CHAPTER 57

2025-06-13

There were some episodes during Lun's stay in the hospital.

I would like to thank the hospital's emergency department for vacating the visiting room and converting it into a ward, so that I can accompany Lun 24 hours a day. There is a sofa in the room that allows me to stretch my legs straight, so that I can rest. I believe this arrangement is for the following reasons.

On the day Lun was admitted to the emergency room, the group home management asked the hospital to arrange a one-to-one companionship service for him. The hospital could not agree, and the group home could only provide four to five hours of companionship service during the day. When I proposed to accompany Lun all day, the hospital immediately responded with action. In this way, we both get more space and privacy, which improves the quality of my rest and reduces the spread of Lunlun's protests. However, the air conditioning in the visiting room is very strong, and Lun shivered with coldness, and often has to cover himself with five to six thin quilts.

Sociology classifies hospitals as "total institutions". Patients are under almost complete control of the hospital, making it easier for them to receive treatment. Medical staff go in and out of the ward according to the needs of medical services, including drawing blood; measuring body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, blood oxygen content; feeding medicine and infusion, etc. Although Lun has long understood that the medical staff are helping him, he does not completely trust them and is very resistant to certain instruments, equipment and practices.

Once he saw the mask tied to my left arm and suddenly wanted to snatch it away. After a while, I hid it inside my sock and pretended to throw it away, and he gave up. Now I still don't understand why he reacted this way.

Later, Lun was assigned a single ward on the top floor. There was a large window next to the bed, and the sunlight came in. The room was much warmer. Since then, Lun only needed to cover himself with two blankets. I got him some ice water to drink. When he saw me put the water bottle under the tap, he thought I was giving him tap water. Even though he was disheveled, he immediately got out of bed and rushed towards me, protesting loudly.

The problem arose. He had a blood pressure monitor on his arm and a clip on his finger to measure the blood oxygen content. I didn't let him grab the water bottle, let alone tear the equipment apart. I managed to unplug the power cord and the clip on his finger. After making sure he was not restrained, I hurried to the ice water room. He chased me from behind, shouting, alarming the patients, relatives, and medical staff present.

A female medical staff member asked me what was wrong on the spot. I replied: "My son wants to make sure that the water I give him is of high quality." Lun saw the water from the distillation machine fill the water bottle with his own eyes, and he felt relieved. This kind of scene is not new. My late wife and I used to be accustomed to it. Later, a group home staff told me that Lun only drank water filtered by his special carbon water filter in the group home, and never asked others to do it.

Back in the ward, Lun drank some water and then rested. After a while, he repeated the little action he did in the morning, which was to gently tap the needle inserted in his left arm for infusion. I repeatedly persuaded him  to stop, and later he pressed my hand on the needle on his arm, asking me to remove the cannula for him. Of course, I refused.

It happened in a flash, he had torn off the cannula. I was angry and surprised. I stared at the small wound on his arm. Fortunately, there was no bleeding. I had to leave the room and tell the nurse. Another more powerful episode is about to appear.