To my
compatriots:
I have
been told that many citizens are interested in
knowing about my current state of health. I will
explain this in the best possible way.
The
ridiculous and inopportune fact that I was removed
from circulation took place in the following
manner. On the night of Monday, December 16, I
discovered a certain indisposition on the outside
part of my left leg, more or less between my knee
and ankle. I noticed it was red, hot and a bit
painful. It looked like an ant or a mosquito or
some other insect had bitten me. I remembered how
that morning, I had been scratching that part of
my leg. Without realizing, I had torn the skin on
my leg. Undoubtedly, opportunistic germs generally
present in the skin itself took advantage of the
wound and penetrated. Doctors are used to
attributing these kinds of mishaps to the
ubiquitous staphylococci bacteria that sometimes
causes diseases. That night they recommended cold
compresses and keeping my leg horizontal. I was
unable to walk. They also gave me some tablets to
take.
I followed
their instructions to the letter on December 17
and 18. I was especially worried about a
commitment that I had on the 18 with diplomats on
the island. I couldn’t miss it and decided to go.
In the early hours of the 19, after several hours
of exchanging opinions, talking and looking after
the guests, I went to bed noticing that my leg was
looking more inflamed and red. The discomfort had
increased. Initially it was considered a
cellulitis problem that had to be prevented from
developing into lymphangitis. I had the
commemoration for the 80th anniversary of the
founding of the Federation of University Students
(FEU) planned for the following day, Friday, 20
and the final session of the National Assembly on
Saturday 21 at 10:00 a.m., two extraordinary
activities that I could not fail to
attend.
Cold
compresses, strong antibiotics and keeping my leg
horizontal were the orders I received. That’s how
I spent the 80th FEU commemoration, watching it on
television. My great dilemma was the last National
Assembly session; my Olympian record of
attendance, perhaps a world record, was at risk of
being lost. To disobey or not to disobey again
doctors’ orders?
Worst of
all was knowing that before antibiotics and other
modern medicine, rest was the only therapy and
that even with these medicines without rest
cellulites or lymphangitis cannot be cured. I had
no other remedy than to resign myself. I had a
duty to protect my beloved left leg. I used it for
practicing many sports, also for playing soccer,
running round the sports track, jumping, swimming,
climbing mountains, walking thousands of
kilometers in the Sierra Maestra; I traveled with
soldiers in the Escambray and Girón, and took part
in the Combative People Marches. It was my guiding
leg in politics. It never failed me. I could not
betray it now.
The three
or four days that they promised me stretched to
more than a week. The lesion finally developed
into the beginnings of lymphangitis, but rest and
medication reduced it to almost nothing. Very
little remains for my left leg to be completely
better.
You cannot
imagine what I’ve learned about cellulites,
lymphangitis, antibiotics, compresses etc. etc. in
the last few days. I’ve become an even fiercer
enemy of mosquitoes and other dangerous insects. I
swear I will never scratch a bite
again.
However,
no one should think that I’ve been wasting my
time. Thanks to television I’ve closely followed
the most important events both inside and outside
the country. And thanks to the telephone I’ve been
in constant contact with all my necessary
companions. I’ve been busy with more affairs than
I normally deal with. I’ve had more time to read,
and to sleep one or two hours more than usual. An
average of 16 clear hours a day.
You can’t
imagine the value of a good rest. I’ll remember it
with the same gratitude as the 22 months I spent
in prison after Moncada. Never in my life have I
read so much or been so much master of my time as
in those days. Afterwards came the Revolution and
the daily tasks that turn us into slaves. If to
this we add the special period, we lose all notion
of time, Saturdays, Sunday or Mondays, holidays or
rest days. The agreeable labors of a revolutionary
become an addiction and there is never enough
time, even though ones efforts might multiply
until infinity.
I don’t
wish to make this tale of a rest too long. I am
fine, dear compatriots, and I feel more optimistic
than ever about the future of the
Revolution.
Thank you
for the sentiments of solidarity that have been
transmitted to me in many ways.
Fraternally,
Fidel
Castro
December
24, 2002
11.30
p.m.
