Hospital Visit — January 2026

January 2026 was rough. Like genuinely, medically rough. I got hit with a stomach infection first, and then before I could even recover properly, Influenza B came in and finished the job.

What Happened

It started with a stomach infection that knocked me out. Then, while my immune system was already down, I caught Influenza B. My ear and throat got infected badly — we're talking pain levels that made it hard to eat, sleep, or do basically anything. It was the sickest I've been in a long time.

The Exam Situation

The timing was terrible because it was right around school exam season. I had to postpone my exams, which is stressful in its own way — you're sick and miserable, but you also know that the exams are just getting pushed to later, not going away. The academic pressure doesn't pause just because your body decides to shut down.

The co/Build Check-In

Here's the wholesome part. Someone from co/Build — the "emotional tech" person from the community — actually reached out to check on me. When you're lying in bed feeling terrible, having someone from your builder community text you to ask how you're doing hits different. It reminded me that the connections I've made aren't just about work and projects.

Recovery

I got through it, obviously. But January 2026 is filed under "months I never want to repeat." The health and fitness stuff became more important to me after this because your body will literally shut you down if you don't take care of it.

Lesson Learned

Take care of yourself. Eat properly, sleep properly, and don't ignore symptoms. Being a teenage builder who grinds all the time is cool until your body says "actually, no."