LA ODE’S SORROW
Indra Abriyanto (Harian Rakyat Sulsel, Makassar)
“When I returned home from the hospital, the neighbors said that they were worried, and was planning to evacuate for a bit,” said La Ode Wowo (63). La Ode is a Covd-19 survivor, he was categorized as an asymptomatic case. La Ode was diagnosed Covid-19 positive in May 2020 at the Bhayangkara Makassar Hospital, South Sulawesi. The news of his condition spread among his neighbors. They started to distance themselves from La Ode’s family and frowned upon them, out of fear of getting infected by the virus that started the global pandemic. The national Covd-19 task force counted at least 26,443 cases across in May 2020, two months after the first case was publicly announced.
Le Ode was isolated at the hospital. At first, he felt lonely while his mind was haunted by death. The depressing thoughts were worsened by worries when he discovered that his family was shunned by the neighbors. The overwhelming emotions stressed him out so much that he lost a lot of weight in two weeks. At one point, he even had suicidal thoughts.
Back at La Ode’s house in the housing complex of Citra Bongaya in the street of Andi Mappaodang, things were very quiet. There were no meaningful conversations. All family members were enveloped by worries, as well as discomfort caused by their neighbors’ attitude.
“Only those living in this house would understand the feeling of being shunned by the neighbors because they feared us,” said Sahrul (31), the first son of La Ode. He took the role of comforter for his family, especially to her little sister Yulianti (24), who was undeniably upset. Even their seamstress mother, Rabiah Hasan (53) had to bear the impact of the situation. None of her customers would come to the house.
Family support helped La Ode to fight his inner battle. Homecook food with love was delivered to his isolation room. La Ode also asked his family to bring him his radio so he could listen to religious sermons that gave him some comfort.
“When dad came home on a motorized pedicab, a neighbor who was buying vegetables outside his house slowly retreated back in to avoid him,” said Sahrul.
La Ode could leave the hospital after being diagnosed negative from Covid-19. He continuously made an effort to break the stigma around his infection. He tried to pay his neighbors a visit, although he was not welcomed. He did not give up. After two weeks, his effort started to show positive results. The neighbors slowly gave in and started to open themselves up again to La Ode and his family.