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Ten years ago, I led a fast-paced life. I was an accounts manager for a top
trading company, putting in at least 12 hours a day at the office. For three
consecutive years, my team had raked in the highest profit and I had received
numerous awards. Life was exciting and I was fortunate to have hired help at
home. Little did I know that I would lose it
all in the next few months.
It happened after a business trip to China. I developed a persistent back pain
and a low grade fever at night. I thought I was overworked and decided to take
some painkillers. When I told my husband about it, he said I probably needed a
holiday. He promptly booked a holiday for us both to Bali the next day. In Bali,
things got worse, especially at night. I had night sweats and I began coughing.
I was so exhausted that I cut short the holiday and flew home.
The next day, I could hardly get out of bed. My family doctor advised me to take
an X-ray. To my utter dismay, the X-rays revealed that I had tuberculosis (TB) !
He put me on a regimen of 20 tablets a day, containing the usual drugs to fight
TB. I soon felt better and everything was back to normal. However, when I
returned from my trip to Singapore, I had developed a persistent cough again.
This time, I decided to make an appointment with my friend, Dr Azlin, a
consultant chest physician. Another X-ray revealed a fist-size cavity in my
lower left lung, caused by a multidrug-resistant strain. My TB was definitely
still around. By this time, my weight had dropped to 40 kilos. I could hardly
eat anything as the powerful drugs made me sick. I was warned that the treatment
would cause nausea, heart palpitations and joint pains. It might also lead to
liver problems and blindness. I did not hesitate, as I did not have any choice.
I could hardly breathe and a simple conversation was almost impossible.
In the meantime, I had a heart-to-heart talk with my boss, Encik Razman, and we
decided that I should hand over my team to my assistant while I recuperate. He
was very understanding and kind which made it even more difficult for me. I was
used to fighting my way up and we always had heated arguments about our
projects. Seeing his sympathy and kindness made me reflect upon the seriousness
of my condition. I told him that I wanted to take no-pay leave and he assured me
that the job would always be there waiting for me. It was the first time he saw
me cry.
I began to think about my job and my accomplishments. I spent a total of four
months in bed. During that time, my family and friends could not visit me for
fear of infection. I contemplated my future, if I had one. I wanted to die at
one point as I had never felt so hopeless. I was slowly losing the battle. Then,
my husband bought a journal for me and I began writing again. It was something
that I had always wanted to do but did not have the time. I guessed he must have
seen the emptiness in my eyes and he desperately wanted to help. One night, when
I wanted to go to the toilet, I heard him crying in the study room. It was then
that I resolved to get well. I realized that I had put him through so much and
he had never once complained to me about the household. When I was better, my
children visited me. I missed them more than I realized. A week later, I began
painting again, a hobby which I had pursued as a child. I painted and wrote as
if I had only weeks to live. My drive and will began to return. I felt better
but dared not believe the first negative test results that came back. I had been
there before. Finally, after 36 harrowing months, I was declared free of TB.
However, the disease had taken its toll on me.
It had destroyed 25 per cent of my left lung. Each day, for the next six months,
I still had to continue taking the medicine to avoid any relapse.
Finally, a year later, I was pronounced cured. I was finally able to go back to
work. A sea of new faces greeted me on that day. I felt insecure but happy to be
back. Then, Encik Razman and my team were waiting in my room for me. I was
overjoyed that they had maintained the room for me. I cried tears of joy as I
hugged my team members.
Although I feel weak and I am constantly on antibiotics, I am enjoying life
again. I am thankful for the break that the disease gave me as it had taught me
life's lessons. I learnt to appreciate my family and life. I learnt that it is
all right to lean back and let others get ahead of me. I learnt that material
wealth is nothing compared to health, love and life. |
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Answer the following questions using complete
sentences |
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1. |
From paragraph 1,
(a) according to the writer,
what accomplishment can the writer boast of as an accounts manager ?
(b) what does
it refer to ? |
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2. |
From paragraph 2, why did her
husband book a holiday to Bali ? How do we know that she was still
unwell in Bali ? |
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3. |
From paragraph 4, give one example of
the seriousness of the writer's condition. |
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4. |
From paragraph 6,
(a) why was the writer unable
to receive any visitors ?
(b) give a reason why the
writer dared not believe the first negative results that came back.
(c) explain the phrase 'the disease had taken
its toll on me'. |
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5. |
From paragraphs 8, give
two lessons of life that the writer got from her illness. |
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6. |
Based on the passage given,
write a summary
* on the writer's reactions
and feelings and
* what she did to deal with
the situation
Begin your summary as follows
:
The writer had a serious
discussion with her boss and ... |
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| Answers |
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1. |
(a) Her team raked in the
highest profit / she had won numerous awards.
(b) Her accomplishments / her
career |
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2. |
He thought she needed a
holiday. She was still coughing and had night sweats. |
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3. |
* She could hardly breathe * Her weight had dropped drastically *
She could infect them. ( Choose any one answer ) |
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4. |
(a) They were afraid of being
infected.
(b) She had experienced a
relapse before. (c) The
sickness had affected her physically. |
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5. |
(a) She learnt to appreciate
her family and her life.
(b) She learnt to relax and
let others win. |
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6. |
The writer had a serious
discussion with her boss and handed over her team to her assistant. she
felt bad and wanted to take no-pay leave. His kindness in keeping her
job made her cry. During her illness, she thought about her job, her
achievement and her bleak future. she felt like dying due to her
hopelessness. then, she started writing. She resolved to get well when
she happened to see her husband crying. She started painting again and
her will to live returned. Although she felt better, she dared not
believe the first negative test results of her disease. Finally, she was
declared free from tuberculosis after 36 months. However, she had to
continue taking her medicine. She was overjoyed when she finally
returned to work. |
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