During a visit to the mountains of Tibet, Hong Kong artist Water Poon started experiencing constant hiccups. Occasionally, everyone develops these involuntary contractions of diaphragm, but these weren’t normal hiccups – they lasted for a week.

So once Water, whose second home is Vancouver, came back to the city, he went to his doctor.

“I thought it was because of the high altitude in the mountains,” he explains. “But it ended up being much critical.”

After several tests at UBC Hospital, Water’s doctor told him he needed to go to emergency at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH). What the doctors found was an enlarged aorta in the artist’s heart. He needed surgery.

Water couldn’t believe that something so simple as hiccups could lead him to never seeing his wife and two daughters again.

“The doctor looked very serious so I knew it was serious – he was very dedicated to my well-being,” he says. “I couldn’t believe my hiccup problem was suddenly a cardiac problem – I was shocked it could take away my life. I was in disbelief.”

“He was very lucky to have come in,” says Dr. Peter Skarsgard, Water’s cardiovascular surgeon. “He was lucky we caught it before it caused a life-threatening event.”

First time in a hospital

The surgery went well and Water was impressed by the attention he received. Incredibly, this was the first time the 72 year old ever stayed in a hospital. It was his first hospital experience and it was a positive one.

“The nurses, the doctor and even the cardiac surgeon were always checking up on me asking, ‘How are you doing? Are you comfortable?’” he says, nodding his head. “I felt really loved by the medical staff.”

Three days later, Water walked out of VGH ready to paint again.

“And I started painting right away,” he says with a smile. “I just wanted to get back to normal life and move forward. Painting, for me, is normal life and makes me happy.”

Back at home

Due to the major surgery, Water needed to be prepared before he went home. He says that because of the VGH nurses, he was ready to go back home. Dr. Victoria Bernstein is currently helping him with his rehabilitation, making sure he came to checkups and kept taking his medication (“I didn’t want to!” he says, laughing).

“They really prepared me for my recovery, teaching me exercises and how to take care of my chest and body. Because of that, because I exercised every day, I recovered quite fast.”

A love for the city

A couple of years after the surgery, Water, who is very well-known in the Chinese modern art scene, is of course painting, bouncing back forth from Hong Kong, teaching children’s art lessons and holding the odd exhibition around the city.

“I loved the city so much, I wanted to stay,” he says about when he first came here more than 40 years ago. “I love the landscapes here and was inspired. I loved Chinese art, but after moving here, I became influenced by Western as well. I want to bridge both cultures, folding culture within culture. I even travelled beyond the city and even painted the Canadian Rockies.”

“Everything is beautiful here,” he adds. “The people, the landscapes, the nature.”

The product of team work

Thanks to the collaboration between VGH and UBC Hospital, the influential artist can spend time with his family again.

“I feel good now,” he says, looking at his wife, Romy. “I get to see her again and my daughters. That’s very special to me.”

Water’s angel

When asked who his angel is, Water answers quickly.

“It’s my wife, Romy,” he says. “She always stands by my side and gives me so much love and care.”

[:zh]

香港藝術家水禾田 (Water Poon),在西藏山區旅行期間開始不斷打嗝兒。其實每個人都會偶爾發生一些不自覺的橫膈膜收縮,但這情況卻持續了一個星期。

當水禾田回到他的第二個家溫哥華的時候,便立即去看醫生。初以為只是山上高海拔的關係,但最終情況變得非常嚴峻。在卑詩大學醫院 (UBC Hospital) 接受了幾次測試後,水禾田的醫生把他送到溫哥華綜合醫院(VGH)急症室。醫生發現他心臟的大動脈擴張,需要立刻接受手術。

水禾田不能相信像打嗝兒這樣簡單的東西,也可能致命。他說:“醫生看起來非常沉重,所以我知道病情一定很嚴重。我真的不敢相信打嗝兒竟突然變成了心臟問題,甚至可能會奪走我的生命。水禾田的心血管外科醫生彼得‧斯加斯特醫生 (Dr. Peter Skarsgard) 說:“他真的非常幸運,我們能及時為他醫治,否則他的病隨時會造成生命危險。”

人生首次住院的經驗

手術很成功,水禾田對醫護人員的細心照料留下了深刻印象。令人難以置信的是,這是72歲的水禾田人生中首次住院。但這次經驗是良好的。“護士,醫生,甚至心臟外科醫生都不時問候我:“你好嗎?你覺得舒服嗎?’ ” 他點著頭說。 “我感受到醫護人員對我的關愛。”

三天后,水禾田從VGH出來,準備再次拿起畫筆。“我立刻開始繪畫,”他微笑著說。 “我只想繼續向前邁進。對我來說,繪畫就是生活,也能令我感到開心。”

終於回家了

由於是大型手術,水禾田需要在出院前要做好準備。他表示有VGH護士幫忙才能順前回家。維多利亞‧伯恩斯坦醫生負責他康復跟進,並確保他定期覆診和準時服藥(“我不想啊!” 水禾田笑著說)。“醫護人員為我做了很多準備功夫,教我做運動及如何保護胸部和身體。我每天都照着做,所以康復得很快。

對這個城市的愛

手術後的兩年,在中國現代藝術界非常有名的水禾田,繼續他的繪畫藝術工作,穿梳港加兩地,開辨兒童藝術畫班,並在城內舉辦不同的展覽。回想40多年前初到溫哥華時,他說:“我很喜歡這個城市,很想留下來,這裏的景色啟發了我許多創作靈感。我喜歡中國藝術,但移居這裏後,我也受到西方藝術的影響。我想跨越界限,將東西文化融滙一起,以洛磯山脈為繪畫主題。這裡一切都很美麗,包括人物,景色及大自然。”

團隊合作的成果

感謝VGH與UBC醫院的共同努力,著名的藝術家水禾田可再次與家人共渡美好時光。“我現在感覺很好,”他看著妻子羅米 (Romy) 說。 “我能夠再次見到她和我的女兒,對我來說是無價的。”

水禾田的守護天使

當被問及誰是他的守護天使時。水禾田毫不猶豫地回答:  “就是我的妻子Romy,她總是守在我身旁,給我無比的愛和關懷。”