December 10, 2005: Kechi, Mommy Is Here...

I quickly jumped out of the jeep and got on the first motorbike I could stop. The man asked for =N=300.00. I asked him to step on it. The nearest way was blocked by a wedding party and he turned to go through Trans Amadi. After stopping to buy gas, we got to the hospital and he asked for =N=500.00. I gave him =N=600 and hurried inside.

Ikenna and Patty, Mike's brother and sister, were waiting at the hospital gates and rushed me to the emergency room. On a stretcher lay my baby, so badly burned.

I rushed to her side and said to her, “Kechi, Mommy is here”.

She turned her head in my direction and opened her eyes, “Mommy, Mommy”.

I said, “I'm here, darling”. “Mommy, I love you” she said... “I love you too, baby. I love you. You are going to be okay”...

This is just the beginning...