Welcome fam. xoxo

"I told you to call me if anything happens," Fiyi yelled at her brother at the entrance of the hospital where he was pacing, obviously waiting for her.

"I thought we'll be able to take care of it, She told me not to bother you."

"Oh my God! if anything happens to her, I won't forgive you, " she screamed at him.
"Where is the Doctor and what did they say?"

"Nothing will happen to her, " he muttered, trying to remain strong.

"The doctor said you should see him in the office."

Fiyi hated the smell of the hospital. The whiff of drugs and disinfectants that hit her as she stepped into the reception heightened her anxiety. She usually associates the smell with death and neglect especially since they lost their father in the same hospital.

Walking down the hallway, she was met with gloomy faced visitors and ones with hope in their eyes for their loved ones.

The doctor's office was down the hallway. She knocked gently on the already opened door to alert the doctor to her presence. He was attending to a patient.

The usual crowd at the State hospital had dwindled, probably because it was almost 5 pm.

Just a minute, the doctor signaled.

She paced at the entrance of the office, praying for the best. She looked at her brother who also looked worried. She shouldn't have shouted at him she thought. She knew how persuasive their mother could be.

"You can come in," He interrupted her thoughts. She was far gone that she didn't notice the other patient leaving

"Please sit."

"Thank you, sir." The doctor was middle-aged and looked tired from the hours of endless consultations he had to make all day.

"How may I help you"?

" You attended to our mother earlier," Bammy interrupted behind her sister.

"Oh! I remember. Your mother came in for a series of test some time ago, a chronic form of peptic ulcer was the result of the diagnosis according to her file."

"Ulcer, how? She never said anything." Fiyi looked to her brother for confirmation.

"Well, Peptic ulcers occur when acid in the digestive tract eats away at the inner surface of the stomach or small intestine. The acid can create a painful open sore that may bleed.

The digestive tract is coated with a mucous layer that normally protects against acid but if the amount of acid is increased or the amount of mucus is decreased, one could develop an ulcer."

"What could have caused it?"

"Common causes include a bacterium which commonly lives in the mucous layer that covers and protects tissues that line the stomach and small intestine. Often, the bacterium causes no problems, but it can cause inflammation of the stomach's inner layer, producing an ulcer."

Fiyi was trying hard to follow the explanation.

"Another cause is the regular use of certain pain relievers. Taking aspirin, as well as certain over-the-counter and prescription pain medications called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can irritate or inflame the lining of the stomach and small intestine. Peptic ulcers are more common in older adults who take these pain medications frequently."

"Please I need you to explain to me in layman language."

The Doctor smiled. "Simply put, in your mother's case, the ulcer was left untreated for a long time which has led to bleeding and loss of blood which is the reason why she fainted."

"What happens now?"

"She has been stabilized for now but we need a blood donor and money to commence treatment."

Everything the Doctor talked about sounded gibberish until he mentioned money.

"How much are we talking about right now?"

"Well for the blood, we need to find out her blood type and the samples have been taken off her. Then need to get a donor as soon as possible. I have written out the necessary treatment so you'll have to meet with them at the pharmacy to give you an estimated cost."

"Thank you, sir."

As she left the Doctor's office she already started calculating in her head where to get the money from. The last salary she got had been used to offset her brother's exam fee.

She met her brother halfway as he was pacing up and down the corridor.

"What did the doctor say?"

"You were there now."

"I left when I didn't understand all the medical stuff."

"That's a long story, "she pulled him into one of the seats in the hallway. "How much do you have on you?"

"Mommy just got back from the market where she went to get fruits when she collapsed. I searched all her purse and the little I found there is what we used to pay for the tests."

Fiyi leaned into the chair and her mind wandered far away.

"What do we do?"

"Calm down, let me think."

Her brother stood up to pace again and watched his sister close her eyes in thought. He was gradually getting over the shock of what happened.

In the first few minutes she collapsed, he thought they lost her. He had quickly called on a neighbor, left his younger brother with someone, and rush her down to the hospital.

"You know what, go to the pharmacy, get a cost of her drug and treatment, and call me. I am coming."

"Sis, where are you going?"

"Don't concern yourself with that right now, we need to get as much cash as possible and also a donor. I should be able to donate or maybe you.

I need to get some cash so that we can run tests too."

"Okay." Her brother said and walked towards the pharmacy.

Immediately he left, she pulled out her phone and dialed a number.

"I am ready, " she said shortly.

"Why were you dulling yourself before?" The voice from the other end sneered

"Let's do away with the stories, please. Send me the address, I will go to the hostel and see if I can find something suitable to wear."

"You don't have to come to the hostel. I will just get something nice and sexy for you. We leave by 7 pm"

"Please get me something I will be comfortable in."

"Girrrl, comfort doesn't sell the kind of wares you have. Sexy is what we are gunning for. I will send you an address now," She countered.

Fiyi put an end to the call and put the phone in her pocket. She did not want to think of what lay ahead of her. All she wanted right now was to get the money and have her mother back home.

She wished she had better options.

Despite the fact that she was bent on following some of her friends' advice when her mother got her a job as house help, she changed her mind when August welcomed her with open arms, and even some of his friends used to ask of her.

She prepared her mind for the night ahead. It was easy to make the decision since her mother was not available to reprimand her even though the voice of caution kept ringing in her head.

SEE YOU NEXT TIME

Please vote and leave your comments.