[Lunatique]

Man, this place is depressing.

Tina went to visit her aunt this afternoon, and in the same room, was a pretty 19 yr-old girl dying. She had been sick once already in the past, and her family was so poor that they had to borrow money from people to treat her. When the money ran out, she had to leave the hospital. Then, her illness returned, and the family had no money at all--they couldn't even pay back the money they already borrowed. So, this girl told her parents, "Don't try anymore. Just let me die. I know we can't get any more money, and I'm ok with dying. You've already done too much for me, and I don't want to burden you any longer." She then lock herself up in her room and refuse to eat, drink, come out of her room, or go to the hospital. Her parents frantically tried borrowing more money so they could take her to the hospital again.

Finally her parent kicked down her door, forced her to eat and drink, get some adrenaline shots, and then rushed her to the hospital.

Today, her mother was telling the story, and everyone in the room was crying their eyes out. Tina, being the amazingly wonerful person she is, dug into her purse and gave the family money for the medical treatment. This is not the first time she's done such things. I've seen her do similar things many times since we started going out.

No wonder I love this girl. Not only does she have beauty, intelligence, she's also got a heart of gold.

[kana]

she sounds like a truly good person. that's all i can say.

[Svanur]

Sad that a normal person can't get medical help without losing an arm and a leg.

Still you're lucky with your girlfriend.

[sfr]

What place is that? What you describe sounds like the image most people here have of American healthcare, but I guess you're someplace else?

Saffron

[Impaler]

It's too bad you can't take the dying girl to Canada when/if you ever go. Socialist healthcare must be cool.

[klaivu]

Sounds too cute to be true. You sure they didn't cheat you ?

srf - China. The next best thing in public welfare.

[Dr. Bang]

Like i told you, your girlfriend is the most awesome women in all aspect of life. Lunatique, i think she's a person who you should spend the rest of your life with. Or else i'm next.

[ May 21, 2002: Message edited by: Dr. Bang ]

[Lunatique]

Oops. I should've clarified that this happened in a hospital in China.

Nah, I don't think they are con artists. The girl was lying in the recovery bed completely pale and weak. She was almost dead when her parents kicked the door down.

[edraket]

So she's still alive? Does she have a chance of recovery or was it just about making things more bearable for her?
Your GF did a wonderful thing anyhow.

[pixelsoldier]

Wow, what a beautiful person your girlfriend is. That story almost moved me to tears. It's always nice to hear about the good people in a world where the bad people are gradually becoming the majority.

[tayete]

This sounds quite odd to me. Here (I write from Spain) we have something called "Social Security" that allows anyone to receive medic treatment (they even pay a big percent of the medicines price). This service is payed with the taxes the Government gets from your earnings every month, to those who are fortunate enough to have a job.

So, I cannot think of a country where you could die if you had no money. In Spain we have a center-right government (not a socialist one), and though the situation is tough (10% unemployed people, 3-4% inflation) we have those rights. It is the same (I think) in other countries in Europe.

How is the situation at the EEUU?

BTW, your girl is a really really nice girl. Don't let her escape!

[Gimbal8]

If she dies, lie to us and tell us she made it. I don't want to start cryng at work.

I can't imagine being a doctor in that situation. How do you not treat someone who is dying?

[Lunatique]

edraket- Tina saw her again today, and she's looking a bit better. This silly girl won't eat, since she has no appetite. Tina had to teach her about how her body needs nutrition to fight the disease...blah blah. I can't believe she's 19 and doesn't know this simple scientific fact. Tina said that most people from the country side in China are very ignorant and uneducated. This girl is 19, but due to her illness, she'd only gotten up to 8th grade. Even then, 8th graders should know about food, nutrition, disease...etc. Her father was at the hospital too today, and he thanked Tina over and over for helping out.

tayete- This is China. The government doesn't give a shit. Remember Tienanmen Square massacre? Well, that sums up China's attitude regarding its own people.

Tina's not going anywhere. I'm taking her back to the U.S. with me. She'll make a great American citizen.

Here's another story that'll break your heart:

A guy that lives near us had lost his son 3 years ago. He looked for him everywhere but couldn't find him. Then one day, he was walking down the street in a neighboring city, and saw a beggar without out legs, begging on the street. It was his son.

He immediately went up to his son and took him home.

This is what had happened:

His son was kidnapped 3 years ago by a gang of con artists. He was about 7 years old. They locked him in a room, beat him, and then chopped of his legs. They then forced him to go out and beg on the street and make money for them. If he tried to talk to anyone about the truth, they'll immediately grab him and take him back to beat the living daylights out of him.

Such things happen all the time in China. In fact, it is common knowledge that most beggars on the street are "owned" by organized crime. These beggars have to make monehy for the con artists, or they'll get beaten. Everyone knows this in China, yet, not a SINGLE person would bother to stop and help these people find their families and return them home.

Remember the long rant I wrote a while back about how much I dislike the people and the government of China? Well, these stories just further proves that under the rule of a horrible communist government that reeks of corruption, hubris, and lack of concern for its people, a social climate is formed where the people have no morals or compassion. They would rather stand around and watch a person get beaten to death than to lift a finger to help. Why? Because eveyone here knows that if you tried to help, the attackers will kill you too, and NO ONE will bother to help you.

And these people have the audacity to criticize United states.

[Lunatique]

Gimbal8- I don't think she'll die. She's looking better than she did a couple days ago.

The doctors in China will tell you to get the f*ck out of the hospital if you can't afford it. People are really callous here. Good, compassionate people are like, an endangered species here.

[travis travis]

those are some scary sad stories.

but it also reminds me that i live in a free country, and my life and most people's lives are spent mostly with an interest with what we can do next to entertain ourselves. personally i can't even find anyone who will talk about negative things with me cause they are so afraid of having their buzz killed.

[Basement bound]

ok it is offical this world sucks. I can't believe how much people make me sick. Humans are such a disease.
JA

[[666]Flat]

You like talkin' 'bout your adventures in China don't cha.

[turnip]

Nurses are hella rude and swear at you for being "loud", nobody wants to do the job properly since pay is so little anyways...you can't keep your own grandma in a hospital under proper care without slipping some money here and there (she died the day before my dad could make it back =(...).

Most of the beggars in the street are fake. Some make good money cuz well they're good actors. Kidnapping happens all too often. If you're not carefuly about your kids, someone will swoop them up and sell them to rural areas to be child bearers/slave workers. Heck, even adults get kidnapped too.

When I was about 4 or 5 I used to run out of the babysitter's house all the time. Once I wasn't found until my grandma's friend discovered me in a crowded market place. O.O *whew* that was close.

[Lunatique]

turnip- Yeah, I hear ya, bro. It's an insane country.

BTW, all the BS you were taught when you were still in China--it must've been a real shock for you to find out it was all lies.

[turnip]

I was 7 1/2 when i left. The only thing I learned were Ninja turtles, transformers, a few words, and math My mom told me not to read the patriotic stories in the workbooks..hehehe

[PixHortHiT]

Its things like these that make me, kinda, enjoy my native country for what it is, 300 yrs without war....!

[edraket]

And blond chicks..hehe

[vigilo]

Basement bound, i agree.
This planet needs to blow up.

[Lunatique]

We went to visit Tina's aunt yesterday, and I'm happy to report that both Tina's aunt and the girl are doing well.

The girl was playing cards with her uncle when we went in. She was shy, as usual, but her cheeks now have a rosy glow to them. Man, she really looks like she's only 13 or 14, not 19.

Tina told me that the other patience in that room are speculating that her uncle is actually her real father. They think that because her uncle visits her everyday, cooks her all kind of food, feeds her, and loves her waaaay more than an uncle should. Also, why her uncle is there, her father would leave the room, and her mother would seem uncomfortable. Tina's guess is that her uncle had an affair with her mom, and then had her. Her father knows, and avoids his brother whenever he shows up. Some of the patience also criticized her mother for wearing a gold chain, when she should've sold it to pay for her daughter's medical expenses.

Oh well. Looks like, this girl will be ok.