Page 63 - A Life Well-Lived Is a Beautiful Memory

Tik and Our

Friendship

Praneet Yomchinda
14 February 2024 Bhanupong and Praneet (Noi), 2015

Tik and I have been friends since we were in our first year of university in 1971. We talked
a lot during our studies because we took many classes together. After graduation, we went our

separate ways and talked to each other occasionally— sometimes by letter, sometimes by email,
and sometimes in person. We did not see each other very often, but whenever I needed help, Tik
was always there for me. We started talking more when we started chatting on Line. We talked
about everything under the sun. Tik liked to talk about food, music, art, pictures of Thammasat

University, and social and political issues. He also liked to ask about our mutual friends.
During the pandemic, we started talking more about health. He told me about his frequent
visits to the doctor. Around the end of November 2022, Tik started to feel sick and went to the
doctor. The next day, I asked him how he felt, and he replied, “Worst.” He then told me that he

had cancer of the pancreas.
Tik was a very considerate person. He did not want to bother anyone. While he was being
treated at Siriraj Hospital, we did not visit him. Tik would send us pictures and tell us stories
about his fellow patients, as well as the difficulties he faced with his treatment and his commute

from their condo to Siriraj. His doctor told him that if he had a good attitude, he could live for 3
years. If he was unlucky, he would only have 3 months. He said that he wasn’t afraid of dying,
but he was worried about the people he would leave behind.
When he was admitted to Samitivej Hospital for a bacterial infection, Tik finally allowed us to

visit him. We had to ask his permission for each visit. When he started receiving chemotherapy,
Tik became very weak. He could barely walk. For the first time, he allowed us to help him with
transportation. On the day he was transferred to Thammasat Hospital, three of us went with him,
along with Divina, Tik’s wife.

Bhanupong Nidhiprabha 63