Near death experience

Last night was the most horrifying day in last couple years, at one moment I thought I would be dead in Beijing – maybe it is a bit exaggerating, but at one instant I really asked myself whether I have any regrets in my life if my life ended at that moment.

I was very tired after work, so I just grasped a tuna puff and went home. At midnight, I was woken by my hunger. I cooked some dumpling with my brand-new wok, and chucked down all dumplings quickly and got back to sleep. Half an hour later my stomach got really sick, I thought it would go away quickly. So I waited for half an hour. But I was completely wrong, the pain gradually become more intense, even I can’t even walk properly. I realized I might faint out if the pain continued. So I called 999 for emergency service. My Mandarin was really very poor, and my voice already became very weak at that moment. The agent at call centre could not even recognize what I said. I called twice, but both calls failed to get my address. Immediately I grasped my jacket and wobbled down to get a taxi. I saw the security at the lobby and asked for help. The security called his peers at the front gate to find a taxi for me. But there was no response for a while. I really could not hold the pain, so I ran out of the back door and tried to find a taxi myself. The weather was terribly cold. I stood for 5 minutes but there is no any single car passing by. I was shivering in the cold breeze. I knew that I might pass out in any minute. A thought flashed at my mind that I may die in Beijing. I can’t help asking myself if there is any regret when I die now. Suddenly I saw a flash light approaching. A security found a taxi for me. I asked the taxi driver to take me to the nearest hospital.

The taxi driver took me to the local hospital nearby. There was nobody in the emergency room, when I stepped in. I called for help; finally I woke a nurse sleeping on the sofa. She asked me to the cashier for paying the fees before I can see the doctor. After the doctor examined me, he asked me to pay AGAIN for the blood test. When I walked back to cashier, I saw other local patients lying on the corridor and waited for blood test. The nurses put the needles all around the floor. I did not want to get any contaminated shots. I rushed out to the local hospital and asked the taxi driver to take me to an expat hospital.

The receptionist at the expat hospital thought that I am a local, so she sent me to the doctor immediately after I paid the fee. When I talked to the doctor, he recognized my accent and told me to get upstairs for the expat section. Even I was seriously in pain, they ignored my request. The expat session was at the other end of the building. I kept walking for 10 minutes in a long and cold corridor, but no one was there. Then I just got lost, and started screaming for help, there was no one answering me. Finally I found a security on another floor and took me to the expat session. I went through all the process again – pay to see doctor, pay to do some tests and pay to get shoots. I went back and forth between the emergency room and the cashier 5 times to get everything done. The only difference was that I had a premium service – a wheelchair. When I got home, it was 4am – 5 hours after I started the pain.

Though I may exaggerate a bit, the medical system is really bad in Beijing. I can imagine if I forgot to bring cash with me. I can easily die in Beijing. I will recommend anyone in China do bring your credit card when you get into emergency room, otherwise you will not get any treatment. What an amazing start after Chinese New Year!

I really thank for everyone who asked about my status – all of my new friend in Beijing, my good buddies in Hong Kong/Shanghai and my fellows in Los Angeles. I love you all!