10 years of the King of Thailand's battle with illness

For a decade, King Bhumibol Adulyadej suffered from spinal stenosis, pneumonia, infections and brain hemorrhage.

The health of a country's head of state is always a matter of concern, especially when they are loved and worshipped by the people like King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The royal family has often kept the king's condition under wraps, with reports saying he is recovering and quashing any debate on the subject, but doubts still arise. In fact, the Thai king's battle with illness began 10 years ago.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Photo: Bhumibol Adulyadej.

According to the Bangkok Post, the Thai people first learned about King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s health problems in July 2006 when he underwent surgery to treat spinal stenosis. The age-related illness that had plagued the king since 1995 made it difficult for him to walk with his right foot.

In October 2007, King Bhumibol was hospitalized due to sudden weakness on the right side of his body. Doctors concluded that the king had cerebral ischemia and many other problems, including heart disease. After 8 hours of injections, King Bhumibol gradually recovered. He remained at Siriraj Hospital for 3 weeks before returning to the palace.

In September 2009, the head of the Thai royal family was again hospitalized due to flu and pneumonia. Since 2010, the king's public appearances have decreased significantly. He spends most of his time in the hospital.

In 2011, a leak of US State Department data revealed that King Bhumibol suffered from Parkinson's disease and depression. Thus, the King was much weaker than the public knew.

In November 2011, Bhumibol was diagnosed with diverticulosis. At this time, Princess Chulabhorn, the king's youngest child, revealed on television that her father was not in good health. He suffered internal bleeding that led to unconsciousness, most likely due to stress from the flood crisis that year. The treatment for diverticulosis and brain hemorrhage lasted until July 2013.

In 2015, the 88-year-old monarch's health deteriorated to the point that he missed his birthday celebrations. Tests revealed he had a blood infection, left pneumonia, and arthritis in his right knee. On December 14, King Bhumibol appeared on television after a long hospital stay.

King Bhumibol was last seen on January 11, 2016. "The king will go to Chitralada Palace for a change of scenery," Reuters quoted an official as saying. Earlier, Thailand confirmed that the head of the royal family was being treated for sepsis and pneumonia.

In May, the Royal Household Bureau announced that the king had been treated for hydrocephalus, a condition that had struck him in August 2015. On October 1, King Bhumibol was reported to have recovered well after a two-week fever. However, he still suffered from sepsis, pneumonia, fluid in the lungs and kidney failure.

On October 9, the king underwent dialysis to clear toxins, salts and excess fluids from his blood. He took medication and was on a ventilator. For the first time, doctors announced that his condition was “still unstable,” as if to foreshadow an ominous sign. Hearing the news, Thais flocked to Siriraj Hospital and the palace, wearing pink, to pray for their beloved king.

After 10 years of struggling with illness, King Bhumibol Adulyadej passed away at 3:52 p.m. on October 13, 2016, ending his 70-year reign. The passing of the king was seen by Thais as a living saint, a symbol of national unity and solidarity and a pillar of national stability, leaving behind immense sorrow for the people of this country. The one-year mourning period for King Bhumibol began on October 14.

According to VNE