Overcoming a lung disease

HEALTH

Michael Philip reveals a chilling secret about consequences of a carefree life away from family, friends and colleagues

THIS is my story.
If it shocks you, my apologies.
The desire to experience the outside world was all that I needed thinking that it would add more weight, experience to my young career as a journalist, graphic artist and tourism expert. Well, it did.
All I needed was the opportunity to travel out of the country. It happened on Jan 14, 2023 when I made my second international trip to Port Vila, Vanuatu after receiving a Tourism Apprentice Scholarship from Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC). I was the only Papua New Guinean selected to undergo studies in Vanuatu.
I grab the opportunity with both hands and fly without permission from my family members. It is a silent move I made and that will be remembered. No permission, no phone and no pocket money. I took off from Jacksons International Airport for Brisbane, had a transit there for two hours and then jetted off to Port Vila.
To me, life was about to get much more enjoyable than I ever expected. Classes started on the Jan 16, 2023. Due to my experience and background in journalism, I was offered a six-months work contract with APTC Port Vila campus as their media and public relations officer.
Things were getting bigger and better for me and at the same time I was stressing myself out with studies. My focus was to balance both opportunities. That wasn’t a big problem to me, as I was getting a double package, my student stipend and fortnightly salary. That was all I wanted.
I started enjoying myself going clubbing and partying with new friends from other Pacific island countries. I was totally out of control. I was no longer the Michael that I used to be. I was a totally different person. I became alcoholic and with an attitude and behaviour that I developed within a short period of time, my friends gave me the nickname PNG Prime Minister.
I spent money unnecessarily.
Three months of theory studies had gone by and it was time for the on-job-training (OJT). It was time to step into the tourism world.
Luckily, I was among the top five students who would be doing OJT with P&O Cruise liners travelling to other neighbouring Pacific countries. Under our OJT units we had to be competent as bar attendants, guest service agents, international tour guides and interpreters. Surprisingly I was selected to be the team leader for the APTC students.
It is April 2, 2023 and our OJT begins and that was the start of my 2023 South Pacific journey. A journey that will last a lifetime in my heart.

My advice to young people like me: Minimise the level of alcohol you take. Always check the alcohol volume of any liquor before you take it.

I had to make use of all opportunities and chances that I had in hand and enjoy them at the same time. Enjoyment for me was getting out of hand despite the fact that I was told by the APTC management to prioritise health and safety. I took that lightly and decided to go my own way.
Continuous restless nights and enjoyment disrupted my OJT on April 30 at the Matautu Port in Apia, Samoa when I collapsed while carrying out my duties. I was rushed to Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital for treatment. At Tupua, I was told that I had developed a lung disease called pneumothorax or atelectasis (whole or partial collapse of a lung) and it could possibly end my life.
I never regret it. It was all my fault and I deserved the bad news but I kept it a secret.
My family back in East New Britain and Port Moresby were thinking that I was doing fine at work. I decided not to tell anyone about it.
To make things gets harder, I didn’t tell anyone back home about my overseas contact number and didn’t want to give them a WhatApp call or message to let them know anything about my situation.
My friend Joji Ramasima from Fiji decided to post my accident on Facebook but I told him to delete it because I didn’t want anyone to know.
As there were no drugs to treat my condition at Tupua Hospital, I was flown to Fiji for further treatment. I was admitted at Nadi Hospital for four days before departing back to Port Vila.

Due to large amount of water developing in my lung every single day, I was told by the doctors at Vila Central Hospital in Port Vila that I would go for lung surgery. I didn’t agree because I wanted my family to witness my operation.
I continued with medication until I completed my studies on June 16, 2023. I travelled back to PNG two days later without telling anyone at home. I surprised my family at Murry barracks in Port Moresby. They noticed that I was sick but I pretended to be okay.
Another big offer came for me while at home. APTC Vanuatu extended my media officer contract. I traveled to and from Vanuatu without my family noticing it until I was hit hard by the disease and got admitted at the Paradise Private Hospital.
To cut the story short I want to say thank you to the heavenly father for giving me another chance in life because he has a plan for me. Secondly, thanks to my big sister and brother-in-law for their tireless support and to my mum for flying all the way from Rabaul to Port Moresby just to look after me.
I am fully recovered but still on medication up until end of this month.
My advice to young people like me: Minimise the level of alcohol you take. Always check the alcohol volume of any liquor before you take it.
Pneumothorax or atelectasis destroys your lungs when you take too much alcohol at a very young age.