The Blood Test
I looked at the bill on my desk from Asiri Hospital for a 76 year old male. It was an Ammonia serum test to check the liver. I remembered all too well that day – 12 Nov 2025. The Army Hospital did not have this test and the doctor wanted it done ASAP. My uncle was not free, my brother was not around and so I said I would get it done coz the doctor said it’s best to do it fast.
To do the test, the Asiri lab asked them to bring the blood sample with the serum separated – within half an hour. It was 5pm – rush hour time. The distance from the Army Hospital to Asiri was about 1km. I remember, getting briefed about what exactly was required and then heading to the Army Hospital and briefing the nurse. I waited while she got the blood sample and then headed to the lab to do the serum separation. I remember waiting outside – ready to grab a tuk from the road or if required, run to the lab. Of all the days, I was in a pair of wedge heels but I thought to hell with it, if required I would run barefoot. She brought the serum separated blood in a plastic bottle filled with ice.
I took the precious cargo and literally ran down the two flights of stairs – that elevator was too slow and never free. I ran outside to the road and hailed a few tuk tuks. No one seemed to be stopping till one guy agreed and I quickly jumped in and told him to rush to the Asiri lab.
When I got there, I met the nurse who had briefed me and quickly tried to hand over the blood serum samples, but they first directed me to pay. Coz of course – private hospitals don’t give a fuck about your health, they only care about your wallet. So I paid the 10,900 and then quickly handed over the samples. The nurse confirmed all was in order and she then said they would WhatsApp the results.
I went back to the hospital and told the nurse, got the number of the nurse on duty to WhatsApp the results and then headed home.
I remembered thinking, what if there were agents to do this for us – to rush and get things done in an emergency. I suppose that is the advantage of being powerful – you have people around you to do these things. Still, the result would not change.
When I got the test results, I sent them to the nurse in charge and later to the doctor who had not yet been given it (why the hell don’t people send these?). The doctor confirmed all was in order and so I felt relieved. The situation was dire but this test was clear.
I still recall that day – I felt so alone and so helpless but I knew I had to do what was needed. Life can be quite trying and no one teaches you these things. You have to just learn and keep going. I thought of all the kids whose parents want to protect them from everything – for fuck’s sake, don’t. Coz trust me, people like me who are so hardened by experience, still find it hard. Your fragile kid ain’t gonna last if you keep protecting them. If you want to spare people the pain, don’t have kids. Seriously. Life is hard and it’s not fair – it’s one of the lessons my mother taught me. You can’t save your children from it – you can only prep them because their time will come too. And it will be something very routine and simple like a blood test – where the process is hard and the results could mean life or death – literally.
