Johannesburg: More Angels Stop By...

I stayed until the morning visit was over, then I sat in the waiting room to wait for the evening visit. They were quite strict about visiting times at Milpark.

Kechi's accident brought out the best in people. I got so many calls and had so many visitors that I was overwhelmed with kindness. 

Most of the people who reached out to me were people I either did not know well, or had never met before. It was an incredible experience. Betty came by and sat with me for quite a while. We had not been very close in Nigeria and thus I had missed out on knowing a wonderful human being. She said she was going to get me flats or sneakers so I would be more comfortable. She also insisted on bringing cooked food for me. I still could not stand the idea of eating food, and asked for fruits instead. She left, promising to come back in the evening with her church elders who wanted to pray for Kechi.

I got a call from Pat, my friend Stella's friend from London. She had contacted her pastor friend in Johannesburg, Noni, who called to also say she would come later to pray with me. Pat called constantly from London to ask after Kechi.

My sister-in-law, Chi's, friend, Sade and her husband had just come in from Nigeria and brought money from Mom and from Chi, and Eze, my brother. I was truly touched. But then I was to be even more shocked and overwhelmed.

Sade and her husband, people I had just met, insisted on shopping for clothes for me since I left Nigeria with very little. They did not let me thank them. Sade said that I did not understand how privileged they felt to be able to do something for someone that God had touched so directly. The love expressed was incredible.

Later that afternoon, I had to sign a consent form for Kechi to go in for surgery. They were going to scrape off more of her burnt skin. My mind refused to delve deeply into what that entailed. All I knew was that she was being taken care of. The matron of the unit informed me that the third survivor of the crash had been flown in from Nigeria. She also had 60% burns like Kechi, and was in her 20s. Apparently, the younger you are, the better your chances are of pulling through.

Kechi came in from surgery about 5.30pm. She was “stable”, a word I became very familiar with. When the staff told you a patient was stable, they were actually saying that nothing had changed since the last time you asked, five seconds ago! Her blood pressure was okay. My baby was holding her own. Her face did not look so bloated to me, but when I mentioned it to the nurse, she told me Kechi would still swell some more.

Sade and her husband came back with loads and loads of clothes and underwear for me. It was a humbling experience. Then Betty brought jackets and sneakers for me, because I was complaining that I was cold.

Betty's pastors came in later and prayed for Kechi, and I also asked them to pray for Pauline, the other survivor. Some other Nigerians resident in South Africa, also came to the waiting room to wish Kechi well...

To be Continued...

Johannesburg: The Process Begins...

When I got out of bed, I took a good look at the room and saw that it was a really nice hotel. After taking a shower, I got dressed and went downstairs to the taxi park and headed for the hospital.After getting lost a number of times, (it was a huge hospital), I made my way to the (T)ICU and asked to see Kechi.

In the ICU, it was one nurse per patient, and I introduced myself to the nurse taking care of Kechi and was informed that her blood pressure had dropped because her body was going into septic shock. She had been immediately placed on adrenaline drugs to bring up her blood pressure and antibiotics for the infection. She assured me that the doctor said this was not unusual in burn patients. I stood over Kechi and took a good look at her.

Her body was so swollen that she did not look like herself at all. Her face was very dark, one side burnt away. Her left ear was black and I knew that was going to be a problem later. Her body was losing a lot of fluids and the sheets were soaked.

Looking back at it now, I realize that throughout Kechi's stay in South Africa, I never saw what everyone saw when they looked at her. Other people saw a broken body that could not possibly survive the injuries to it. I saw Kechi. And I knew she was going to be fine. There was a complete lack of doubt in my mind that God would see her through. Later, my family would accuse me of not telling them the full story about Kechi's injuries, because I would always say Kechi was fine when they asked me.

After looking her over that morning, I sat down and began what would become a daily routine of praying and reading portions of the bible to her. That morning, Mom sent me a text that I should read Psalm 91 to Kechi and use it as my prayer focus. Then I started to talk to her. I told her of how much she was loved, calling out the names of everyone that sent their love to her...

To be Continued...

Johannesburg: First Time The Loss And Grief Hit Hard...

I unpacked, had a shower, and lay down, knowing that with all going on in my head, I would never be able to sleep. I did drop off, but as soon as I did, I found myself in the aircraft and felt all the shock and terror of the children. I saw kids crying.

I saw Toke in particular and I comforted her. I was crying and encouraging the children to go home with Jesus. I got up and begged God to give me rest from the anguish and finally slept.

I woke up with a heavy burden to pray for healing for the hearts of the parents of the kids that had been called home to Jesus.

I still make that prayer till today... Everyday...

To Be Continued...

Johannesburg: Angels On Assignment...

I was also directed to read Psalm 1.

On “righteousness” I was a bit confused until I read the Psalm, and on further discussion with Ulo, she pointed out that righteousness is indeed God's grace which He gives to whom He pleases. That is why our own righteousness is like a filthy rag to Him. We cannot get it by ourselves. It is only by His grace.

Kechi was in the Operating Room (OR) for four hours!

When she was wheeled into the Trauma Intensive Care Unit (TICU), Sister Glory came and led me to where Kechi was lying. What a sight!

She was completely covered, with a sheet up to her neck. Her whole body was wrapped with bandages under the sheet. She was connected to about ten different machines, including one that was breathing for her! Her body was considerably swollen. She didn't even look as if she was alive. But I knew that inside that body, Kechi was alive and fighting for her life. I leaned over and said directly into her ear, “Kechi, This is Mom. You are going to have to fight, sweetheart. I will not leave you. We will go through this valley of the shadow of death together. You are alive and you will remain that way because that is God's plan for you. He

saved you and will save you to the uttermost. Hang in there.”

Then God started to send His angels………………..

Uloma contacted Lanre, her colleague at Microsoft, who was, at that time, based in their Johannesburg office, and he came to the hospital. Ulo had made arrangements for him to give me R1000. He also put R500 worth of airtime in my phone. Lanre insisted on taking me to eat even when I insisted that I was not hungry. After that, he took me back to the hotel.

Another angel was waiting for me in the hotel. Betty, whose husband and my brother's wife are siblings. I had even forgotten that Betty and Ike lived in Johannesburg! She had traced me through the hospital and had been frantic when I was not at the hotel, wondering where I was, and knowing that I did not know anyone in Johannesburg. She went with me to my room and told me that she was available any time I needed her, day or night.

When she took her leave, I unpacked, had a shower, and lay down, knowing that with all going on in my head, I would never be able to sleep.

To be continued...