ECHOES - Part 2

The story of an amiable chap of about 18 and his delightful caretaker in SureHealth Hospital enjoyed rapid spread across wards and relished Lion’s share of discussions within the hospital and environs. Irrespective of hospital discomforts, the stunning bond of friendship between Emeka and Mma continued soaring heavenwards, leaving pleasant bewilderments in its trail.

Doctor Ken has just confirmed his membership of the team of admirers of the two SureHealth Wonders and his recent conclusive statement in that regard could not suggest less, “Never in the four-year history of SureHealth Hospital has such captivating cordiality been seen between a patient and caretaker”.

SureHealth stands huge at roughly 5km from the city hub. Its tremendous rise in popularity owes gratitude to the skilled hands of a young Nigerian graduate of John Hopkins –Ken—in whose capable hands scores of dying souls and shattered bones received the blessings of life once again. Inpatient and outpatient surge inside SureHealth received hair-raising boosts following serial security malfunctions at various levels in the country which abandoned the safety of innocent citizens at the mercy of blood thirsty terrorists.

By virtue of location and expertise, Ken’s wealth of knowledge sailed exponentially from the situation and his skillful hands navigated his profile to the mountain tops.

 

It was on one of the columns of the National Dailies that Mma got wind of the great works of Doctor Ken and upon confirming her expectations by a visit to SureHealth for one-on-one chat with patients, the unwavering only child of Chief and Mrs. Fred-Donalds was to become a live torn in the flesh of her parents with two obstinate appeals –irretrievable appeals, intrinsically fuelled by a volcanic burst of willpower and regimented boldness. She could not stand the steady disintegration in health, of her age-long bosom friend and academic dearest, whose dire need of advanced medical attention maintained unblinking pleas to Providence in an almost desolate hospital.

Hence, Agbomma’s no-NO-for-an-answer appeals to her parents that, first, Emeka be pulled out of the previous hospital he was admitted into that supervised his right leg’s injuries’ degeneration to almost outright amputation. Second, a fervent appeal for her to be allowed to spend her fast-approaching second academic year’s long vacation at the hospital to take care of Emeka.

Agbomma’s irrevocable demands kept her parents locked up in a haze of thoughts for days.  Staring them in the face, the demands kept hauling concerns at their combined awareness and left them at a loss for words on how an amiable daughter, who hardly asks for favours, had almost turned pale with irreversible demands from her parents to acquire the medical bills of a young boy whom by all indications, was a total stranger to the Fred-Donalds.

Yet to grapple with was the concern about leaving a young daughter who had just bled her first to cater for the medical cares of a young boy with all the hospital discomforts.

Obvious that further delays in granting the demands of a loving daughter was taking dangerous toll on her and since a fulfillment of the demands posed no grievous negative impacts on the life of a beloved daughter and the family’s pocket, Chief and Mrs. Fred-Donalds were left with no other option. Mma’s demands received the approval of her parents and that projected Emeka into the magical hands of Doctor Ken.

Emeka’s transfer to SureHealth was swift. On leaving him and Mma at the hospital that evening, Chief and Mrs. Fred-Donalds assured Emeka of their readiness to take care of his well-being and foot his medical bills. With that assurance and holistic acceptance, unknown to Emeka, Chief and Mrs. Fred-Donalds have taken him as an adopted son of the family.

©Ray Eke