Hospital visit

When the two palace guards that were sent to inform Ray the chief guard's family about his condition reached his house, they met only his three children aged 5,7and 8years. They were surprised to see the guards in their house,

"where is my daddy?" asked Miya the oldest of the children. "He didn't come with us said one of the guards,we are here to see your mother,Where is she?" the second guard asked.

"She has gone to buy somethings from the market, Miya answered. As the guards were contemplating if they should go back to the palace to come back later or wait for her to come back, Vida Ray's wife opened the gate.

"See my mummy!!" said the youngest kid as she ran to welcome their mother. Immediately Vida saw the guard's,her heart started beating very fast.

"Hmmm i hope my husband has not done something wrong, God help me because i'm not prepared for any bad news", she murdered to herself.

The guards greeted her and one of them helped her with the bag she was carrying

"Thank you" she said to the guard that helped her, then she said to the two guards,"you are welcomed to our home". "Thank you ma "the two guards answered.

"Are you people looking for my husband, he hasn't come home yet. It is in the next two days he will observe some days off" said Vida to bring out words from the guard's mouth because they were delaying to say what brought them. "Yes we are aware of that ma " said the palace guards. "Hmmm ok, so why this kind of august visit, is he in some kind of trouble? What has he done, please tell me" Vida asked with a shaky voice.

"Please calm down madam, he is not in trouble per say" one of the guards replied her.

"The king sent us to tell you that your husband is sick and has been taken to the hospital for treatment. It was an emergency, so he was rushed to the hospital without delay. That's why the king didn't inform you first before he was taken to hospital", they explain to her.

Vida kept quite and tried to control her emotions, she held her youngest child tight to her chest, while tears ran down her face.

"I know you people are hiding something from me,why not tell me straight that he is dead? why hiding it" she said when she finally found her voice. "

"No madam, God forbid!!!, Ray is not dead, he just slumped during the princess party but luckily for him and all of us,the king's family doctor was around to resuscitate him" one of them tried to explain to her.

Vida was still not convinced that her husband was still alive, so she began to cry again but this time shouting on top of her voice. As her children watched her cry they became confused and scared that they began to cry as well.

Their neighbours who heard Vida and her kids cry came to know what happened. And when the guard's told them everything, they made attempts to console Vida and told her that her husband is not dead from what the guard's said. One of the neighbours Kate told Vida to remember she has children to look after,so she should stop crying and do the needful.

Vida took her advice and cleaned her tears..."Ok my sister thank you " she replied as she took her children inside the house. Coming out from the house she said, " please which of the hospitals was he taken to?" As there are two hospitals where the palace staffs do receive treatment when they fall sick. They told her the particular hospital then left for the palace immediately because they have stayed too long.

"Vida just be calm,your husband will be fine", the neighbours said as they began to leave Ray's compound.

Vida appreciated them all for their concern "thank you so much for your concern, my regards to your families" she said as she went inside the house along with her kids.

" Mummy is daddy going to come back?" her children asked. "Yes daddy will come back "she replied.

"Will you go and see him mummy "? asked one of the kids again.

"Yes when we finished eating, i will go and see him".

"Mummy mummy ehhh....."

"No more questions kids. Please allow mummy to concentrate and plan how to take care of this development ok" She said as she handed their foods to them, "everybody stop talking for now and eat".

They all eat and helped their mum to put the necessary items in the bag for their hospital visit.

"Oh my God heal my husband and make him recover,I don't want to loose him",she murmured to herself as she prayed in her heart.

" Mummy what are you saying?" one of the kids asked. "I'm praying my dear" she replied.

She finished packing and took her three kids with her to the hospital.

"Good evening, Vida greeted the receptionist as they entered the hospital.

"Good evening ma, Please how may we help you" the hospital receptionist asked.

"I'm here to see my husband, Mr Ray Oti".

"Ok ma, have a seat ma", The receptionist went to inform the nurses at the nurse's station.

"Come this way madam "said nurse Jane. She took her kids with her and followed the nurse. "Mr Ray Oti is in ward 7, follow this corridor you will see ward 7" said the nurse. "Thank you nurse",said Vida who is already nervous. She tried so hard to be strong for her kids. She knocked and they entered the room. She looked straight to where her husband was lying with oxygen and other equipments fixed on him and fear gripped her. She then looked round the ward and saw one of the palace guards who was with him and greeted him. She looked at her husband again and tears filled her eyes. She went and held her husband's hand and said "Ray I brought your children to see you, look at them at least", but there was no response from him. She stood beside him and cried. Then the door of the ward open and the doctor entered "Oh madam you are here, said doctor Richard the royal family doctor." Yes, I came as soon as i heard about my husband's sickness" she replied.

"Doctor i was told that he slumped and was rushed to this place. Is he making any progress at all?,he didn't even look at us or talk to us at all" she asked with a shaky voice.

"Yes he is, but his progress is slow, the doctor replied.

"Please madam do not worry too much,we will do our best. All you need do for him now is to pray and not crying" said doctor Richard .He had barely finished his statement when he was called to attend to an emergency in another ward so he left Ray's room immediately. The palace guard who was staying with Ray at the hospital told Vida to go home with the kids,that he will be there to take care of him. Left for her she would not move an inch but she had no option as she can not be there with the kids and there is no way she can leave them alone at home to stay back at the hospital.

"Thank you my dear,said Vida with sadness and depression in her eyes. I will visit again tomorrow morning, please help me take good care of him" she pleaded. She went and held her husband's hands again to say some prayers for him...

"May God almighty heal you for us, may you respond fast to treatment and leave this hospital alive because your family needs you,Amen" She kissed his forehead and left the hospital with her kids.