"Daijoubu"

Posted on June 13, 2007 by Nene

In my second month of stay in Japan, in a cloudy and cold morning, I went to the hospital with my husband and my mother-in-law for a check up for some unusual conditions that I felt in my body. We filled up forms and proceeded to the rooms for check up. Since I had three different areas of concern to be examined, we had to go to different rooms. While we were on the escalator I felt nervous about the result of the examination and so I held to my mother-in law's arm. I was touched when I held to her, I felt my mother is with me. While I held to her, she said "Daijoubu."

When we arrived at the second floor, we sat and waited for my name to be called. While we were waiting, I realized Otosan, my father-in-law, was left in the house and nobody will cook lunch for him. I heard that the check up will take a long time, so we decided to let Okaasan, my mother-in-law, go back home. My husband and I had our lunch at the nearest restaurant and after that we went back to the hospital again. Then at last, my name was called and I was being examined. I went through several examinations and apparatus.

One of the apparatus I encountered made me cry was kind of X-ray for breasts, a mammogram. It was the worst experience I ever had. Imagine, my breast being pressed side by side, it was too painful. After it was done, I told my husband, "It's better to die, than to suffer like this." But he responded "It is just temporary pain, it is better than you die." I told him that kind of statement because I thought that what if they found out that I have a cancer, it means I have to get into these painful experiences again.

Thank God, I was relieved when I heard the result was negative.

The first two concerns about my health were no need to be worried about but the third one made me disturbed. The doctor told us that we have to be back after two weeks because they have to examine it thoroughly.

When we were in the car going home, I was quiet and I couldn't think of anything but my health. My husband kissed me because he noticed I was not ok, it's his way to comfort me. I realized at that time that I am so lucky even I don't have any friends or relatives in Japan, my Japanese husband and his parents care for me so much.

I went back to the hospital, and after some examinations, they found out that there was something wrong. Then, I was being admitted to the hospital and went through operation. Fortunately, because of the state-of-the art medical technologies and the will of God, the operation turned out well. Now, I feel as fit as a fiddle.