Must Read: A man

7 years ago

Must Read: A man

——————
Stephanie kept bothering Doctor Kate until she
was told to sit down in the office. She was
really impatient as she stared at the Doctor,
she needed to know what had gone wrong with
her best friend, she couldn’t just die that way.

“Doctor, please speak up.” She rose to her feet again, already sweating profusely.

“I told you earlier to take things easy, your
friend is not dead it’s just that her condition
just got worsened.” She spoke slowly as she
looked really unhappy.

“Worsened? So, what is the ‘worsened
condition’ all about?” She sat down.

“Kidney, it’s kidney problem now.” She
swooshed out a long breath and continued.

“We need to get her operated as soon as
possible, kidney transplant has to be done.”

The Doctor said as she hit the ball pen in her
hand on the table continuously.

“Transplant? What’s wrong again? What’s up with her kidney? Tell me! What’s happening?”
She screamed.

“Easy lady! Anaemia causes low red blood cell
count which as well causes kidney failure. It
reduces the flow of oxygen also, so, please
take it easy.”

“This is annoying! I wonder why this exists! I
hate it when someone is in pain, what’s the
purpose of coming to the world if one will
experience peace throughout? Her life is at
stake, her soul is burning! I can feel it,
arthritis, Jaundice, now kidney failure! Is she
the only one? Even if this is a trial, it’s getting
too much!” She shouted.

“Everyone in this world have a trouble or the
other that he or she’s battling with. If I tell
you my story too, you’re going to marvel. You
guys are now more than my clients and
Christie is more than a patient. I passed
through even more difficult challenges.” She
rose to her feet and sighed.

“More difficult? I’m sure you didn’t pass
through this pain, I’m sure.”

“I’m Kate, an asthmatic patient no one on
earth could believe of her existence. I lost my
blind father to a burning house which
happened when my only brother was also
fighting to become wealthy in life. He got
himself into politics which made his fellow
politicians who were fighting for a post burn
down my father’s house and killed him. I had
to run away with my mother when everything
we had became nothing. I was in my 500 level,
that time. There was no place to go to, no one
to help, we were hated! Isolated! I don’t know
what else to say right now… see lady,
whatever the case will be, we will try our
best.” She sat sadly.

“I wish to know what happened, how did you
now become a Doctor? Even one that’s loved
in this place?”
“Let’s leave that for another day, but I lost my mother to an accident too, I almost died
because of the attack I had when I heard
about her death. I had no hope, no friend, no
one. Just.. let’s just leave it.”

“But, promise me my friend will live.” She
wiped her tears.

“Hmmn.. I don’t.. Alright, I do.” She sighed.

“Your reply was somehow. Be sincere, be
truthful.”

“I think I have to get the Urologists and
Nephrologists now, time is not our friend.” She
stood quickly.

“Alright, what of the donor?”

“You should be able to donate. Kidney
transplanting is a very serious surgery, any
slight mistake might lead to something
disastrous. So, we have to run series of tests
on you. Your blood sugar, blood group and
others. So, let’s keep our fingers crossed, let
me get the surgeons informed.”

“Alright, let me get Richard and anything that
would be needed.” Stephanie rushed out.
STEPHANIE rushed out of the hospital, in
search of Richard who had left the hospital for
a while now. She look frustrated as she
entered into the taxi that took her to Richard’s
place to get him informed about what was
happening next. She didn’t even remember
that she could call him, and besides, it was an
avenue for her to leave the hospital. Leaving
the hospital would at least make her less
nervous than being in the hospital.

She knocked at the gate continuously before
Uche came to get the gate for her. She was
sweating and her hair had ruffled already, she
greeted him as she tried to smile to at least
brighten her wrinkled face. “Good day.” She
bowed.

“Yeah, good evening.” Uche smiled and let her in. “How are you?” He asked as he shut the door.

“I’m… good.” I’m I really good at all? Can
everything on ground make me even good?
“Yeah.” Uche smiled faintly as he turned to
face her again. From all indications too, she
didn’t look good and chuffed to him, but as
usual and almost ‘Nigerian’ he still had to ask her how she was. “You aren’t looking fine as you’ve told me earlier, how’s she? What’s up?”
He moved closer to her.

“Things have gone worse. The Doctor said she
now has kidney failure and she has to be
operated as soon as possible.” She said as
she wiped her face.

Uche was shocked. He opened his mouth wide
open as he stood akimbo, shaking his head
continuously. “Is Richie not in the hospital
with you guys?”

“So he’s not at home, he is not with us either.”

She frowned.

Uche sighed. “Alright, I know where he can be.

Let me get dressed and take you there to see
things for yourself.”

“Thank you.” She said and walked to the gate
to lean on it.

Uche nodded and walked inside to pick his
shirt. He just had his singlet and brown
trouser on earlier. “I’m going in search of tyhat naughty guy, it seems he has gone to his
place of work.” Uche told Jay.

“Alright, don’t belong.” Jay waved at him.

“Is that all you’ll say? Shouldn’t you pick up
your shirt and come with me?” Uche smiled,
he knew Jay would not leave that spot to
accompany him to Hexagon Club and Bar.

“I’m going nowhere.” Jay hissed and la!d on the sofa, turning his back at Uche.

“But all I know is that it’s not his wish to be
drinking too, this situation turned him into
doing that. Besides, remember we introduced
him into this, if we hadn’t forced him that
Friday, he would just be meandering around
as usual.

“So, his introduction to alcohol has made him
so useless? We that got him introduced to it,
do we drink like he does now? Who knows if
this rambling around of a thing is just about
drinking sef .” Jay hissed.

“Anyways, the condition of his sister has gone
worse again. Her friend is by the gate, she
said she now has kidney problem and
operation has to be done as quick as
possible.”

Jay sprung to his feet immediately he heard
that. “Kidney again? This is getting out of
control, what on earth would Richie do on
hearing this? And, what sin has this girl
committed to deserve all these diseases,
sicknesses and ailments? I’m sure this will
turn Richard’s brain around again.” He gave a long breath.

“Anyways, will you follow me now?” Uche
questioned.

“Alright, I just pity the guy too but I hate it if
everything one does is getting too much!” He
said as he buttoned his shirt too and walked
toward Uche.

They both stepped out of the house after
switching off the electronics and bulbs, off to
the Bar.

******

CHRISTIANA.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
it is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials
should let this blest assurance control,
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and hath shed his own blood for my soul
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Doctor Kate entered into my ward and came to
me, she looked sad as she watched me cry
and held my two hands. “Crying won’t solve
anything, crying won’t let this problems leave,
it will just add to it.” She said as she shook
my two hands slightly.

“This is a cry of joy, I’m not crying because
I’m going to die, I’m crying because of the
perished souls. I’m crying because I’m
wondering on those who might be in my shoes
and would question God, I’m… Doctor…” I said as I kept crying.

“I never told you that you would die!”
Doctor’s eyes widened as she shook my hands again,
she had started crying then. The stethoscope
she had around her neck fell as she wept
along with me. I felt her agony, I felt her pulse
that was like a flow of turbulent water from an
ocean, I took of my hands, this time holding
her own hands, we both continued weeping.