(Minghui.org) Since the coronavirus broke out in Wuhan in late 2019, the disease has ravaged the world and resulted in numerous infections and deaths. As the New Year began, scientists have identified variants that are more contagious and possibly more deadly, causing further panic.

My own family also experienced such panic in early 2020 when the first wave of the virus was at its peak. At that time, my younger brother developed symptoms of coronavirus infection: chest congestion, fever, fatigue, and a CT scan showed shadows on his lungs. He was told to isolate at home, and nothing helped his condition. He had no alternative but to heed my advice to learn the Falun Gong (also known as Falun Dafa) exercises. Much to his surprise, he recovered soon afterwards. 

I would like to share his experience here. I hope that more people can benefit from Falun Gong and remain healthy and safe amidst the pandemic. 

Two Dreams

My hometown is close to Wuhan in Hubei Province, and it was one of the hardest hit areas. After Wuhan was locked down on January 23, 2020, similar measures were also imposed in nearby towns and villages on January 25, Chinese New Year's Day. My brother’s workplace dispatched all of its employees to various residential compounds to guard the gates to prevent residents from going out.

My brother was almost 50 and he guarded a community entrance every day. It was cold, and he felt nervous and lonely. Unlike happy times during Chinese New Year holiday seasons in the past, the streets were ghostly with hardly anyone passing by. 

I had left my hometown a long time ago to pursue job opportunities elsewhere, and I missed my brother and the rest of my family very much. My “brother” is not my biological sibling, but actually my uncle’s son. For some specific reason, my parents raised him and he grew up with me and my sister. We treat each other like siblings. 

He is an honest man, kind, and friendly. I had chatted with him about Falun Gong. He did learn the five exercises, but he said that following the Falun Gong teachings to be a better person was too hard for him. Nonetheless, he knew the practice is good and agreed to keep “Falun Dafa is good” in his mind. 

One night in mid-February 2020, I had a dream that my brother was sitting in the old house where we grew up. Since both my parents had passed away and that residence had been deserted a long time ago, I felt very uneasy about the dream. After waking up, I sent a message to my brother, reminding him to always remember the two phrases (“Falun Dafa is good” and “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good”) and to take good care of himself. 

A few days later, I had another dream. It was also in the same old house and someone’s picture was hung on the wall facing south. This made me nervous since in my hometown there was a custom that we only put dead people’s pictures on the wall facing south. I once dreamed of my father’s picture on that wall and he passed away several days later. 

An Urgent Situation

I called my brother immediately. His voice was low and he seemed tired. I asked what had happened and he said he was fine. Knowing that sometimes he only told me good news to not worry me, I called his good friend – who was also his coworker. It turned out my brother had been ill. He had been working all those days, and the stress and anxiety of catching the virus took a toll on his health. He started experiencing dizziness, fatigue, and chest congestion, and he went for a checkup in the hospital. A CT scan showed shadows in the lung. His temperature was normal and the doctor did not perform a nucleic acid test or give him treatments, and just told him to isolate himself at home. It could have been a lack of test kits in the small town, or the doctors did not want to add any more positive cases after the quota was met. 

My brother is introverted and does not speak much. There had been many cases in his area, since many people working in Wuhan had returned for the Chinese New Year. He had gatherings with some of those returning residents. At the hospital, he'd also been in the pulmonary division and CT scan room for a few hours, where many coronavirus patients came by. 

Thinking about this, I was worried. As I'd worked out of town all these years, my brother had taken care of my parents and his biological parents in their old age. My parents passed always two years ago and I always thanked my brother for everything he'd done for our parents. Right now, his wife was with her parents and could not come home due to the lockdown. Even now, my brother had to take care of his own parents and child. 

My brother’s friend said there were no medicines available since both pharmacies and clinics had closed during the lockdown. My uncle (my brother’s biological father) also contacted the friend and cried for help. In fact, they did not know what medicine to take – since the doctor did not confirm the virus – and there were no medicines anyway. In the end, the friend sent over some amoxicillin [which is an over-the-counter drug in China] that he had saved himself. It was used up in a few days and my brother had nothing to count on again. 

My uncle also told me that my brother had become emaciated and his face was turning a dark color. Everyone was worried and my uncle often had nightmares. He said my brother has a chronic heart problem along with trachea issues. Were this to be the coronavirus, he would be in a real danger. 

Turning Point

After hearing all of this, I knew the situation was worse than I'd thought. I called my brother again.

“Do you remember the audio lectures I gave you earlier?” I asked, “right now, I suggest that you focus on listening to them and do the excises.”

My brother accepted my advice. 

When I called him the next day, my brother said he had done the excises and felt very good. 

“You have told me you had not needed medicine these years. Is it true?” he asked. 

“Of course,” I replied. 

In fact, my situation was like his when I was young. In addition to poor lung function, I also had liver problems. But after beginning to practice Falun Gong over 20 years ago, I have been fine. 

Since our phone conversation, my brother did the exercises and listened to the lectures every day. His health also got better and better. Not quite sure about his condition, I asked if he should have a checkup at the hospital again.

“No need,” he said, “I am healthy now. What is the point of going to hospital?!”

My uncle was also thrilled. He noticed that my brother looked better, was able to eat well and was very happy. 

Several days before I wrote this article, I had a video chat with my brother. He looked great. My uncle added that my brother often caught a cold in the winter, but he has been fine. Everyone in the family is happy. 

Because of censorship, I could not speak much over the chat. But I did remind him to continue practicing Falun Gong. “Keep doing what you are doing. Okay?” I said. 

“Of course!” he replied, “You can count on that.”

I had thought to ask my brother to share his experience himself, but since I can't return to my hometown due to the new lockdown measure, I wrote the article on his behalf. Our whole family thanks Master Li (the founder of Falun Dafa) for saving my brother.