Dear UAE,
Greetings from an aircraft leaving DXB to MNL!
Hell yes, I’m coming home. I should be feeling sad for chrissakes but if you really wanna know the truth, all I’m feeling right now is pure genuine excitement. So much love. And to be vulnerably honest though, people who have been following my journey will understand jack shit about me being disappointed in any way whatsoever. But certain things are destined to happen to help us see life from a different perspective, I guess?
A few years back, I never would have seen myself living in your country. It’s true, UAE! Please don’t think I was just acting bitter. But eventually, the universe used my friends to make me decide to move in. And I am thankful for that always. Your emirates are amazing, especially the one where I lived – Dubai. One hella stunning emirates Dubai is.
But somewhere during your winter season, things started to get colder quietly too. But I won’t talk about it here because that’s for another story. What I want to talk about here is my perfectly healthy body, but for hell reasons, you still marked me as UNFIT.
HERE’S MY STORY:
I was scheduled to go and get my medical exam done which includes x-ray & blood tests. This medical is taking place to find out if you have HIV and TB and for you to get an Emirates ID for residency.
Blood test went alright, but during the x-ray, somebody instructed me to inhale deeply and hold my breath just like the usual. So I did. I was holding it for so looooong and your boy could only need to exhale the F up. And there, the rad tech did it, snapped the radiation while I was exhaling. WHILE I WAS EXHALING. I wondered if they were gonna ask me to hold my breath again because then I thought the first one will result in a blurry x-ray. But they didn’t.
Thought everything was alright but after a week or two, I received a message from our PRO, asking me to repeat my medical and go all the dusty way to Al Muhaisnah medical clinic.
I remembered how heavy my feeling was that day. No exact amount of words can describe how worried I was. And I carried that heavy feeling for days and weeks without telling my friends about it. I have a version of Marron that didn’t like to have people worry about him. So sure, let the hard days for my mental health pass.
I did another blood test into 3 test tubes and I was asked to submit sputum as well. I asked the lady in the window if I was dying; she just said my x-ray is not clear that’s why I needed to do all these retests.
I went back to Al Muhaisnah for many more days to submit the rest of my sputum, skin test, and a doctor’s appointment. I thought everything was gonna be alright because I saw the results of my skin test and it’s clear as hell that I am alright.
After a month of waiting, the clinic labeled me as UNFIT. They didn’t bother giving me the exact results of the tests they have done to me. All was mentioned was “Past case of TB.”
Well basing on my medical history, this is because I found out that I had a primary complex when I was 5 or 6 years old. And this caused some scars to my lungs. Again, a lung scar that is now HEALED. And this scar shows on x-rays even before, and I have always been cleared ever since. So it’s very funny that the result is fucking unfit.
UAE, there is a flaw in your system. I don’t need to explain all that but I know that you know it. It’s funny how you deport foreign workers based on flawed TB screening policy. And yes I think that it is not public-health-minded to send back people you think are at risk.
During the time of distraught, I made peace with myself every morning and every time before I go to sleep that I will accept whatever result it will be. So when the results came, it was gratefulness that left tears in my eyes and not sadness. I didn’t pray for the results to be okay but I pray to give the result God thinks I’m destined to experience. And he answered my prayers with a NO because He knows what’s best for me and for all the things I yet to know. I walked home that day with an energy of excitement rushing through my spine. I am free as a bird! I didn’t need a telescope to see where I’m going, I booked the cheapest plane seat going back to the Philippines using my OWN money. I don’t know jack shit regarding the law about who will be the one responsible for buying the fare when you are asked to exit the country but I did it for myself.
When I told everyone about me being denied, they were so sorry. Everyone was so sorry for me and every time I tell people about it, they look at me sadly but I make them look straight to my eyes so that they will know that you, UAE, didn’t break me. You will never break me. You can take away my chance to live in your country but you can never take my waves of laughter away from my burning spirit.
Your permanent ban swept me off my feet, too. I guess. Only to realize that you closed your door because what was behind it wasn’t meant for me. And the best thing? I have a chance to dream another dream. And looking back, I wouldn’t change anything. I think that it’s important to just let things happen, and stay ‘happened’.
I didn’t run a total of 89km (excluding of my weekly 20km training) of my total races last year just for you to label me as UNFIT. I’ve run a full marathon under 6 hours so I will never let you dictate what I can and cannot do. I just hope you realize you needed to revise your stupid outdated law. And someday I’m gonna look back to this very moment laughing and I will tell people that it was the best thing that happened to me, a blessing in disguise that year 2020.
Thank you, UAE. I just needed to get this out of my chest. No pun intended.
Atta boy,
Marron
Sign the petition: Dubai Health Authority – Tuberculosis Deportation Scam – Fully Exposed
Comments
Oh no, I feel a bit mad after reading this. I scoured online discussion and it’s terrible that there are a handful of individuals who experienced the same. lol, some went test to another country to prove the result. Surprisingly, they found out that the result undergone in UAE is irrelevant and not serious <//3
Author
Just last month, I can’t remember how many times I spent reading threads about it. It’s crazy because some people are taking second opinion from a lawful/authorized hospitals inside UAE and still to no avail. But then just like what I’ve said, there’s no place like home and it’s nice to be back! Hehe thanks for reading!
Wow! I didn’t know the UAE could do something like this.
But this is my little message to you.
UAE can be the better place, but they aren’t the best for you. They made you realize that.
It’s nice pouring out your heart.
And yeah, thanks for following my blog. I really appreciate it
Author
Thanks for reading! Looking back on my stay in UAE, I feel nothing but happiness that at least I get to experience things and meet certain people while I was there. Good times.
And yeah sure, no problem. You can also follow my blog is ya like!
Yeah 💐Good times
Okay, no problem 💐
Hey, it is very touching and inspiring.
I was hoping to get into the Indian Airforce. Cleared all the written, technical and physical exams, however, got stuck in medical exams. I was told that I have atrophic holes in my retina, i got so worried, i felt like i might lose my eyesight. When I had my check up back at home, the doctor told me that I had holes in my retina and they were operated with laser long back when i was still in school, which of course, I did not know about because I was very little then. The doctor also said it has not and will never harm my eyesight in the future as well. I got this confirmed from two doctors.
I went for my medical re-appeal at the Airforce, they still rejected me saying they have no rules about how to go about such cases and hence, they can not accept me . However, while i was getting checked by one of the junior doctors during my medical, she said ,” how did you get stuck here? They never do so many tests, it is a normal thing. Nobody gets rejected for something like this.” I still do not know why they did this to me.
I was devastated. However, now I am okay, I have gotten over it but it still hurts at times. It is great that you have gotten over your thing. It is inspiring.
Author
Hey, thanks for reading it and sharing your story here. I’m sorry about that. You know what, I don’t know why this kind of stuffy happens to us but I am a firm believer that it’s setbacks like this that makes us stronger. Also, it’s not the ending for we are just starting. I hope you find your purpose and your happiness in other things too. Thank you and stay well!
You too stay safe 🙂
I love how you understood your destiny was elsewhere… What a strong and deep perspective to have and this is what will get you through nearly anything!
Author
That’s what I’m trying to be. Thank you so much for reading!
Never knew that
Author
Hey thanks for reading! And yeah, it’s a flaw that they try to keep in secret.
You are welcome
So now you are a runner or what? And you like the place you live? Greetings from Italy 🤗🤗🤗
Author
I am currently quarantined in my parents house in the Philippines — missing long distance running so much! Thank you ao much for dropping by to read my blogs 🙂
Oh I understand your missing. Me I love swimming and I miss staying often in the swimming pool and doing my best. But after the end of quarantine you can go back to Dubai or you have to change your destination?
Author
As far as I know, I won’t be able to go back to Dubai after they banned me. They say that’s their law. But I find it really funny to ban someone just because he has a ‘lung scar’ let alone labeling him as ‘unfit’, anyway, Dubai is not the only city in the world. The good thing right now is I can go wherever I prefer to 😊🙏🏻
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I like the fighting spirit, Marron. There’s no place like home 🙂
Author
That’s our mantra, Jai. Thank you so much!
Hi! Thank you for sharing your story.
I am currently in Dubai, in a week I’ll be scheduled for my Medical. We have the same issues tho. Before I went here, I consulted my doctor and had an Xray to make sure because like you, I’ve been spending hours reading articles about it. My doctor told me that my scar is still visible. I don’t really know what’s gonna happen. But whatever the result may be, I’ll embrace it just like what you did. 🤗
Author
Awww. No matter what the result is, please know that on your path you are never denied, only redirected. It has been 7 months since I got my heart broken because of this. But now, more than ever, I am thankful that it happened. I love your positive attitude!
Hi Marron. Same situation here. I was declared UNFIT in march 2020. After repeated all test, including Quantiferon, same answer. Ban for life. Restriction to enter. The thing is that I cannot pass over this decision, I am so f**** depressed. Wrote to media, doctors, petitions, etc, nothing.
Author
So sorry to hear that, Kao. I’ll be lying if I say I wasn’t depressed. It was my life’s lowest points. But hey! On the positive side, maybe life is redirecting you into something bigger. In my case, things are starting to fall into place. My advice is just trust the process and always take care of your spirit. Never give up!
I feel the frustration. Loads of hugs.
Author
Thank you, Timothy! I guess some good things didn’t work because better things are waiting.