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Dolapo arrived to Nigeria and headed straight for the hospital. She inquired for her mother at the reception.
” I just arrived from Canada. I learnt that my mum is on admission here. Please may I see her?”
The nurse at the reception raised her head and looked at Dolapo from head to toe. That is how they will be forming fake accent and deceiving people, she muttered under her breath. ” Your mum?” She asked in a condescending tone.
” Yes. My mum.”
” Who is your mother?”
“Mrs. Beatrice Atanda Collins.”
The nurse smirked. ” Oh… The pregnant elderly woman.”
Dolapo looked away. She was pissed with the attitude of the nurse but tried to control her emotion. She knew that expressing anger wouldn’t solve her problem.
” She’s in ICU. You can’t see her.” The nurse left her standing to attend to something else.
” Hey.” Dolapo called and drew her back. ” I traveled all the way from Canada for this reason and you are telling me I can’t see my mum? Please direct me to the office of the medical director. He knows me on a personal basis. He’s our family doctor.”
” And so? By the way, what right do you have to touch my uniform? Do you know the worth of this uniform? Do you know what it takes to qualify as a professional nurse?”
Dolapo took a deep breath. ” Yes.” She replied. ” I know what it takes to be a professional nurse because I am also one. Surprisingly, professionals don’t behave the way you are behaving. I doubt your professionalism. Anyway, I insist that you lead me to your medical director.”
The nurse shook her head. “The director did not give directive that I should bring anyone to him. Infact, he’s in a crucial meeting.”
Dolapo took another deep breath.She felt like punching the arrogant nurse. The nurse greeted someone behind her and she turned. He was a young man dressed in slacks. He should be about her eldest brother’s age.
” How’s my patient?” The man asked. ” Has the director arrived?”
The nurse grinned from ear to ear. ” Yes. He’s in a meeting with the operating team. They have been waiting for you.”
“Let me rush to join them.”
Dr. Jerry is the young man. Few days ago, he had traveled down to Kano when he couldn’t get deaconess on phone, only to discover that she had been hospitalized. He met the medical director to get information about the sudden downturn in her health. He also kept in touch after then and expressed interest in participating in Deaconess’ surgery. The medical director consented to his wish and Jerry was there that day for the caesarean section. As he moved away from the reception, Dolapo quickly followed him.
” Hey madam.” The nurse shouted.
Dolapo ignored her.
” Hello sir.” She called after Jerry. “I don’t know if you can help me. I need to see my sick mum or the medical director.”
Jerry raised an eyebrow. ” Well, I’m not a staff per say. I don’t know their protocols for visiting. I’m only here to participate in a surgery. But…let me see. What’s your name? I can help tell the medical director that you need to see him urgently.”
” Dolapo Atanda Collins.” She blurted out.
Jerry narrowed his eyes. ” What? Atanda Collins? Are you Mrs. Beatrice’s daughter?”
” Yes.” Dolapo replied enthusiastically.
” Why should the nurse stop you? Everyone has been awaiting your arrival.” He took her hand. ” Common, let’s go.”
Dolapo turned her face back and scowled at the nurse. She also pushed her tongue at her.
—-
Things moved fast after then. Dolapo signed the consent form authorizing the hospital to carry out a caesarian section on her mother. By then, Reverend Alhassan and his wife had also arrived. On sighting them, Dolapo moved into the warm embrace of the pastor’s wife.
” Mummy, they say she has only a slim chance for survival. I don’t want her to die.”
” By God’s grace, she will live to tell her story. Let’s continue praying.”
” I think Mr. Kola and his wife are now in town.” Reverend said to his wife. ” I instructed him to come straight to the hospital. He has to be here.”
” Is it really necessary?”
” Of course. He would be the most irresponsible man if he refuse to show up here.”
Dolapo knew they were talking about the man that impregnated her mother. She frowned. “Is he someone that I know? What is the relationship between them? Where they living together?”
Kola soon arrived the hospital in the company of his wife. They met Reverend and the others outside the operating theatre.
” Good afternoon Sir,” he said and prostrated low. Jumoke also went on her knees.
” I am happy to see that the two of you are back together. God that has helped us solve this problem will also help so that both Deaconess and the baby will come out alive.”
” Amen.”
Dolapo stepped forward and pointed. ” Is he the one?”
” I’m sorry…” Kola started to say.
” Keep your sorry to yourself. You better start praying that my mum comes out of this alive. If not, I will sue you to your last dime.”
Kola looked scared. He turned to his wife and she gave him a reassuring look. She also grabbed his hand by his side and squeezed it. He understood what the look and the squeezing of hand meant. She was telling him in a non verbal way that whatever happened, she would be by his side.
——–
Two hours after the surgery started, a tired looking Jerry and the medical director emerged from the theatre. Everyone rushed for them.
” How is it?” Dolapo asked. ” How is my mum? How was the surgery?”
They both nodded and the director spoke. ” The surgery was successful. We have a baby girl; a very big baby, 4.2kg. Apgar score at birth was 10.”
” Praise God.” Reverend and his wife shouted in unison.
” My mum!” Dolapo screamed.
” She’s alive but in a critical condition. She has been taken back to the ICU. We hope she will come up fast, now that the additional weight on her has been removed.”
Jerry turned to Kola. ” I think they need someone to bring the baby things. The baby has been taken to the maternity .”
” Yes. We have a baby to care for,” Reverend’s wife said. ” Let me call Wura to bring the baby items.”
” Can I see my mum?” Dolapo asked.
” Sure,” the director replied. ” Dr. Jerry, please lead her to the ICU. I’m afraid, but no other person will be allowed in.”
“It’s okay sir.” Reverend responded. ” We will be here praying for her.”
The baby was handed to Reverend’s wife at the maternity. She was pink, cute and had her fist in her mouth. The Reverend’s wife smiled and gave the baby to Jumoke.
“Take. She’s your baby. Begin to love her. Even though she’s birthed by another woman, she’s your husband’s daughter so she’s also your daughter. Love her as if she’s from your womb.”
Jumoke looked down at the baby in her hands and beemed. ” She’s so cute.”
She looked up at her husband. ” Sweet heart, she’s your carbon copy. Same shape of nose. I promise to love her just as if she’s from my womb. I have forgiven everyone. I pray that Deaconess will come out alive.”
She gave the baby to Kola. ” Hold our baby. What will we call her?”
Kola smiled down at his daughter, then he raised his face to his wife. ” Please give her her first name.”
” Me?” Jumoke touched her chest. ” Thank you for the honour. Let’s call her MERCY.”
TO BE CONTINUED
Β©Bosede Fagbemi
