Uzoma
arrived at the Shell gate but the security detail would not let her in, so Mike
had to go to the gate to explain to them that she was family and she came back
to the hospital with them.
Other
groups of people came but I had to go outside the gates to meet with them. My
boss, Benjamin, came with Chioma, a colleague, and I was pleased because I
could tell Benjamin about the trip and how I would need an extended leave.
The
brethren from my church group in Aba also came and prayed with me. One of my
church members from the Port Harcourt fellowship, Brother Amos, who
incidentally was a staff of Shell, had also been contacted and he never left
Mike's side throughout that day.
Then
we were reminded that we were battling against principalities and powers that
were not pleased to see Kechi alive. In order to come inside the Shell compound
with Mike, Uzoma had to leave her car outside the gate and so she put the bag
she had packed for me, which contained not just my clothes, but also our passports,
in George's car. When George left for Aba, he forgot to remove the bag from his
car. Communication became impossible, as we could not get through to him. By
the time we finally got through, he was already in Aba. This was at 4.00pm, and
we were to leave at 8.30pm. He said he would give the bag to Mike's brother,
Duru, to bring to Port Harcourt.
Dr.
Moses sent for me and told me that there were two people that wanted to see
Kechi, and he wanted to make sure we were okay with it. One of them was a
high-ranking officer at the Nigeria Airport Authority and the other was the
Managing Director of Sosoliso Airlines. I gave my permission. The airport had
been closed to all traffic since the disaster and so Dr. Moses told them that
the plan was for the air ambulance to land at the Owerri airport, and then we
would be transported by helicopter to Owerri and leave from there.
After
seeing Kechi, the NAA official told Dr. Moses that here was no need to subject
Kechi to all that, the Port Harcourt Airport would be opened for the air
ambulance to land and take off!
Dr.
Moses was in the hospital monitoring Kechi's progress and making arrangements
for our trip throughout that Sunday. He was truly amazing. I felt so safe
knowing that he was in charge of Kechi's well being. Our gratitude knew no
bounds but each time we tried to express it to him, he told us that we should
focus on praying to God for Kechi's life to be spared as she was far from out
of the woods.
I
think that as a doctor, he knew the gravity of her situation and that so much could still go wrong. All I
knew was that Kechi was alive and was going to stay that way. Looking back, I
think I was probably in denial as to the extent of her injuries. I just focused
on living from one minute to the next, trusting God all the way.
Mike
and I went in to tell her about the trip to South Africa and with her usual
forthrightness she said, “I
don't like the sound of that”. I explained her need for further treatment than
could be provided at Shell hospital. She seemed to accept that and asked,” So
by the time I wake up, I'll be in South Africa?”
“Yes”,
I replied. And she slept off.
To be continued...
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