Answer:
I didn't read the book or know the story but I can imagine that if it is meant to be literal, he/she said it because having the disease made him/her more careful and weary.
Explanation:
It is kind of like what happened with this Corona. We heard about the "disease" and became more weary and careful. Also: sharpened our senses.
I used to visit a park quite close to our home when I was younger it had lots of plants and birds were always chirping .it was usually crowded and trees surrounded the area and the park instruments such as swings and slides were in perfect condition
I visited that place again after 5years and it’s change broke my heart .the plants and trees were either dead or dying no one maintained them ,no one was. Around ,the area was littered with plastics and thermocouple and the trees had all been cut down soo the area was very hot , the swings and slides were dirty and rusted
Did you know that donating blood a save thousand of people a year? Most people in a hospital that have a several arm or leg lose and need a lot of blood. Without this extra blood they could die from blood loss. That's why people should donate blood at Red Cross or other facilities
Hope I helped
