE

I've never been much of a hospital person to begin with; in fact, I generally avoid visiting there since I don't enjoy the vibe or have the courage to see blood or serious wounds. Prior to this visit, I hadn't been to the hospital in more than ten years, but I was forced to go there after developing a major illness and also when my younger brother was admitted.

Prior to my brother falling ill in 2020, I had already discovered I had a medical condition, and by the time I went to the hospital and was diagnosed, I knew I had a liver-related illness. But then I was placed on life-long medication and also asked to come periodically for a medical checkup, which I usually indulged in until my brother fell Ill in 2020.

Though I couldn't check up on him then due to the distance between where I worked in Kano state and where he was admitted in Ilorin, Kwara state, I later had to resign from my place of work the following year just to have adequate time to stand by him during those periods, and believe me, it was a terrific experience that I don't pray to ever go through again in my life.

I actually stayed with him throughout most of the times he was admitted, and that means I literally stayed among different people with different illnesses and medical conditions. Almost every night and day I listen and watch people cry in pain due to just concluded operations, pains from what brought them there, and several others, and on such occasions I can remember wishing I had a superpower to just heal everyone and free them from such cries of pain and agony.

The hospital isn't really a good place to be, especially when it has to do with life-threatening injuries or illnesses, and I can remember watching people get admitted and also discharged. I also watch people get admitted, and unfortunately, their dead bodies are what are taken out of the ward.

One of the events and happenings while I was there that I can never forget In a rush was that of an elderly man whose bed was right next to that of my younger brother. The day he was admitted into the hospital ward, I can remember him walking in by himself, alongside his wife and son. I was even wondering what his illness could be because he looked strong, agile, and healthy. I remember he even cracked jokes through the night with his family, and at one point he even danced, and I couldn't help but wonder why such a healthy-looking man had been admitted to the hospital.

I still didn't find out what was wrong with him, but just a few days after he was admitted, he was wheeled into the operation theater. Unfortunately for him, after the operation was concluded, he was never himself again. From the theater, he was taken to the intensive care unit, and after a day in the ICU, he was declared dead. It was a surprise to everyone in the ward because we all knew and remembered how he came into the hospital and his agility.

This type of news usually brings about more depression in other ill patients, who then usually begin to look into thin air, probably wondering if they are next in line to be carried by the cold hands of death.

All thanks to God, my younger brother later left the place to heal, even though it also came with drama, stress, and fear. I remember seeing all his internal organs at a time when all the stitches used in sewing the operated part on his stomach lost their strength. It was a terrible sight to behold, and we thought that's how it was going to end because, as of then, the doctors were on strike. Apparently, God had other plans, and he survived it till we were able to beg one of the doctors to come help us fix the losed stitches during their strike.

_{One of my medical results from several years ago.}

During the time he was already getting better and about to be discharged in late 2022, I also used the opportunity to go visit the doctors for my own illness that I'd literally abandoned and forgotten about while helping my brother. Although there had been some slight changes to how it used to be for me before, I was still fine and was still asked to continue with the medicine. Unfortunately, I've not been able to go for any medical checkup since then, and now that I've moved to another state, my plan is to visit that hospital after the coming school holiday to transfer my medical records and diagnosis to the nearest hospital in the new state where I now reside.

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That's all about my last visit to the hospital and some of the experiences I had while there. The article was inspired by the hive learners community writing prompts.

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NOTE: All photos used in this content are mine.

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Thanks so much for your time, have a wonderful night rest and stay healthy.