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 岁的武汉市民李先生两个月内经历了绝望、期盼、欣喜。

李先生的职业是酒店美工，他将自己在医院的经历画成13幅画。

感恩是这组画的主题，创作对象从医护人员到他们身后的小家，从志愿者到社区干部。

3月27日，即将从康复隔离点回家的李先生，向记者讲述了这组漫画背后的故事。

最难时也盼望春天

李先生家住洪山区，1月26日出现症状，咳嗽、发烧、气短，后来被确诊为新冠肺炎。

病一天比一天重，身体一天比一天差。

然而因为当时床位紧张，他住不了院，只能居家隔离。

他和众多患者一样，心情糟糕，做了最坏的打算，也写下了遗书。

2月4日，李先生在社区的安排下住进了隔离点。

虽然有医护人员，但他的病仍旧严重。每天他要吃退烧药，可一觉醒来，浑身湿透，像从水里捞出来一样。

于是他想到画画，将自己的注意力从病毒上转移开。

家人送来了颜料和纸笔。

画什么？冬日里，病痛中，绝望时，李先生想到了希望。

他画下绿树，画下芳草，画下远山。

画取名《盼春图》。他盼望春天，更盼望健康。

李先生说，因为病情严重，他精神不济，断断续续画了近10 天，直到他得知自己要转去雷神山医院了，才抢着完成最后一笔。

雷神山里的创作源

2月16日，从隔离点住进雷神山，李先生什么都没有带，就带了这幅《盼春图》。

他觉得自从画完这幅画后，自己的好运就来了，身上的病似乎也轻了。这幅画如同他的护身符。

李先生住A3 病区，这里由辽宁援汉医疗队负责。

一天，一位病友说，别的病区有漫画墙，希望李先生也画一些画，记录病区里的生活。

是啊！医生护士对病人非常好，不光治疗精心，连说话都温柔，带着他们跳舞，还买来罐头、巧克力等送给他们。

李先生一想到这些，便找护士要来纸笔开始创作。

病区的医护人员和病友们组建了微信群，群里，医护人员和病人们聊到想看樱花，于是《大爱无疆，相聚樱花》应运而生。

辽宁丹东凤城中心医院医生吕述明在防护服上写下“老婆我爱你”，李先生看到照片后画下《夫妻情》，献给所有舍小家帮大家的辽宁援汉医护人员。

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)

单位得知他生病，发来慰问红包。他画下《病毒无情，人有情》。

一家人的胜利邀约

李先生的经历同样也让家人感到温暖。

在雷神山住院时，李先生除了把画好的画传回家，还会发视频回家。

女儿李女士说，一次，4 个护士在病房里带着父亲和一名老大爷跳舞，跳的竟然是《野狼disco》。虽然父亲压根不会，但还是随着音乐起舞。样子虽然滑稽，但父亲逐渐在康复，大家都很开心。

在雷神山的一个月里，李先生一共创作了一组12 幅漫画。李女士将父亲的画集结成册子，在第12 幅《胜利凯歌还》的画后面，她写下这段话：“来年邀请您来欣赏武大的樱花，来逛东湖的美景，来吃热干面、豆皮、汤包。来体验武汉的美，让我们武汉来感激你们付出的一切，这个城市因为你们的付出与战斗，让它又重新恢复了生机和美丽！”

她说，这份邀请不仅是父亲的想法，也是他们全家人的心愿。