MY STOIC FRIEND, ABANG ZUL

The gentleman you see with me in the above picture is the senior assistant for co-curriculum in my school whom I fondly call, Abang Zul (Big Brother Zul).

If you look closely at the picture of Abang Zul, you'd notice a bandage there.  That is where a temporary shunt has been placed in order for him to have dialysis treatment.  You see, earlier this year, Abang Zul was diagnosed with kidney failure and he now has to undergo dialysis twice a week.  The reason for his kidneys failing is attributed to the fact that he had suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure for about 15 years and all the medication he took plus the twin diseases have taken a toll on his poor kidneys.  If you look at his right arm, you'd notice a bandage there as well.  This was where they had operated to place a shunt there.  He had an earlier operation for the shunt but then it was a failure and he had to have another operation.  My friend and colleague is a stoic person and is taking his current situation well.  This is something that I admire about him. 

It was also after I saw the amount of suffering Abang Zul had to undergo after he was diagnosed with renal failure and the eventual dialysis that freaked me out when I found that I had been drinking tainted water for a few months. Furthermore, my late father suffered from end stage renal failure and he underwent dailysis three times a week.  Now, if you were in my position, would you not be VERY WORRIED!