10
« on: August 24, 2008, 12:19:57 PM »
Continuation I
I’ll not hate the society or blame anyone for my mischief or sit-down feeling sorry for myself till my death comes. I’ll not allow the pains of sociological emotions of being left alone disturb or eat me alive; I’ll live strong till I die. On February 20th, the year 2002, a date that changed my entire life. My wife was admitted in JUTH, Jos University Teaching Hospital, at about eleven a.m. I was not in town then, but after I received a call from my neighbour, Mr. Shung, I immediately returned. At about four p.m that some day I was in Jos, the weather was cool and the clouds had porch the sun making visibility a bit tense. I found my way to the hospital through the sensible weather. I went without delay to the reception; there I got to find her whereabouts. Just after conforming her ward, I saw my neighbour Mr. Shung, he lead me to her room. On getting to the door, the doctor came out from her room. Mr. Shung introduced me to the doctor, after which the doctor requested me to come along with him to his office. I wanted seeing her first but I believe I also wanted to hear what he had to say. I went in alone with the doctor ahead. He told me to sit down after which he asked me if I knew my wife was pregnant, I did not hesitate I responded positively. Then he told me he was sorry but my wife has lost the child she was carrying. I was silent for awhile. When I was trying to ask, he told me that she also lost a lot of blood and she needs immediate blood transfusion. I then asked him I once donated blood to her, can I still do that? He told me why not, he said I should go and see her while he makes the preparations for that. As I walked into her room I saw two of my colleagues from the university, my two kids and my beautiful God sent wife laying on the bed with a nurse adjusting the drip. She gazed at me, one need not to be a genius before you translate the love she speaks about in her looks. I first started shaking my colleagues thanking them for their concern over my family when a nurse came in to call me. I told them I’ll be right back. My blood sample was taken for verification before I could make the donation. I returned to her room while they went ahead doing the test. My kids were happy that I was finally there. Junior came close to me telling how his mother was in pains throughout the night. He told me that she was at first expressing grief of which he knows not the source while laying down on her bed. Later she began moving crying aloud. That was when he rushed to call uncle Shung. Mr. Idris which was one of my colleagues then, pulled Junior close and wiped his tears. It was then I realised Junior was crying while narrating the pains his mother went through. I blamed myself for not being there though. Junior being my first child, a boy of eleven could take odd jobs at this age to know what hurts who, to even share the pains, oh God help me. The doctor came in that everything was set for the blood transfusion. I told him but I have not made the donation yet. He said the blood needed has been gotten already. The doctor was Idris’s close friend. We were told to move out, in a while we were told to return in. She was getting better in the morning. Laughing and even talking more to everyone, she was even asking me that do I know how much she missed me. I replied her saying I’ll never leave her again. At that time, I had lectures to give back in school, but I don’t know how to tell her I had to go. The doctor came in and requested me to come to his office. I didn’t really like the look on his face, he was trying to smile though, but when doctors try to make you happy there is something disastrous on the way or has already arrived. In his office before sitting I asked him ‘…is my wife okay?’ He told me to sit down. When I sat down, he told me that my wife was okay and in a better condition. There was kind of rest of mind at that minute. I was so happy thanking God when my deeds came hunting me. He asked me if I had a surgical operation recently, ‘NO’ I answered, again he asked me if I had any test of recent. ‘NO’ I still answered; again he asked me if I was faithful to my wife. In an arrogant manner I lost control, I asked him why all the questions. He told me to calm down, when I was settled, he told me that last night he was unable to use my blood. That he did not tell me because I was not in a good condition to absorb the news without any threat. It’s no longer your wife he said. He told me after the test I was found to be HIV positive. I was strong as a man yet I was opaque for a while. At that very time when I was trying to find myself Idris came in, when the doctor was trying to tell him to move out, Idris noticed the dilemma on my face. He did not even talk to his friend the doctor instead he held me asking if I was alright. It was then I came to my senses. I was never who I used to be up till date. My wife was discharged after two weeks, but the joy to express my happiness of her return was dead the day I was told I was HIV positive. Everyone who knows me questioned why I was quiet, and over three months the question change to ‘why are you loosen weight?’ I refused sleeping with my wife because the doctor told me she was HIV negative. I used to be lively and friendly but what I was carrying killed the spirit of that livelihood.