Okay to be honest this is a question I’ve asked my self a couple of times. Not like how it was asked but yes I’ve got a point in my timeline that’ll love to pick to go back in for a hope to change it.
HOW IT STARTED
It was a cold night and I was fast asleep in my room when I heard a scream. I didn’t recognize the voice but I leapt from my bed as soon as I heard it... Looking besides me was my younger brother who also woke up to the scream, we looked at each other and like two people who had communicated we both left our room rushing down to my mum’s room where the scream came from. On getting there I was shocked to see my dad half way on the floor and my mother trying to wake him up. What happened? I asked confused and scared but no body answered. It was like my sister and other siblings who were there went mute and immediately I went on my knees to tap my dad. Dad!? Daddy!? Dad!! I screamed but there was no reply, and no response from him. He was just laying there cold, eyes closed, no expression, lifeless he seemed.
This was when I felt my heart sinking. I had never seen death, only heard of him but that morning he was with Us. My dad wasn’t moving nor responding and my elder brother suggested we take him to the car and move him to a hospital. I came back to my senses briefly and agreed. Tapped my mum who was in tears to let him go so we’d move him to the car. We did and my mum together with my brothers David and Boniface drove him to the hospital.
I was left at home with my little sister Immanuella and all I could do was pray. Prayed that he’ll wake, feel better. I prayed he’ll stay alive.
RECOUNTS FROM MY BROTHER (DAVID)
My mum refused to pass the key to my elder brother who knew also how to drive. According to David asides from the fear of my dad not waking up, he was scared for my mother because of how she drove. In his words she drove like she had one wish in her head and that was to just be in the hospital. He sat at the back sit wishing we were in a better country that could call 911 and have an ambulance come to us or meet us half way and we would have been able to save him. At some point my mum had to slow down also because they almost crashed while she was on the highway.
DOCTOR’S BAD NEWS
On reaching the hospital. The doctor available attended to them. Checked my dad’s body, turned to face them and told them he’s gone, there was no pulse, no nothing. It wasn’t like the movies where they tried to resuscitate him with a cardiac defibrillator or maybe CPR or any fancy machines. No that didn’t happen, this is Nigeria. Only the rich will or might get access to such services, that’s even if there are available and even if they were,St Gerald hospital was the closest hospital as at then in 2013 to my house.
WHAT AGE?
If everything was feasible, what age would I wish to be? If I could go back in time to any point in my life. It’ll be 2013 when I was 16. Before that morning or that day or even that week. I would spend more time with him. Ask more questions about his life. I’ll try to make everyone be closer. And before the day it happens I’ll tell him. You might die dad, I saw it in a dream and I couldn’t do anything. I was scared and I am still scared. Let’s go get a check up done, let’s get you to a hospital before it happens. I would have done anything to convince my whole family to convince my father to go to a good hospital. I would really give anything to really go back and make a difference somehow.
