#27 当たり前という奇跡-9

２００３．１２．１３(土)
　今日，一昨日のスペシャルゲストに引き続き，またまたスペシャルゲストが見舞いに来てくれた．その方は現在，西武ライオンズで２番を打っているOさんだ．OさんもSさんと同じく我が母校の卒業生で，お二人は同学年だったとか．同じ学年からプロ野球選手が２人も出るなんて，本当にすごい年だったんだろうなと思う．それでも甲子園には行けなかったんだから，やっぱり野球ってものはわからない．
　Oさんは素敵なプレゼントもくれた．愛用されていたグローブと球団カレンダーをプレゼントしてくれた．病気をしてしまったことはとてもショックだったし色んなものを失ったけど，だからこそこういうプレゼントは余計嬉しく感じる．同情と思われるかもしれないけど，それでも良い．勇気をもらえる．だから退院しても絶対に野球は続けようと思う．自分がしてもらって嬉しかったように，同じようなことをできる人間になりたい．Oさんは別れ際，来年首位打者を獲ると宣言してくれた．自分は高校最後の年になる．Oさん・Sさんからもらったパワーで楽しみまくろうと思う．おそらく，このまま行けば目標である年内退院は確実であろう．そのためにも，感染予防を怠らず，治療に専念したいと思います．お二人，本当にありがとうございました．
 
２００３．１２．１４(日)
　予想は的中した．そして，この日記は２００３年中に終了するでしょう．今日，主治医のM先生が退院について話してくれた．その結果，今日から１０日後あたりに退院になるとのことだった．本っ当に嬉しかった．最高のクリスマスプレゼントになりそうだ．でも，肝心のM先生は大晦日あたりだろうと話されていた．どうしてこう意見が異なるのでしょう．聞く人間は一人なのに，結論が複数ある．こういう時の患者はどうすれば良いんでしょうか．多少の誤差はあるものの，お二人の先生とも年内退院は可能そうだということなので，ひとまずは安心ですね．退院まであとわずか．我慢もあとわずか．
 
２００３．１２．１５(月)
　今日，退院前の最後のマルクをやった．前回のマルクからだいぶ時間が経っていたので結構緊張した．最後になるだろうということで，記念に沢山写真撮影をしてもらった．マルク中に写真撮影を依頼する患者は初めてだったらしい．主治医のM先生は写真がお好きなようで，ずっとニコニコしながら激写してくれていた．また大きな貴重な思い出が作れました．やっぱり，嫌なことをいやいや受けたら余計嫌だし，多少でも楽しまないとね．それでは，今日はここら辺で．
 
２００３．１２．１６(火)
　今日は，野球部仲間の一輝が下宿しているおばさんと一緒に来てくれた．明後日，半月板の手術を受けるらしい．彼は生まれが東京なので，手術を受ける病院も東京らしい．自分も病院にお世話になっているが，まだ手術というものを経験していない．手術前の気持ちとか，手術後の大変さとか，そういうのは全くわからない．想像できるだけでただただ“大変そう”というイメージができるくらいだ．何も明確なアドバイスができなかった．いろんな経験をしてそれを伝えられるようになりたいと感じた．
　一方，病棟ではクリスマス会が行われた．予想していたよりもずっとずっと楽しかった．最後には患者全員にクリスマスケーキが配られた．とっても美味しかった．何かをやって楽しいって思えたり，美味しいって思えるのって当たり前のことだろうけど，その当たり前が今の自分にとってはものすごく幸せなこと．この考えはこの先もずっと持っていたいと思う．
 

December 13, 2003 (Saturday)　
Today, another special guest came to visit me, following the one the day before yesterday. Mr. O is currently batting second for the Seibu Lions, and like Mr. S, he is also a graduate of my alma mater, and they were in the same grade. It must have been an amazing year to have two professional baseball players from the same grade. Even so, they didn't make it to the Koshien, so I don't know what baseball is all about.　
Mr. O also gave me a wonderful present. He gave me his favorite glove and a baseball team calendar. It was a shock to me that he got sick, and I lost a lot of things, but it makes me even happier to receive such a gift. It may sound like sympathy, but that's okay. It gives me courage.
That's why I will definitely continue to play baseball after I get out of the hospital. When Mr. O said goodbye to me, he declared that he would be the top hitter next year.
This will be my last year in high school, and I'm going to enjoy myself with the power that Mr. O and Mr. S have given me. If things continue as they are, I am sure that I will be discharged from the hospital by the end of this year, which is my goal. To achieve this goal, I will take every precaution to prevent infections and concentrate on my treatment. Thank you both very much.

December 14, 2003 (Sunday)　
My prediction was right on target. And this diary will be finished by the end of 2003. Today, my doctor, Dr. M, told me about my discharge. He told me that I will be discharged in about 10 days from today. I was really happy. This will be the best Christmas present for me.
But Dr. M said it would be around New Year's Eve. Why do opinions differ so much? There is only one person listening, but there are multiple conclusions. What is a patient to do in such a situation? There is a slight margin of error, but both doctors said that it is likely that I will be discharged before the end of the year, so I am relieved for now.
I am so close to being discharged from the hospital. Patience is almost over.

December 15, 2003 (Monday)　
Today, I did the last mark before leaving the hospital. I was quite nervous because it had been a long time since my last marque. Since it would be the last time, I was asked to take a lot of pictures to commemorate the event.
It seems that this was the first time for a patient to have his/her picture taken during the marc. The attending doctor, Dr. M, seemed to like taking pictures, and kept smiling and taking pictures of me. I made another precious memory.
After all, it's even worse when you have to do something you don't want to do, so you have to enjoy it, even if it's just a little. Well, that's about it for today.

December 16, 2003 (Tuesday)　
Today, Kazuki, a friend of mine from the baseball club, came to see me with his aunt who lives in my lodgings. He is going to have a meniscus operation the day after tomorrow. He was born in Tokyo, so the hospital where he will have the surgery is also in Tokyo. I have been a patient of the hospital myself, but I have yet to experience surgery. I have no idea how I felt before the surgery or how hard it will be afterwards. I can only imagine how “difficult” it must be. I couldn't give any clear advice. I felt that I would like to have various experiences and be able to convey them to others.　
On the other hand, a Christmas party was held in the ward. It was much more fun than I had expected. At the end of the party, a Christmas cake was given to all the patients. It was very delicious.
I know it's a normal thing to be able to enjoy something and to think it's delicious, but that normal thing makes me extremely happy right now. I want to keep this thought in my mind for a long time to come.