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ICTUS —
A photographic essay about fragility and strength. ICTUS was exhibited in Centro de Bellas Artes de Maracaibo (2022) during the exhibition IDENTIDADES. Follow this link to see the installation.


We lost and won it all on the 18th. The end of the world was declared.
For us, it meant: red alert.


There was a short circuit. They called it a cerebral infarction.
It didn't happen to me, but I feel like it did, in another vital organ. Munchausen syndrome?




If things had not gone as they did: "Good", the Jhon-Doe of the hour, would have written in my death report “Time of death 3am. Cause of death not easy to determine, we think we are facing a condition of irreversible chronic sadness”. In this fictional memory of mine, I rised from the cold metal bed, where my dead body was lying,  and calmy reply “I think we should emphasis on the irreversible part, doctor".




0,0,0,1,0,0. What are you saying? Hold on to me. “We regret to inform you that you cannot come with us in the ambulance, COVID-19 measures” said the paramedic while he closed the ambulance’s door. I went biking to the hospital. Wait. Wait. Wait. Keep waiting. "Miss, why don’t you go home? We will give you a call".

Wait. Wait. Wait



Words I do not understand. 0, 0, 1, connection error. 1, 1, 0 "Go home, you are doing nothing waiting here." 7 degrees outside,  inside human warmth with a "COVID bouquet". A friend hugs me. 1200 minutes of reassuring calls : "Everything will be fine".

"Unusual Rhythm, Anomalie dell’onda T Aspecifiche, Electrocardiogram. Emochrome, Leukocyte. Holter".




The nurse's name was Adriana Gullo at 8:40 am. At 12:00 am she gave him Ascriptín 20 CPR, maybe he will take it forever. "NOTE: the patient forgot to take the pill at lunch." 0.0.0 184.0.0.70. Graphs, intervals and lines.

  


 "Dimensione normale" they said, but he has a hole in the heart, they call it PFO and 5/10 people have it! Now I feel much better! Thanks doctor.




345 pages that I do not understand, two of which summarize why my husband is still breathing. Closing with a barcode, a pat on the shoulder and a "We will contact you". Don't get me wrong, I am thanfkful.
0,0,1,0,0 I turn off the television, get off the couch, and hug you tight.


Thanks for being alive.