He Cured Himself with 13 Drawings

By Liu Yi

After being confirmed with COVID-19, Mr. Li, a 58-year-old Wuhan citizen, experienced despair, anticipation, and then joy over the next two months.

Mr. Li is a hotel art designer. He drew 13 cartoons based on his experience in the hospital.

Gratitude is the theme of this group of drawings, and his models include the medical workers and their families, volunteers, and community officials.

On March 27, Mr. Li, who was about to go back home from the quarantine zone, told the story behind this group of comics.

Mr. Li lived in Hongshan District. He developed symptoms like coughing, fever, and shortness of breath on January 26, and was later diagnosed with COVID-19. He got worse day by day, but could only be isolated at home since the hospital was short of beds.

Like many other patients, he was in a bad mood. He even wrote a final will and testament.

Looking for Spring

On February 4, Mr. Li moved into the quarantine zone under the arrangement of the community.

Despite the treatment from the medical staff, his illness was still serious. He took antipyretics every day, but when he woke up, he was soaked, as if he had been taken out of the water.

So he thought of drawing to divert his attention away from the illness. His family sent him some paint and paper.

What to draw? In winter, in despair, Mr. Li thought of hope. He painted green trees, grass, and mountains.

患新冠肺炎后，58 歲的武漢市民李先生兩個月內經歷了絕望、期盼、欣喜。

李先生的職業是酒店美工，他將自己在醫院的經歷畫成13幅畫。

感恩是這組畫的主題，創作對象從醫護人員到他們身后的小家，從志愿者到社區干部。

3月27日，即將從康復隔離點回家的李先生，向記者講述了這組漫畫背后的故事。

最難時也盼望春天

李先生家住洪山區，1月26日出現癥狀，咳嗽、發燒、氣短，后來被確診為新冠肺炎。

病一天比一天重，身體一天比一天差。

然而因為當時床位緊張，他住不了院，只能居家隔離。

他和眾多患者一樣，心情糟糕，做了最壞的打算，也寫下了遺書。

2月4日，李先生在社區的安排下住進了隔離點。

雖然有醫護人員，但他的病仍舊嚴重。每天他要吃退燒藥，可一覺醒來，渾身濕透，像從水里撈出來一樣。

于是他想到畫畫，將自己的注意力從病毒上轉移開。

家人送來了顏料和紙筆。

畫什么？冬日里，病痛中，絕望時，李先生想到了希望。

他畫下綠樹，畫下芳草，畫下遠山。

畫取名《盼春圖》。他盼望春天，更盼望健康。

李先生說，因為病情嚴重，他精神不濟，斷斷續續畫了近10 天，直到他得知自己要轉去雷神山醫院了，才搶著完成最后一筆。

雷神山里的創作源

2月16日，從隔離點住進雷神山，李先生什么都沒有帶，就帶了這幅《盼春圖》。

他覺得自從畫完這幅畫后，自己的好運就來了，身上的病似乎也輕了。這幅畫如同他的護身符。

李先生住A3 病區，這里由遼寧援漢醫療隊負責。

一天，一位病友說，別的病區有漫畫墻，希望李先生也畫一些畫，記錄病區里的生活。

是啊！醫生護士對病人非常好，不光治療精心，連說話都溫柔，帶著他們跳舞，還買來罐頭、巧克力等送給他們。

李先生一想到這些，便找護士要來紙筆開始創作。

病區的醫護人員和病友們組建了微信群，群里，醫護人員和病人們聊到想看櫻花，于是《大愛無疆，相聚櫻花》應運而生。

遼寧丹東鳳城中心醫院醫生呂述明在防護服上寫下“老婆我愛你”，李先生看到照片后畫下《夫妻情》，獻給所有舍小家幫大家的遼寧援漢醫護人員。

Hand in Hand

The painting was named “Looking for Spring.” He longed for spring and his health to return.

Mr. Li said that he was mentally distressed because of his serious illness. He drew on and off for nearly 10 days, until he learned that he was about to be transferred to Leishenshan (literally “Thunder God Mountain”) Hospital, then he rushed to the last part of his painting.

On February 16, when Mr. Li moved into Leishenshan Hospital from the quarantine zone, he took nothing but his paintingLooking for Spring.

He felt much better, as if he finally had luck on his side since the painting was finished. This painting seemed to be his amulet.

Mr. Li lived in Ward A3, which was handled by the Liaoning Medical Assistance Team.

One day, a patient said that there were comic walls in other wards and Mr. Li could draw some pictures to record life in the ward.

Why not? Those medical staff were very nice to the patients. They not only treated the patients carefully, but also spoke softly, danced with them, and brought them drinks and chocolates.

As soon as Mr. Li thought about this, he asked for a pen and paper and started his creation.

The medical staff and patients formed a WeChat group chat. In the group, they talked about the cherry blossoms, soLove Without Borders, Meet the Cherry Blossomscame into being.

Lyu Shuming, a doctor from Liaoning, wrote “I love you” to his wife on his protective garment. After seeing this photo, Mr. Li drewMarital Loveand dedicated it to all Liaoning medical workers who gave up their own family time and came to help out in Wuhan.

The company he works for learned that he was ill and sent him a red envelope of condolences. He then paintedRelentless Viruses, Caring People.

Mr. Li’s experience also warmed his family. When he was hospitalized in Leishenshan Hospital, Mr. Li sent videos to his family in addition to showing them his paintings.

His daughter recalled that one time, four nurses were dancing with Mr. Li and another old man with the music “Wild Wolf Disco.” Although his father never knew it at all, he danced with the music. He looked funny, but everyone felt so happy that he was getting better.

During his one-month stay in Leishenshan Hospital, Mr. Li drew 13 cartoons, which were collected into a booklet by his daughter. After the 12th,Song of Victory, she wrote the following words, “Next year, we will be glad to invite you to enjoy the cherry blossoms at Wuhan University, to visit the beautiful scenery by the East Lake, and to try hot dry noodles and soup dumplings on the streets of Wuhan. Come and enjoy the beauty of Wuhan. Thank you for everything you have done. This city has been restored to life and beauty because of your efforts and battles!” She added that the invitation was the wish of the entire family.

(Translation: Zhang Yiqiu)

單位得知他生病，發來慰問紅包。他畫下《病毒無情，人有情》。

一家人的勝利邀約

李先生的經歷同樣也讓家人感到溫暖。

在雷神山住院時，李先生除了把畫好的畫傳回家，還會發視頻回家。

女兒李女士說，一次，4 個護士在病房里帶著父親和一名老大爺跳舞，跳的竟然是《野狼disco》。雖然父親壓根不會，但還是隨著音樂起舞。樣子雖然滑稽，但父親逐漸在康復，大家都很開心。

在雷神山的一個月里，李先生一共創作了一組12 幅漫畫。李女士將父親的畫集結成冊子，在第12 幅《勝利凱歌還》的畫后面，她寫下這段話：“來年邀請您來欣賞武大的櫻花，來逛東湖的美景，來吃熱干面、豆皮、湯包。來體驗武漢的美，讓我們武漢來感激你們付出的一切，這個城市因為你們的付出與戰斗，讓它又重新恢復了生機和美麗！”

她說，這份邀請不僅是父親的想法，也是他們全家人的心愿。