The other day, my friend and I visited our common friend Joel, who was rushed to the hospital because of an accident in his jobsite. He fell down on an aluminum ladder and broke his upper right arm (humerus). Initially, I thought that he fell from the 1st floor of a mall and that his condition was far more serious than just a broken arm. I'm not saying that what happened to him was not serious, but I thought it's life threatening. Thank God that when we first visited him in the hospital, he was all smiling and well enough to explain to us what really happened.
Joel and I worked in the same company before as a visual merchandiser for different stores here in Jeddah. I first met him in Riyadh, but he was eventually transferred here in Jeddah in 2002 (I think) and that's when we became friends. He's a nice, kind and friendly person, the kind that we all look for in a friend and that's why upon learning that he had an accident, I immediately rushed to the hospital to see him.
I understand what he's going through. Most of us OFW's (Overseas Filipino Workers) especially those who are here in the middle east, we often get lonely because we don't have our families, or even those friends we grew up with here with us. It's doubly hard because of the culture this country has, which is very different from what we've grown accustomed to back home. Although most of us here have medical insurance, getting sick or figuring in an accident is a big NO. Imagine yourself, a foreigner inside a hospital, in a foreign land with no loved ones there by your side to comfort you, I feel like crying just thinking about it.
But the good thing is that, we created some good friendships here, who are not just there in times of fun and parties, but also in times of troubles, a shoulder to cry on when we're on our lows. I don't want to be poetic here for the sake of this blog, but that's the truth. Sometimes we just have to do what's right, we should always be there for those who need our company, most especially for a friend. Now what kind of friend are you, knowing that your friend is in the hospital and then making excuses that you couldn't go there because you have a badminton game to attend to? Or that you're invited to a party and already promised that you will attend, yet on the next day you still didn't visit him, not even a phone call. Isn't that horrible? It sounded so much like someone I know. I'm angry right now! I need somebody to tickle my funny bone. Quick!
Joel had an Open Reduction & Internal Fixation (ORIF) operation on his broken humerus and is now recuperating at Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital, bldg. 2, in room # 4111 (for those who still want to visit). His doctor said this afternoon that maybe he could go home tomorrow if things go well. About the title, I'm not sure if it makes sense (especially the 'broken funny bone' part), or if it really mirrored the article, but one thing is for sure, it makes the readers curious about it. *The photo above is the actual x-ray result of Joel's broken 'humerus' bone.
Joel and I worked in the same company before as a visual merchandiser for different stores here in Jeddah. I first met him in Riyadh, but he was eventually transferred here in Jeddah in 2002 (I think) and that's when we became friends. He's a nice, kind and friendly person, the kind that we all look for in a friend and that's why upon learning that he had an accident, I immediately rushed to the hospital to see him.
I understand what he's going through. Most of us OFW's (Overseas Filipino Workers) especially those who are here in the middle east, we often get lonely because we don't have our families, or even those friends we grew up with here with us. It's doubly hard because of the culture this country has, which is very different from what we've grown accustomed to back home. Although most of us here have medical insurance, getting sick or figuring in an accident is a big NO. Imagine yourself, a foreigner inside a hospital, in a foreign land with no loved ones there by your side to comfort you, I feel like crying just thinking about it.
But the good thing is that, we created some good friendships here, who are not just there in times of fun and parties, but also in times of troubles, a shoulder to cry on when we're on our lows. I don't want to be poetic here for the sake of this blog, but that's the truth. Sometimes we just have to do what's right, we should always be there for those who need our company, most especially for a friend. Now what kind of friend are you, knowing that your friend is in the hospital and then making excuses that you couldn't go there because you have a badminton game to attend to? Or that you're invited to a party and already promised that you will attend, yet on the next day you still didn't visit him, not even a phone call. Isn't that horrible? It sounded so much like someone I know. I'm angry right now! I need somebody to tickle my funny bone. Quick!
Joel had an Open Reduction & Internal Fixation (ORIF) operation on his broken humerus and is now recuperating at Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital, bldg. 2, in room # 4111 (for those who still want to visit). His doctor said this afternoon that maybe he could go home tomorrow if things go well. About the title, I'm not sure if it makes sense (especially the 'broken funny bone' part), or if it really mirrored the article, but one thing is for sure, it makes the readers curious about it. *The photo above is the actual x-ray result of Joel's broken 'humerus' bone.
