10th April 2019! Started as a very occupied working day for me. I experienced 2 unique characteristics to get the job done on in advance of the weekend….. There I was seated at the rear of the pc striving to as regular add honey and milk to my script. (Standard Me)
“Nancy, I have to have you to go speak to a lady and her youngster at the reception”. That was Fred Smith, my News Editor standing 5 meters away from me.
The glance on my experience spoke louder than text. Seem I was busy!
“Who are they and what do they want?” I requested. I required to know if it was worthy of my time for the reason that there are plenty of ‘serious’ get the job done I had to do.
“I don’t have the specifics, just discuss to them. I’m absolutely sure you are going to determine it out”
Effectively I lazily bought out of my seat, descended the stairs to the reception.
There were so many men and women there, but I saw a girl in a inexperienced faded African print carrying a toddler at her back. In entrance of her was a minimal lady in a ideal color block attire. A pink cap, pink skirt and a white shirt with roses dotted in it.
These may well be the individuals Fred was talking about. I went closer shook her hands and requested her why she was below. (there was no coronavirus) 😊
“I require support for my Daughter Bertha, she has kidney cancer…… ” she couldn’t finish her statement simply because her eyes were by now filled with tears.
At that moment I realized this was a tale really worth carrying out. I bent my knees and spoke to Bertha
“how are you?”
“I’m fine”
“how previous are you”
“I’m 4 a long time old”
She didn’t sound sick. I thought…. But I noticed she had blood clots at the corner of her eye. I was worried.
I informed them to give me several minutes to get a camera.
Fortunately I observed Jonas. A single of my most loved Cameramen! In 10 minutes he experienced his digicam and tripod prepared.
“I assume we should really do the job interview at radio”. Jonas, pointing to Pleasure FM which was throughout the road.
I took Bertha’s little hands and crossed the street. We observed the Joy FM ready region was vacant!
“Perfect” I believed. I was handed a letter she experienced introduced from authorities of the Little one overall health Unit of Korle bu. (the letter is up there).
Just when I read through the past paragraph, Jonas signaled, he was completely ready.
I took the microphone and questioned my issue about what their tale was. This interview was close to twenty minutes. Let me summarize
She and her spouse brought Bertha to Korle bu from a village in the Volta Location a yr ago. The exact working day her husband was returning to the village to get revenue he died in a vehicle incident. She knew nobody in Accra and was pregnant.
The doctors detained Bertha in the ward even though she slept on the corridor in the similar dress for a year. She begged on the streets…other occasions the nurses and medical doctors gave them foodstuff.
In reality the nurses had been paying out for Bertha’s treatment method. But now the nurses are also drained. She needs GH¢4000 to finalize cure! (Wiping tears from her eyes with her fabric)
Yeah… Unbelievable! I was moved too… How can lifestyle be this cruel?
I took the microphone shut to Bertha and requested her what she desired to be in long run
“A doctor” she whispered. At this issue I was moved to tears. Every person, which include digicam gentleman experienced to wipe tears… It was just too considerably!
The interview was completed. I experienced to see them off… But I was by no means likely to leave them with out anything.
To be trustworthy, 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 revenue to Bertha
“What have you eaten today”? I questioned them
“I had 5 Ghana Cedis, I purchased porridge for the small children. I have GH¢2 on me now” she said, making an attempt to hold again tears. 💔
“Please from here, acquire Bertha and Korle bu (the title of the boy or girl at her back… Because he was delivered there) to any eatery and invest in regardless of what they experience like eating… Eat like these days is your last day” I smiled.🙂
We exchanged contacts and she promised to preserve in touch…. I bade Bertha goodbye by supplying her a hug and assured her she was heading to be fine….. I stood and watched them stroll away until they were out of sight. “Wheew”!
I informed myself this tale will have to be aired on Monday! A need to go! Simply because cmon, 4000 Ghana Cedis? Which is someone’s rooster change…. So yeah I vowed.
I did produce the story on Saturday. I was thrilled! Bertha was likely to get enable! 😊
At 4:45am on Sunday, I was woke up by a simply call. I puzzled who the uncultured person was contacting at that time🙄. I took and mobile phone and saw it was from Bertha’s mother. I jumped out of the mattress and quickly 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 finding the appropriate phrases to explain to a grieving mom.
She went on to notify me how couple minutes in the past the nurses identified as to say her daughter’s condition had worsened… When she went to Bertha, the only matter Bertha explained was that SHE WAS Fatigued. She gave up her ghost appropriate after these words and phrases.
Friends…. My lifestyle has not been the identical ever since…. I turned depressed simply because I blamed myself. If only I had that 4000 Ghana Cedis. If only it’s possible I hadn’t informed her to eat like it was her last….. It’s possible she could have lived. 😢
Expensive angel Bertha….. I promise to get treatment of mother and your small brother….. 🤞 Eternally in my heart.❤️
