Yesterday, the 13 of June 2008, is the day that I will remember forever throughout my life. It was a very scary, dreadful and terrifying experience was very... very... very close to death, VERY CLOSE !!!
Anyway, I am still alive now. I am still able to get back home and sleep until today and even go for my computer to write my feelings... my fearful experience yesterday.
The story starts...
(13Th June 2008)
Yesterday was the first day that our class was freed from EXAM STRESS.... and we were doing to do the 2Nd - Rat Dissection today.
We were to show the important organs, vessels like artery and etc. to our Biology teacher to fulfill our task in certain experiments.
We were going to kill 20 rats and I was the one who ordered the rat for us... And at times, I feel very guilty and pity for the cute rats. Then, as usual we put all the rats in the dustbin and we launch the "Ether Bomb" - - cotton wool wet with petroleum ether in the covered bin.
At first, the rats were suffering and struggle. Some of them even climbed up to the cleft of the bin as we opened it a little bit. At that moment, I felt vey sorry for them.
After a few minutes, there were no more vibrating on the bin. Then, we took out all the rats and distribued to everyone. Then, everyone started to dissect their own respective rat and finished the tasks given. The whole experiment went on well and by around 11.30 p.m., we were aready cleaning up.
As for me, after I had cleaned my dissection set and my own table. I saw there most of my classmates have cleaned up. Then, I went for the dustbin bin as there was no mor other rubbish to be thrown. I wore another pair of gloves and tied up the rubbish plastic bag and went to the rubbish dumping site to throw the organic waste, including all the dead, dissected bodies of the rats.
After throwing the waste, I hurried back to the Bio. Lab to take my stuff then back to my class upstairs. As I arrived my class, I went down again to photostate the interviews questionnaires which will used after school for the interviews of our Science and Mathematics Society.
As I was walking back from the photostate shop, I feel veryuncomfortable. My brain started to feel pain and my body energy started to lower down. I thought it might be just the effect that I didn't sleep well for the few days of the exam (which I slept around 3 - 4 hurs per day). So, I didn't bother. I thought I would be fine afte taking a nap.
However, when I was stepping up the staircase, I felt great pressure in doing so. It was like there was no energy in my body. I slowly climbed up to the third floor, but, my leg suddenly went soft and the only thing that I could do was lying down on the staircase. I slowly realised that was not only the effect of the sleeplessness. Then, I thought it might be the inhalation of the Petroleum ETHER GAS.
After a few more minutes, I stood up by the aid of the stairs handle. Then, I walked motionlessly to my class.
As I sat down on my chair, my brain cells were so painful that I couldn't stand it. At the same time, I felt that my breath was not smooth. I tired to breathe hard but there was no air going in as if there was something chocking in my throat. I felt very scared ad threaten. I was very dizzy and felt like dowsing off. But, I feard to do so, I scared that I would not be able to get up after the sleep... ... ... forever... ... ... as I was sure that it was the side effect of the dreadful ETHER.
I tried to calm down myself and breathe really hard for air, but failed. I could only breathe a small portion of air in my lungs, which was not enough to purify the ether gas. Then, my hand started to shiver and I could not move my hand. I had no strengh at all.
Then, one of my friend pulled my chair near to the fan to give me more air exposure. I tried to breathe hard agian, but it only help a little.
Later, a few of my classmates suggested to carry me to the PBSM room. I refused initially but at the end they carried me. By the time they arried me near to the staircase, Ifelt very discomfort as my breath was even harder. So, theyput put down on the floor. I had zero strength and my hands and legs started to become numb. I felt really useless of myslef at that moment, like an ordinary dust floating in the air. I felt that death is coming to me. I felt that my head was bursting like millions of atomic boom being planted in every corner in my brain and exploding continuously! (I think that the feelings of the rat when they were killed by us.......)
I was really scared... scared that I will never see all my loved ones anymore... my family, my friends, my teacher and this beautiful world... I really feared that I would just leave this world just like that, without achieving anything, without discovering anything... I felt that the gate of Death was just in front of me and ready to open. My eyes were becoming blurer and blurer and I was about to passed out.
Then, one of my mates slapped my face and called my name, " Don't sleep, Guan Tyng, don't sleep!!" At the moment I heard his voice, I quickly made myself awake but I had to stand on the dreadful pain. I was in the verge of dowsing off and chronic pain.
Later, I noticed that some of my mates brought the strecher from the PBSM room. Then, they carried me by using that strecher. My breath became harder and harder. I hardly can see anyone beside me. But, I heard one very funny voice which was, "Eh, very heavy lar....!" I know who was that and even though it's a bit of teasing, that wake me up a bit.
Then, we arrived at the PBSM room. I saw one of the U6A teacher was beside me and carried me to sit together with my friends. She used her finger to rub my throat in order to stimulate me to vommit. Then, I vommitted continously into a bin. I felt very pain in my stomach and my head as well. I could feel that my tears were dripping out from my eyes due to the great pain.
After vommiting all my breakfast into the bin, I felt much better. I could breathe again! ( It feels really great to be able to breathe.) Then, I breathed very hard and deep to compensate for the unability of breathing before. However, my hands and legs were still numb and cold. I thought, "I need glucose!" So, I tried to ask for it but I noticed that I hardly can speak any word. Luckily, the teacher and my friends heard what I said. Later, one of my friend brought me 100 plus. The teacher gave me little by little bit. At that time, the pain in my brain started to lower down. Slowly, my eye sight was clearer and I could identify my friends. Anyway, I still could not speak properly as my strengh was very low.
After don't know how long, I slowly could see clearer of my surroundings. Then, I felt like meditating, so I asked for it. Then, my friends and the teacher helped me to sit up, I started to meditate and do strecthing to keep my body warm and my metabolism high.
Then, I heard someone asking of calling the ambulance and my parents, I cried out and said, "No!" I didn't want to worry my parents of this incident. But, of course, they called finally.
Then, I asked for standing as I wanted to feel that I am back to normal. My friends helped me to stand... I tried my best to but still I hardly had enough energy to stand still. But, my brain kept on telling me, stand up and everything shall be over..... I tried very hard again and finally I could do it. Then, I wanted to walk but one of the teacher insisted me to sit down on a wheel chair. She explained to me that my brain wasn't working well as the petroleum ether was disturbing the activity of the neurotransmitter in my brain. So, I accepted her suggestion of going to the hospital for a detailed check up to aviod any side effects.
Then, a paramedic came and pushed me on the wheel chair to the ambulance. Then, he carried me up to the ambulance. One of my friend followed me on the ambulance. He told me that every great man had failed themselvesbefore. The point is they strengthened up again after being failed. When I heard that, I felt better in my heart and it was really touching. But, I tried my best to control my tears as I didn't want to be weak again.
In minutes, we had arrived the hospital. I was carried by the paramedics to the emergency ward and my friends went to register for me. Then, my thought became clearer and I started to think what had happend before I came in.
In the hospital, I refreshed my mind to call back what was happening. Then, I went for an X-ray photographing. I slowly called back my mind during the period.
Then, don't know how long have passed. my Biology teacher and my friends came to see me. I felt very touched and I really thanked them for saving my life and visitting me.
I felt cared deeply in my heart and about to cried out, but I controled. I did not know what to say to them other than " Thank You".... Without them, I might not be here anymore. I might be seeing my bother who died years ago and not sitting here to write this blog.
Later, my mom came. She looked very worried. Then, she went to fetch my another brother from school since I had to wait for the doctor report.
By around 4 p.m., the doctor said I could go, my report was all good. At that moment, I felt relaxed as I finally back to normal. Then, my freind sent me back to the school to get my bags and I waited my mom to pick me up.
And, that's the end of my helf-dead experience of ETHER gas inhalation.
And now, I really thank all my friends that saved me, gave me support by visiting me in the hospital, and sent me messenges to ask for my situation and the teachers that help me to vommit, to call my parents and the ambulance, to persuade me to go to hospital.
Friends who saved me:-
Jonathan
Zhuan
Kenneth
Eugene
Teacher who saved and helped me to call my parents and the ambulance:
Pn. Lim
Pn. See
Pn. Felicia
Friends who visited me in the hospital:
Jonathan
Zhuan
Kenneth
Soon Hong
Adeline
Davina
And also to all my friends who had sms me.....
"THANK YOU ALL!!!!!
I REALLY APPRECIATE.... I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GIVE ANYTHING IN RETURN BUT I CAN JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH ME AND SAVE ME FROM DEATH..... I NEARLY CANNOT SEE ALL OF YOU ANYMORE! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!! "
