The Diagnosis(English Transcript)

Zoe: (narrating) The pandemic... The one that's causing us to stay at home all the time. We have all been to pandemics in the history of mankind. My name is Zoe, I am a young Filipino girl born and raised in Bangkok, Thailand. My parents are very clever, but I am unusually smart and creative. I always read books or draw pictures. I can even do stuff girls my age never do. You'll never see me without a pencil or pen with me or a notebook. Right now, I am writing an essay for T. Tom's class when I got a phone call from my close friend, Aidan.

Zoe picked up the phone.

Zoe: Hello?

Aidan: Hey Zoe, I need you in my house. Right now

Zoe: Why.

Aidan: Just come, me and the boys need you. You're one of the smartest girls in school.

Zoe: I thought it's Mata.

Aidan: Mata's just lazy. Just come to my house, we need to have a meeting.

Zoe: Alright, I'm coming.

Zoe got changed into her casual clothes, grabbed her purple sling bag and pink backpacks, packed up some stuff and went up to her dad who is working from home.

Zoe: Dad, can you take me to Aidan's house?

Mr. Tria: Why?

Zoe: Because he needs me. We are going to study together.

Mr. Tria: Okay, where is his house?

Zoe: He sent me this address.

Zoe showed her phone on Google Maps indicating Aidan's house.

Mr. Tria: Alright, let's go.

Zoe and her dad went to the car. Her dad on the driver's seat and Zoe behind him. The streets are unusually empty because Bangkok is still facing lockdown.

Zoe: Wow, the streets are unusually empty.

Mr. Tria: This is because we are still in lockdown.

Zoe: I know.

They drove through the empty streets until they arrived at Aidan's house. He is waiting in front of the lobby.

Zoe: Thanks for driving me there.

Mr. Tria: You're welcome. See you later, I have to go to work.

Zoe grabbed her stuff and hopped off the car. She is being greeted by her close half-American friend, Aidan.

Aidan: Zoe, you came.

Zoe: I know, so what do you need me for?

Aidan: This is an emergency meeting and I need you. But before we join, do you know anything about type 1 diabetes?

Zoe: Yeah. Why? Is someone getting diabetes right now?

Aidan: I'll tell you when we arrive at my house. Come on.

Zoe followed Aidan to his house. Once they arrive, Zoe is being greeted by Aidan's father.

Mr. Harney: Hey Aidan, who did you bring? I thought Raphael is coming. I didn't expect you to bring a girl.

Zoe: Please, Mr. Harney, Aidan brought me here for some reason.

Aidan: She's joining our meeting.

Mr. Harney: Nah, I'm just kidding. I haven't seen you for a long time, Zoe. Since the pandemic started. And look how tall you've grown. You might be even taller than Megan.

Zoe: Megan? Aidan's sister?

Mr. Harney: Why of course, dummy. Why don't you come in?

Zoe and Aidan entered the house.

Zoe: Do I have to take off my shoes?

Mr. Harney: No need, Aidan's mom is not here and is at work so this is an all-American house.

Zoe: My ancestors would've let me keep my shoes on.

Mr. Harney: Sorry?

Zoe: Nothing,

Aidan: C'mon Zo, let's head to my room.

Once Zoe and Aidan entered Aidan's room, Ankit, Thaiyo and Yuto are there.

Zoe: Hey Ankit, hey Thaiyo, hey Yuto.

Ankit, Thaiyo, Yuto: Hi Zoe.

Ankit: Aidan, why did you bring her here?

Aidan: Because she's the smartest girl we've ever met and she's the only girl we could trust. The other girls are idiots who only care about idols and stuff.

Zoe: So why do you need me here? Also, where's Raphael?

Aidan: That's what I'm going to start this meeting with. Sit down and make yourself at home.

Zoe: Wait, this isn't my home.

Aidan: It's just a term to keep comfy.

Zoe: Alright.

Zoe sat down, crossed legged on Aidan's bed.

Zoe: Please tell me-

Aidan: No, it's fine. It's always unusual for you to wear shoes on the bed. So anyways, Raphael's mum told me that Raphael is in the hospital.

Zoe: Because of diabetes?

Aidan: Yes.

Thaiyo: But Raphael is not fat, he's skinny.

Zoe: No, Raphael has juvenile diabetes. Or type 1 diabetes. It's probably genetics. It is type 2 diabetes that is caused by obesity. It only happens to middle-aged men. For now, we're talking type 1.

Zoe grabbed her notebook to take notes.

Zoe: So what happened to him?

Ankit: Raphael was playing basketball with us and his behaviour is unusual. He keeps on going to the toilet and is always drinking water and stuff.

*Flashback*

Aidan: Raphael, what's going on?

''Raphael: Need the bathroom. I'm so tired, can we stop playing for now?''

Thaiyo: But we just started.

Raphael: (groans)

Aidan: I think we have to take him to the doctor.

*End of flashback*

Zoe: Did he go to the doctor.

Aidan: He did, but it was a misdiagnosis. He was with his parents at the time.

*Flashback*

Doctor: What's the problem?

''Mrs. Lau: Raphael has been acting unusual. He has been dehydrated but he has been peeing more frequently. Also he has been eating a lot, yet he's still really skinny.''

''Doctor: I think he has some sort of virus. Just let him stay home and rest.''

*End of flashback*

Zoe: Then, what happened?

Thaiyo: I went to Raphael's house because I need help with T. Tom's essay. But when I head to his room, it looks like he is suffering.

*Flashback*

Thaiyo: Raphael, can you help me with- What the heck?

Raphael: Thaiyo, I don't feel so good.

Thaiyo went up to Raphael and felt his forehead.

Thaiyo: You have no fever, I need to tell your mum right now.

Thaiyo ran up to Raphael's mum who is busy doing the dishes.

''Thaiyo: Mrs. Lau, we need to take Raphael to the hospital. He looks like he is suffering.''

Mrs. Lau: I'll call the hospital, he really needs help.

*End of flashback*

Zoe: They went to the hospital?

Yuto: Yes. Me and the boys went there too. But I couldn't imagine seeing a mum carrying her poor son in his mid-teens to the hospital.

Zoe: Maybe I can.

*Flashback*

''Mrs. Lau rushed Raphael to the hospital. His sister, Sheryl was behind him.''

''Mrs. Lau: Help! My son!''

''Paramedic 1: Calm down, ma'am. We'll get him checked, you and your daughter can come with us.''

''Sheryl and her mum entered the room where Raphael, now unconscious is being checked. Afterwards, Sheryl and her mum were escorted as doctors and nurses rushed the boy to the children's intensive care unit. They put tubes, wires and needles into him. Meanwhile, Mrs. Lau and Sheryl were waiting patiently.''

Sheryl: He's going to be fine, right?

Mrs. Lau: Yes, Sheryl.

The doctor came.

''Doctor: Hello, so Raphael is showing signs of juvenile diabetes or type 1 diabetes. He is in a diabetic coma so we have to move him to the children's intensive care unit. It seems that he has been experiencing symptoms a week ago so he must be misdiagnosed.''

Sheryl: He was?

''Doctor: Unfortunately yes. If you could bring him time then none of this would've happened.''

Mrs. Lau: Can we see him?

Doctor: Yes, follow me.

''Sheryl and her mum followed the doctor to Raphael's room in the ICU. He is really pale and has a lot of tubes and wires keeping him alive. Sheryl's mum broke down because she couldn't bare to see her son in the hospital.''

*End of flashback*

Zoe: Did you guys see him?

Ankit: We did.

*Flashback*

''Aidan: What happened? Why is he hooked up to many machines?''

''Sheryl: He had a misdiagnosis and it lead him to a coma. He is severely ill, we still don't know when will he wake up.''

''Yuto: That's horrible. What does he have?''

Sheryl: Type 1 diabetes.

*End of flashback*

Aidan: That's why we need you. You know what type 1 diabetes is out of all of us.

Zoe: Really?

Yuto: Yeah. Wait, maybe you can join us. The only girl in our group.

Zoe: If you want to add me to your group, I'm in.

Thaiyo: Great.

Ankit: Even if we don't trust other girls in our class, you're the only one we could trust.

Zoe: Yeah, girls are idiots. So, what are we going to do before my dad gets me?

Aidan: Just hang out, get to know each other and stuff like that.

Zoe: I like that.

Thaiyo: So, what do you do in your free time?

Zoe: Writing and drawing. Anything creative so that I could boost up my brain.

Ankit: Awesome.

While talking, Thaiyo noticed a metal ruler in Zoe's bag.

Thaiyo: Zoe, did you bring your metal ruler?

Zoe: Yes. I even brought my pencil. They're both my weapons, in case I get attacked.

It has been a few hours until Zoe's dad called. Zoe picked it up and it is time to go.

Zoe: It's my dad, gotta go.

Aidan: I'll take you downstairs.

Zoe: Alright, see you tomorrow.

Zoe and Aidan walked downstairs where Zoe's dad is waiting. They soon left Aidan's house.

Mr. Tria: Zoe, how's the meeting?

Zoe: Good, I helped Aidan a lot.

Mr. Tria.

Zoe: (narrating) Type 1 diabetes is an incurable disease. It is really hard to diagnose even in our developing world. It can happen to anyone in the world, mainly children. But it is more rare than type 2 diabetes. The boys told me everything and now, I am one of them. Even if I'm a girl. Raphael in a diabetic coma made me wonder. What will happen to him once he wakes up?