Horizon
Episode 106's

Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever, or Ebola Virus Disease, was first identified in nineteen seventy-six years in two places simultaneously, namely Yambuku, Democratic Republic of Congo and Nzara, South Sudan. That's what I read in my class a few years ago. Life expectancy of patients who are already infected can touch the range of ten percent. What is very frightening about this virus is its ability to divide so that it coagulates blood and inhibits blood flow to other organs. After a lack of blood supply eating important organs such as the kidneys, intestines, liver, and brain will be paralyzed by itself. This is the condition that eventually leads to death. No wonder when it broke out a few years ago, the World Health Organization declared a World Health Emergency.

Some medicine? Hid..

Let me tell you something, the drugs given by the doctor are mostly not healing. Especially with regards to viruses. The doctor will only prescribe medications to suppress the growth of the virus, not kill it. What can defeat the virus is actually the immunity of our respective bodies. Yes, humans are created perfectly. As sophisticated as medicine is, antibodies are the most powerful bulwark we have for survival.

I have often seen the battle between man and his own disease. Some have been convicted with the highest stage, but in fact can survive. Some have been treated in various ways but have not healed. Actually, the healing is in the patient himself, depending on their determination to heal.

The point of the problem is, which will win, the disease or the struggle to recover?

"Lepasin Pah's.. Lepasin Khanza.." I keep thrashing from earlier. Tears have flooded my cheeks. All I had in mind was to catch up with my husband. "Sat.please take me Sat" because I was overwhelmed by the calm that immediately put the clothes into the suitcase and took a visa to fly to Sudan, Papa called Satriya and Talitha. They were forced to tie me to bed for fear of me acting stupid.

"Sa, you calm down Sa. Poor baby in your belly" Talitha's voice tried to compromise.

"Gue wants to follow Kendra. I'm going there. Please release me Ta, please.." I whimper and tear.

"Sa, you calm yourself first. Kendra's been treated by medics. The stagenya is also early. It's gonna be okay"

"For medical equipment, we've supplied it from here. Papa guarantees Kendra will get the best facilities. Doctors from the TNI also stand by there. Trust them, Sa. They are capable people" Papa added.

"Khansa is also a doctor, Papa. Every day Khansa treats patients in the hospital, now Khansa's own husband is ill. How could Khansa have only been killed. Tolooong Pa, selanin Khansa. Khansa wants to go there.." I wail.

"Keep going there, everything's gonna be okay, is that it?" satriya's firm voice slapped my rationality. "Lo don't think there's another life in your stomach right now? You are a doctor, you know how dangerous this disease is. How to cepet transmission. Okay if you still want to go yes there go." stressed the man while opening the bond in my hand, "I've already opened it. There if you want to go. There if you want to take the risk of your child getting caught!"

The sentence successfully broke down the door of my logic which was originally buried in fear and panic. My hands went down and stroked the stomach that was getting bigger. At the same time, the baby kicked. My motherly instinct crept right out. There is life inside of me. Another life that depends entirely on the breath of his mother.

And what's really scary is, how much I love this kid. It was so great that it exceeded my love for his father. If I had to choose between him and his father, of course I wouldn't be able to choose. They are both breathing in my life. Blood and heart fill each other. But there is no love in this world greater than the love of a mother for her child. So too is my feeling. No matter how much I want to accompany Kendra, this baby in my stomach is holding her mother back from staying here.

There's nothing I can do right now, other than snuggle up and keep crying.

As a doctor, as a wife, as well as a mother, only this time I felt completely useless.