After reading this chapter my respect level for Francis increased dramatically when I learned about how incredibly sick he really was. I cannot imagine the light of a candle being able to sear someones eyes. However I do not think that it was due to a random disease. When you have very little nourishment and lack any real physical activities your body cannot defend itself from simple sicknesses such as catarax.
In countries such as North Korea, the people have extremely limited food and what they do have is rice which contains little nutritional value. Therefor approximately 60% of the population will suffer from catarax at some point during their lives. Also like Francis, the North Koreans do not have access to sufficient medical treatments and many go untreated until they become completely blind and have no cure.
It was also interesting how Francis wanted to be stripped naked and left to die in nature but his supporters would not allow it.
Nice reflection on
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