Johannesburg: The First Breakthrough...

I had been sitting been sitting beside Kechi, reading some bible passages from Psalms to her when it seemed to me that I heard a gurgling sound from the respirator. Then it started to beep. I was alarmed and thought the machine was defective again. I ran out to get the sister, who had just stepped out, and she brought out a long tube connected to a machine and proceeded to suction Kechi's mouth and nose. Apparently, saliva and mucus sometimes filled the patient's mouth and nose and had to be suctioned off.

Then she said to Kechi, “Come on, darling, open your mouth”. AND KECHI MOVED HER MOUTH! I exclaimed, “Can she hear you?” “Oh yes”, replied the nurse. She asked Kechi again to open her mouth and Kechi moved her eyelids.

“No, darling, not your eyes”, the nurse laughed, “your mouth”. I could not believe it. All these days, Kechi had lain unmoving. It was very startling to see her respond to anyone.

“So……has she been hearing me all this while?” I asked the nurse. She said yes.

Then Kechi moved her mouth some more and sounds came from her throat. She was trying to speak!

The nurse calmed her down and explained to her she would not be able to speak because she had a tube down her throat. I also came round to the side of her bed and told her to calm down, and that I would sing for her. I started singing one of her favorite songs The Woodpecker's Song.

The second verse had always been a problem to me because I had somehow never been able to memorize it. Kechi always used to correct me when I got there. As I got to the second verse, she shook her head slightly and I said, “I know, I'm messing it up. Please bear with me, okay?” She actually shook her head! I almost lost it then, but I pulled myself together because I knew my crying would upset her.

I sang more songs to her until it was past visiting time. I was overwhelmed and needed to call my family and spread the news...

To Be Continued...