A CHRISTMAS SURPRISE

CHAPTER 2

3RD PERSON POV.

" Doctor you wanted to see me?"

"Yes Mrs..." "Wura, just call me Wura" 

"It's about your daughter's condition please sit" the doctor gestured as Wura sat down

"So what exactly is wrong with my daughter?" Wura asked worry clearly laced in her voice her daughter had never fallen ill to the extent of being hospitalized and for three whole hours of being unconscious that was more than enough to worry her.

"Ma'am I need to be as calm as possible once I say this but-"

"What is it? What is wrong with my daughter?" The doctor looked at the worried woman in front of him. He was used to this, seeing relatives of patients worried about their family but he never expected a child of a young age to have such a chronic disease at this time of the year. He didn't know how to relay the news to the mother in a way that she would be more worried than she is now but he's a doctor and he's been taught how to use euphemism in his work.

"Your daughter has been diagnosed with a respiratory disorder" he dropped the bomb calmly

"What do you mean my child doesn't fall easily and has never been hospitalized so what are you implying by a respiratory disorder?" Wura was clearly disturbed by the situation on ground and the doctor saw that but he had to remain calm as he was trained.

"Ma'am please calm down. In the course of the three hours she spent in the hospital we ran tests on her and discovered she had a respiratory disorder". Wura looked at him creases of worry on her forehead sighed and sat back down "So what is respiratory disorder she's diagnosed with?"

"SARS ma'am" the doctor looked at Wura searching for any signs of worry. Finding none he continued "SARS means Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. It's a respiratory disease that inhibits the victim's breathing and respiration. It is caused by a corona virus and is usually affiliated with pneumonia ,flu and the common cold"

Wura who had just been enlightened by this information looked at the doctor with fear "And you're telling me that my daughter is currently suffering from this disease is that right?" her voice was trembling she was scared clearly and it was understandable the doctor had noticed this. "yes ma'am"

Wura began crying uncontrollably; the doctor had expected this reaction from her and decided to let her cry it all out. He got up from his seat and began to rub circles on the woman's back trying to soothe her. He wasn't done relaying the news but it seemed that she needed to clam down before he tells her the rest.

"Is there a cure?" Wura looked at the doctor with hopeful eyes "Yes there is but-" the hope in Wura's eyes shattered "But what sir? How bad is it?" "I'm afraid the disease is in its chronic phase and so it cannot be cured" Wura could not believe what she was hearing her daughter was suffering from a disease as bad as SARS and was currently in its chronic stage and couldn't be cured. It was too much for her; can this disease kill her? If so, would Alaina survive? How would she be able to survive such an impact in her life?

"Would this disease kill her?" "If it had been detected in its earlier stage I would say no and it could have been cured but as at now, she doesn't have long to live" "If she's lucky she may live till the end of January next year if not she not might not see the end of this year"

Wura broke down in tears crying. How did it come to this Alaina never complained of any sickness and never showed any signs of illness so how could she be chronically ill without her knowing? Had she failed in her responsibility s a mother that she was not even able to notice when her daughter was chronically ill and how would she relay the news to her? All these thoughts flooded through her head she didn't know what to do next

"Ma'am I'd advise you keep your daughter indoors more and make sure that she's warm to avoid any pneumatic attacks. " "I'd also advise you to pray for her you may not know what may happen" the doctor tried to get her to calm down. When she had calmed down, she sat down on the chair mentally preparing herself on how to tell her daughter about the news and how both of them would be able to handle it. "Thank you for everything doctor, how much would the tests cost?" the doctor looking at the woman knew it would be too much to call the cost of the tests on her so he said "it's free you've handled enough just take care of your daughter and try to ensure she sees the end of this year at least." Wura looked at the doctor "Thank you so much sir, when can she be discharged?" "Today I'm sure she'd like to go home" Wura nodded getting up from the chair and leaving the office "Like I said thank you doctor, you've really helped" and walked out of the office.

1ST PERSON POV

I saw my mom walking into my ward with the doctor following closely behind; they spent quite a while in the office I don't even want to know what happened I just want to go home

"Okay sweetie we can go"

"For real?" The doctor nodded in affirmation I got up from my bed and went to my mom "Um where are my things?" 

"They're in the car honey let's go" I waved goodbye to the doctor and walked out of the hospital with my mom "It's cold" my mom looked at me worried and wrapped her scarf around me while I increased my pace. Once we entered the car my mom turned on the heater; she was being very cautious today I looked at her confused "Mom, what did the doctor tell you?" she looked at me with a sad expression then sighed "Let's get home first I'll explain everything to you then" 

"Okay then..." 

THOUGHTS?