Navigating through life's lessons
So, I’m finally done with housejob; my status has changed from a house officer to a medical officer. I started writing this around 3am yesterday, but then I figured I still wouldn’t know how it felt- how I felt- until it actually handed over from my last shift. Or at least, until after that firstContinue reading And so it ends…
It is no news that in Nigeria, everything is linked to the ‘spiritual’, the extraordinary. A child suffering from cystic fibrosis with breathing difficulty is deteriorating because of the ‘village people’, also, a man who slumped and passed on must have angered the gods. This is popular across various spheres in the country. Mental healthContinue reading Tea. Tell. Thrive.
It’s funny how I’ve sat at this desk over and over, my hands hovering above this keyboard, my head just full of…nothing. Nothing. Well, everything and nothing at the same time. Doesn’t make sense abi? Trust me, I couldn’t understand it either, and I still can’t explain it. Nothing had been coming to mind, andContinue reading Unfolding
“Sir! Sir! Sir!” The room was thrown in a frenzy and we rushed to get the suddenly wobbly relative a chair before he collapsed in sheer shock. The biggest killer in this country is poverty. No one can tell me otherwise. This man had just nearly collapsed on hearing the costs of urgent surgery hisContinue reading For we, like…fowl?
“Ok, you can’t be under a blanket, you’re way too warm.” My friend stared me down, but we were both stubborn goats. “But I’m cold!” “Well, either you take off the blanket or drink the tea.” “It’s a light blanket” “I knew you would say that. Doctors make the worst patients.” He was right thoughContinue reading V
IV Once upon a time, my parents bought three kinds of newspapers. Everyday, when I’d get back from school, I’d find myself skimming through to read the latest episode of all those Terror Muda and co comics, or relationship drama/advice of the day. I was also particularly interested in horoscopes, not because I necessarily believedContinue reading IV
I signed my first death certificate last week. Actually, I ended up signing two, coz I guess when it rains, it pours. I’m not really sure how I felt; a friend of mine told me it was my official initiation into medicine, and was surprised that I hadn’t signed one since. It’s funny; but notContinue reading III
So I took a break. And it lasted longer than planned – a lot longer. But I guess I’m back. And hopefully, better. What happened in the interim? Well, I was reminded that I’m actually in a committed relationship with my personal space which is a luxury, given the profession I practice and all. ButContinue reading I
There’s something to be said about the parents of a hospitalized child.A couple of things, actually. There’s something endearing about the camaraderie forged between these parents steadily keeping vigil over their beloved babies, with Bibles and Qur’ans adorning the head of their beds, revealing marked verses and jotted prayers. Something about their dogged perseverance runningContinue reading A few things to say
TRIGGER WARNING . Time of death. That was the singular thought in my head as I moved the diaphragm of my stethoscope back and forth, cranking my ears in search of that evasive lub-dub, straining for anything, anything at all, even as I knew in my heart that that baby was gone – had beenContinue reading Sobered up