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A day in the hospital (12/2008)
-12 years ago-
My brother surprised me with a special gift.
//A Thread//
-12 years ago-
My brother surprised me with a special gift.
//A Thread//
Context
At the age of 14 year, I was an unhappy kid.
I was shy, insecure and developed an eating disorder to cope with these difficulties.
I did everything to avoid the suffering of life.
At the age of 14 year, I was an unhappy kid.
I was shy, insecure and developed an eating disorder to cope with these difficulties.
I did everything to avoid the suffering of life.
The situation got really bad.
I was so physically weak that I could not climb up the stairs anymore without the danger of fainting.
My body was exhausted. My body and mind were ready to give up.
I was so physically weak that I could not climb up the stairs anymore without the danger of fainting.
My body was exhausted. My body and mind were ready to give up.
My parents got alarmed and called the doctor.
There was only one option left.
"I needed to get admitted to the hospital."
There was only one option left.
"I needed to get admitted to the hospital."
At the hospital I got a nasogastric tube to force-feed me.
Now, this moment feels like a vague and distant memory.
But then it was one of the most painful and emotional experiences of my life.
Now, this moment feels like a vague and distant memory.
But then it was one of the most painful and emotional experiences of my life.
Me and my mom were crying during the entire road to the hospital.
My dad was committed.
He wanted to help me.
He was the authoritative figure I needed at that moment!
My dad was committed.
He wanted to help me.
He was the authoritative figure I needed at that moment!
Days went by and I slowly started to improve.
Every single evening my mom went to visit me.
She never skipped a single day.
She was always there to support me emotionally.
Every single evening my mom went to visit me.
She never skipped a single day.
She was always there to support me emotionally.
When I got better, I also started to be myself again.
As one of the older "children" in the department, I looked after the other sick children and took my time to play with them.
I also connected deeply with the nurses.
I could feel emotions again.
As one of the older "children" in the department, I looked after the other sick children and took my time to play with them.
I also connected deeply with the nurses.
I could feel emotions again.
One Sunday evening after a couple of weeks in the hospital, the entire family came to visit me.
My mom, my brother and my dad were there.
My brother surprised me with a gift.
Proudly he showed that he had a DVD for me.
That DVD was WALL-E.
My mom, my brother and my dad were there.
My brother surprised me with a gift.
Proudly he showed that he had a DVD for me.
That DVD was WALL-E.
The next day I watched WALL-E in my hospital room.
Surprisingly, I really connected with the story.
I guess sometimes there are no words needed to transfer strong emotions and a powerful message.
Surprisingly, I really connected with the story.
I guess sometimes there are no words needed to transfer strong emotions and a powerful message.
Nowadays we can joke about the hypocrisy of a person with an eating disorder, admitted in the hospital, watching that last part of WALL-E.
If you remember, the last part shows how lazy and fat society has become. A society that got addicted to too much comfort.
If you remember, the last part shows how lazy and fat society has become. A society that got addicted to too much comfort.
I did not think it was hypocrisy.
This movie was exactly what I needed at this moment.
This is what I learned from it
This movie was exactly what I needed at this moment.
This is what I learned from it
In the first part of the movie Wall-E is just cleaning trash without any purpose.
In some way this related to my disorder.
My disorder lacked any purpose except the avoidance of pain.
I cleaned the trash but the trash kept coming back.
In some way this related to my disorder.
My disorder lacked any purpose except the avoidance of pain.
I cleaned the trash but the trash kept coming back.
The moment Eve enters Wall-E's life you feel that now there is a sense of hope.
This was the hope I wanted to feel.
I started to notice again who were these lovely figures in my surrounding that were always there to help me.
There was still hope.
This was the hope I wanted to feel.
I started to notice again who were these lovely figures in my surrounding that were always there to help me.
There was still hope.
When Eve and Wall-E entered the space ship, they discovered a world where everyone is out of touch with reality.
Their only form of connection is through screens. This connection does not replace real connection.
Real connection was my mom coming each day to the hospital.
Their only form of connection is through screens. This connection does not replace real connection.
Real connection was my mom coming each day to the hospital.
While the humans on the ship are unable to connect, the two robots can still connect with each other on a much deeper level.
This made me realize how much of my real emotions and identity had been shut off.
I had been a robot stuck in a human body.
This made me realize how much of my real emotions and identity had been shut off.
I had been a robot stuck in a human body.
Overall, it teaches me that our digital connection cannot replace real-life connection and that love can make you stronger and serve as a deeper purpose.
My brother made me feel that way and helped me to learn this valuable lesson.
My brother made me feel that way and helped me to learn this valuable lesson.
Thank you, brother for helping me to recover. I will never forget the pure simplicity and beauty of that gesture.
**THE END**
**THE END**
If you want to hear more stories like this, please let me know.
Thank you for reading this long thread.
Thank you for reading this long thread.
