Lineage

Titilayo Fatimilenyi Part 11

The new doctor did not have good news as well. Titi's blood count was really low and with the symptoms, she is presenting, he suspects that she might have leukemia. He would transfer her case to a specialist who is based in another city. They might have to move because chemotherapy is a long time treatment. It was a relief to Bankole that there is actually something was wrong with his wife, not some imaginary disease or witchcraft or devil at work. He would do all he can to save her.

The oncologist confirmed Titi had leukemia and placed her on chemotherapy. Titi's cancer was very aggressive and so the doctor recommended she be admitted immediately. Titi did not get to say a proper goodbye to Iya. She had told Iya the diagnoses and the need to  move soon so she can start her treatment, but it all depends on how soon her husband gets a transfer or a new job. Iya told her to keep up her meditations and use her Light. It will be her guide. Iya had wished her good luck, and Titi promised to come see her when they were back.

For about a month, Bankole had been dealing with both physical and emotional stress. It was quite a distance shuttling between where they live to the city where his wife is being treated. He would need a transfer again, or maybe get another job, whichever came first. He was most grateful to Aunty Kehinde, who offered to come stay with Funmi so that he can focus on this wife. Aunty Kehinde brought along her housemaid to help her with the domestics.

 Titi saw the strain on Bankole, she knew it wasnot easy on him. She got an idea – her husband had a childhood friend who livedin the same city where  she was receiving treatments, maybe he could help in some way. Bankole was uncertain about what his friendcould do but, he decided to go anyway. Bankole by surprise that his friend had been longing to reach him but had lost the diary where he had written phone numbers. His friend told him about a job opening that would be ideal for him. The timing was perfect, in less than three months he had moved his family to the city. 

Chemo-treatment was nothing like what they had expected. The side effects of the treatment are worse than the sickness itself. It has been a long and painful six months for Titi, but her body was responding very well to treatment. One week of chemotherapy every day and the next three weeks, no chemotherapy to allow the body to rest and recover. Now a month after Titi's last dose of therapy; she was doing so much better. Her doctor is also happy with the progress she had made. They caught it on time. Bankole could not be happier.

Feeling invigorated, Titi became relentless in making plans about the future. She had told her husband they needed to plan for the future of their daughter. As the side effect of the drugs wore off, Titi was more hyper-drive and resumed her meditation. Her mind was alert, and she started planning. Bankole could not deny it, they were good plans. But they surprise him because of what she knew; it was almost prophetic. She would often tell him "it is to ensure that their daughter's future is secured you never know tomorrow dear". To him, it looked like she knew what will happen 'tomorrow', or at least a part of it. 

One day Titi had a dream about a piece ofproperty they would purchase, she told him about the dream then asked him to gocheck it out. She knew the exact location and that it was up for sale. At first,he was reluctant to go, but then out of curiosity, he went to look at theplace. The place did exist. It was a good one and was up for sale. As he stoodthere gazing at the piece of land he recalling his wife's fantasy of buildingapartments for rent on it.  From then on, Bankole did not question whatever suggestion Titi made. She advised that he buy certain shares and stocks, which he did. He also got a wonderful lawyer to take prepare a will, all that they have goes to their daughter Funmi. Bankole felt odd about making a will at his age. He considered himself too young to be making a will, but Titi insisted. Titi did not go back to teaching rather she was supervising the houses they were building. One was a one-storey building made up of four duplexes;two facing front and two facing the back. Each apartment had 4 bedrooms and thecompound enough parking space for six cars. The second apartment she designed like Iya's but with a larger compound and a garage. She misses Iya. Funmi had settled in very well in the new environment. She liked her new school and made new friends. The only challenge was she wasn't doing so well in school. Her parents didn't make much of it since they had just moved into a new city and her mother had been ill for a long time. Everything else was going well for them.

One morning Bankole found his wife on the floor unconscious. He rushed her to the hospital. The doctor told him it seems his wife's cancer had returned. They would have to do more tests to know the situation of things and the next course of treatment. When she finally gained consciousness, she asked to see her husband immediately.

"Why did you not tell me, you knew, you knew it had come back, and you did not tell me?" Bankole cried on his wife's chest.

"I am sorry dear I thought I had time and I could finish the house projects you know they are for our little girl."

"Did you not think that we both want you alive and well? You are preparing for a future as if you are going to die. Do you want to die? Please live, your daughter needs you, I need you," Bankole answered.

"I don't want to die but my body is weak and when it becomes too weak my spirit...."

"No, don't say that Titi. We can beat this, you can beat this. Do not give up."

"I am not giving up," with that she held her husband as closely as she could.

She caught an infection in her lungs two weeks into her cancer treatment, pneumonia. They hooked her up to a ventilator to help her with breathing. The oncologist wasn't hopeful that her body can take the strain of the infection plus chemo. He promised that they would do all they can. She knew it was still the effect of what her mother had done to her but never mentioned it again. Her mother had poisoned her in the astral realm, which has manifested in the physical as cancer. Now that the cancer is back and Titi can feel herself slipping away. She was certain she would not make it this time around.

The last time Titi saw her daughter was last two weeks and seeing her baby today brought her so much joy.It was her daughter's birthday.

"Oh Funmi my baby, look how grown you are now. You are the most beautiful ten-year-old I have seen, Happy Birthday" and she gave her daughter a tight hug.

"Mama, are you going to be okay, when are you coming back home?"

"My darling, you have been so brave, but now I need you to promise me you would always be a good girl, you would face your studies and make something good out of your life. Promise me you would take care of your dad as well, OK."

"Mama, you will come back and take care of him yourself. I would face my studies."

"Come here, I am so proud of you baby, I love you so much. I love you."

Bankole sitting quietly watching mother and daughter. Titi signaled for him to come closer.

"Take care of my baby okay and be strong for her no matter what happens. I love you my darling Bankole," Titi whispered in his ears and planted a kiss on his lips.

That night Titi passed away.