10th April 2019! Started as a very busy day for me. I experienced 2 different attributes to operate on just before the weekend….. There I was seated powering the personal computer making an attempt to as standard increase honey and milk to my script. (Normal Me)
“Nancy, I will need you to go talk to a girl and her youngster at the reception”. That was Fred Smith, my Information Editor standing 5 meters absent from me.
The glance on my deal with spoke louder than phrases. Glance I was fast paced!
“Who are they and what do they want?” I asked. I desired to know if it was worthy of my time since there are lots of ‘serious’ operate I had to do.
“I don’t have the aspects, just speak to them. I’m certain you’ll determine it out”
Properly I lazily acquired out of my seat, descended the stairs to the reception.
There were so many men and women there, but I observed a girl in a eco-friendly pale African print carrying a infant at her back again. In front of her was a minimal woman in a fantastic colour block attire. A pink cap, pink skirt and a white shirt with roses dotted in it.
These may possibly be the individuals Fred was chatting about. I went closer shook her palms and questioned her why she was here. (there was no coronavirus) ?
“I require assistance for my Daughter Bertha, she has kidney cancer…… ” she could not stop her statement simply because her eyes were by now loaded with tears.
At that moment I realized this was a story really worth carrying out. I bent my knees and spoke to Bertha
“how are you?”
“I’m fine”
“how outdated are you”
“I’m 4 yrs old”
She didn’t seem ill. I thought…. But I recognized she experienced blood clots at the corner of her eye. I was apprehensive.
I explained to them to give me couple of minutes to get a camera.
Fortunately I observed Jonas. Just one of my favourite Cameramen! In 10 minutes he experienced his digicam and tripod prepared.
“I assume we ought to do the interview at radio”. Jonas, pointing to Joy FM which was across the street.
I took Bertha’s very little palms and crossed the road. We found the Pleasure FM waiting around place was vacant!
“Perfect” I believed. I was handed a letter she had brought from authorities of the Baby wellbeing Unit of Korle bu. (the letter is up there).
Just when I read through the very last paragraph, Jonas signaled, he was prepared.
I took the microphone and questioned my issue about what their story was. This interview was shut to 20 minutes. Allow me summarize
She and her husband introduced Bertha to Korle bu from a village in the Volta Location a 12 months in the past. The same working day her spouse was returning to the village to get dollars he died in a motor vehicle incident. She understood no one in Accra and was pregnant.
The doctors detained Bertha in the ward when she slept on the corridor in the identical gown for a 12 months. She begged on the streets…other times the nurses and medical doctors gave them meals.
In point the nurses were being shelling out for Bertha’s remedy. But now the nurses are also drained. She requires GH¢4000 to finalize therapy! (Wiping tears from her eyes with her cloth)
Yeah… Unbelievable! I was moved too… How can lifetime be this cruel?
I took the microphone shut to Bertha and requested her what she desired to be in potential
“A doctor” she whispered. At this issue I was moved to tears. Everyone, which includes digicam gentleman had to wipe tears… It was just much too much!
The job interview was completed. I had to see them off… But I was under no circumstances going to go away them with out everything.
To be genuine, all I experienced in my account was 100 Ghana Cedis. I went again into the newsroom, took my debit card and cashed out 50 Cedis and gave the dollars to Bertha
“What have you eaten today”? I requested them
“I experienced 5 Ghana Cedis, I bought porridge for the youngsters. I have GH¢2 on me now” she reported, making an attempt to hold back again tears. ?
“Please from below, just take Bertha and Korle bu (the name of the baby at her back… Due to the fact he was sent there) to any eatery and get whatever they come to feel like eating… Consume like today is your final day” I smiled.?
We exchanged contacts and she promised to continue to keep in touch…. I bade Bertha goodbye by offering her a hug and assured her she was going to be fine….. I stood and watched them stroll absent till they were out of sight. “Wheew”!
I advised myself this tale ought to be aired on Monday! A should go! Because cmon, 4000 Ghana Cedis? That’s someone’s chicken change…. So yeah I vowed.
I did compose the story on Saturday. I was psyched! Bertha was going to get help! ?
At 4:45am on Sunday, I was woke up by a connect with. I questioned who the uncultured individual was calling at that time?. I took the cell phone and observed it was from Bertha’s mother. I jumped out of the mattress and rapidly answered
“…. sister, me ba nu awu oo” […. My daughter is dead] she cried…..
“Jesus” I screamed. I was on the phone….. Speechless…….. In tears…. And not getting the proper terms to convey to a grieving mom.
She went on to convey to me how number of minutes back the nurses termed to say her daughter’s condition experienced worsened… When she went to Bertha, the only issue Bertha stated was that SHE WAS Worn out. She gave up her ghost suitable right after those phrases.
Friends…. My lifestyle hasn’t been the exact same ever since…. I became frustrated since I blamed myself. If only I experienced that 4000 Ghana Cedis. If only probably I hadn’t advised her to try to eat like it was her last….. Possibly she could have lived. ?
Pricey angel Bertha….. I guarantee to choose care of mom and your minor brother….. ? Forever in my coronary heart.❤️
