Forewarning: this may very well be sappy.
Well my wonderful MLK day weekend ended with an ear infection that has confined me to bed for almost the entire day, and I will most likely bask on the couch all of tomorrow as well, if not Thursday too. It's odd to be missing classes so early in the semester, but I've emailed all of my instructors and my boss and even the professor with a "you may never miss class ever, unless you want it to hurt your grade" policy has let me know that this absence will not count against me.
So what does one do as a sick college student? Especially when one is a sick college student who has always been loathed to ask anyone for help. And I mean anyone.
I've been ill many times since coming out to BYU; it's my body's usual reaction to sleep deprivation and mental and emotional stress. However, this is by far the most painful malady I've ever had while living away from home; I'm really quite sick. I have difficulty eating, laughing, smiling, and talking. I can't even read for very long without getting exhausted. As I sensed the pain in my ear and the fever increasing, I thought of all things I would be experiencing at home under the same circumstances. Loads of pity, someone willing to read to me or to play with my hair, people to be around, food prepared for me, a father and many brothers (plus home teachers and family friends) who would give me a blessing and good advice at the drop of a dime: I would be in the lap of luxury, resting in as much comfort as a sick person can expect to be in. And I'd be missing out on all of that.
But ironically it has been the most relaxed sickness I've had. It could be that I'm just too incoherent to be stressing out, although I really don't have too heavy a work load right now and I've been getting sleep (...believe it or not Mom, I've gotten mostly enough sleep, especially now). However, what's really made the difference is that my roommates have been full of concern, offering and giving help and sincere sympathy for my plight. Many of my fellow German housers have already given me a lot of assistance and encouragement with the insistence that I let them know if I need anything more. I'm surrounded by some really excellent men, who are ready and willing to exercise the priesthood on my behalf. I even had one friend offer to give me a back massage and to read to me. Although I declined said offers, I was grateful for her willingness to provide those services.
So what does a sick student do at BYU? She just tries to be as grateful as possible. God always puts the nicest people in my path.
