I was at the hospital almost the whole day, visited a friend who's unwell. Before i left the ward at night, an old lady in her 80s was brought in to rest on the bed directly opposite my friend. This auntie was accompanied by her younger brother who was almost as old as her. As Auntie had difficulties with movements and speech, her brother spoke to the nurse on her behalf. Unfortunately, the foreign nurse couldn't speak dialet and Uncle hardly understood english. I then went up and volunteered to help with simple translation. Uncle couldn't answer many of the nurse's questions. For example, any drug allergy? When asked for a Next-Of-Kin contact, Uncle took out his handphone and searched for his own handphone number.. The nurse asked for a second NOK contact, Uncle replied at that time he's the only one and he'll definitely pick up his phone. I learnt that this pair of siblings lived together, their next kin was a niece who was not contactable at that time. Uncle also told me to ask the nurse if they could have financial assistance with the hospital fee.. When the discussion was over, Uncle walked over to Auntie who was lying still on the bed, stroked her forehead and said to her that he's leaving and will be back the next day to visit her. She replied a very soft "Orh" and watched him leave. From that time till i left, i looked at Auntie. She stared blankly at nothing, helpless and lonely. I tried speaking to her a little in cantonese, asking her whether she was comfortable, telling her to sleep early and have a good rest, trying to cheer her up. I didn't know what she was trying to reply. Then before i walked out of the ward, i went up to Auntie again, gave her a wide braces smile and say goodbye. I felt sad.. Not like really upset till i cry, but just sad to witness this happening. Maybe its not as bad as i think, but this is reality.

I don't have a moral of the story, because this is not a story.

I hope all of us will stay healthy and away from the hospital, take care people..(More)