My bout with malaria (Part 2)

Indeed it was the beginning, it did last for a complete two weeks, 14 days, 336 hours, 20160 minutes and 1,209,600 seconds. As each day passed by, I consumed 36 pieces of the drug in 3 days. Days spent having the windows shut, lying for long hours on the bed and eating what you had to eat and not what you actually desire. I looked forward to resuming at work.

Seeing my colleagues once again and the ever friendly work atmosphere filled me with joy  but then I began to feel some pains inside my bones, I felt it was due to the cold weather, how wrong I was. Getting up each morning was difficult for me, wondered perhaps it's something else because I vividly remember the pharmacist did try to convince me to buy a drug for treating typhoid. Each time I passed the front of his pharmacy store or saw him, I felt guilty, perhaps I should have listened to him. Every twist and turns in my stomach sent a signal to my senses, either it was true or false, it must be typhoid. Did a research on google about it; the botanical name or whatever name scientific name it bears, the symptoms and how one can be infected. This is it!

From the research I made, one can get infected with typhoid through contaminated food or water. The boiled corns I ate the previous week before treating malaria, the mama putt canteen opposite my office, the pure water sachets drank, I won't mention the other one I indulged in, but I'll give you a clue, its usually eaten with akara (beans cake), that's a teaser for you (lols). Whatever you arrive at, drop it in the comment section. It reached a climax on Sept.11, 2017, my immediate boss looked at me and concluded I had dropped a lot of weight, he hoped I had not picked up a viral disease. Trembling was an understatement, to confirm it, a brother (not biological) visited me at the office, observed my breathing and concluded I had better go for a blood test at a hospital as quickly as possible, while at the same time, a business opportunity was calling. Which do I choose? Doubt I needed a soothsayer to make a choice.

Left with no choice, business had to be put on hold till further notice. After all, only the living can transact business, I want to live and only a blood test at one of the General hospital would do. Some time this year, I had to stand as a caregiver to a brother at the General hospital and my experience there was life changing. No one visits such places and comes out bragging about his wealth and status, now here I was en-route to the same hospital with my fate in the hands of a doctor. Typical of most general hospitals, the process has not changed, long queues every here and there, move left turn right, at that moment I am a patient among patients. Like everyone of them, something brought me here. Eventually, my turn finally came to table my health challenge before the consultant. She was so nice, showed more interest in me as a person and not just a sick patient. After some questions and answers, she told me to go for a blood test. Confidently I said yes, it has to be a typhoid. Watched the Lab scientist draw blood from my veins, I marveled seeing my blood. Doubt I could stand blood as these lab scientist do everyday. The sight of blood turns me off.

Gbam! The verdict is malaria! said the doctor, This was the next day. I was astounded, How could it be? I felt a sense of loss, unimaginably I wanted it to be typhoid to justify my personal conviction. I hate being proven wrong. I thought, did I buy a fake drug? It was strange to me that these days malaria parasites have developed resistance to drugs if not properly used. Times are changing fast and so are these things changing too. Never felt so much pain like these before due to malaria, deep into my bones, you would feel pity for me. The doctor placed me on injection for three days and a drug on the fourth day. It did cost me some financial resources but then one has to be glad it was available, else.......

My road to recovery was not an easy one but it was worth it. I thank God for life and to the many children malaria snuffed out their light under the age of five, may your souls rest in peace. I want use this opportunity to thank everyone who stood by me through out this period. Thank you and I love you all. 

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