Abatgul is a journalist from Nukus in Uzbekistan. She's sharing extracts of the diary she kept during her treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis.
March 2009. A month with lots of holidays here in Uzbekistan. I can say that it is a special holiday for me as well. Because I can still dream and my heart is full of wishes. Looking back I realize that one year has gone. Now, if I move 7-8 months more forward gaining patience, mindfulness and be strong I will knock on the door of happiness. Behind the door I believe to find invaluable wealth - which is my health. I live with these thoughts surrounding me.
My daily activity is to go to the polyclinic, take my drugs and take the drug's "kicking" (effects) for 1-2 hours. Every day in every way, keep patient, keep fighting back.
Life is a fight for survival - I think to myself, keeping my palm on my chest, over my left lung - I know you are recovering my innocent, soft lungs. I stopped everything just to cure you, I think neither of my profession nor my creativity.
What I know is my motto: "Forward for clear lungs": I live only for it now. When I've got through this trial and I join the healthy people I know lots of good things and a happy life are waiting for me, this is how I believe, and I'm going for it.
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TB & Me
Non-FictionTB&ME is a collaborative blogging project by patients being treated for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in locations all around the world by Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). They are writing about their experiences o...
