Zenande Okhethiweyo 2

Chapter 5

I had a good night's sleep now that the secret is out of the bag. I'm wearing a grey maxi dress with sandals as I walk in to the hospital. I look at the board and my surgery is scheduled for the next hour,a whole six hour surgery.
Okay you have got this Zenande! You have done this countless times,time to show them why you are the most renowned surgeon in the world.
After my little pep talk I go and change into my scrubs in my office,I put on a cap covering my hair and hold my mask in my hand. As if on queue Dr Naidoo joins me as we go to Zano's room. Checking everything he is still the same as before maybe the little movement I got from him yesterday was him acknowledging what I told him. When I'm done we go to the waiting room. They were told yesterday that the surgery is today,I guess that is why they are all here including Nokuzotha,Buhle and Anele. Today I don't even bother trying to read their facial expressions.
"Mr Zulu is now being prepped for his surgery,please do not worry Dr Zulu is one of the best surgeons in her entire generation" Dr Naidoo says.
"Oh please" Dudu says sitting back.
Don't mind her. You have to focus.
"Mr Zulu's condition has not changed like I was hoping it would" my voices breaks and Dr Naidoo's head snaps back at me.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I give the patient's file to Dr Naidoo.
"Excuse me I also need to prepare for surgery" I say walking away without giving them a second glance.

When I get to my office I throw myself on the couch,my knees giving in. I prop my elbows up on my knees and I feel tears fall down my face as I pray to God to help me. I hear a light knock on my door,I just ignore it hopefully they will get the message and walk away. Unfortunately the door opens and in comes Nokuzotha, Siphephelo, Minenhle and Anele. I wipe the tears from my face and stand up. Before I even speak Nokuzotha has me in a bear hug,she is also crying.
"I missed you so much Sphe" she finally says and I let go of a breath I didn't realise I was holding.
"I missed you too Zotha" I say hugging her back.
"Please don't ever do that again" she says.
"I promise I'm here to stay" I say squeezing her hand.
"Well we are here to wish you luck,not that you need any because you are already a badass but we just wanted to let you know that we are with you and that we love you" Enhle says as she hugs me.
I can't help but smile. I guess I really can do this after all with this kind of support I can even move mountains. I give them all hugs.
"I'm glad you are back " Anele says as I pull away from her.
"And I'm glad that I'm finally home" I smile back at her.
"Okay okay shoo now Sphe needs to prepare for surgery" Nokuzotha says forcing them out Siphephelo can't help but laugh.

"You got this" she says holding my hand as she closes the door behind her.
"I just can't afford to make any mistakes that's the father of my boys" I say shrugging.
At mentioning the boys I see her eyes twinkle with a little bit of sadness.
"How can I help you?" She asks.
I smile at her. There is nothing really she can help with this is all on me,not only am I supposed to prove to this hospital that I'm the best but also the entire family because surely they think I'm bluffing.
"Just be there for the family. I have got to go" I say hugging her and we make our way out of my office. Me to the theatre and her to the waiting room.

It's been the longest six hours of my entire life not even giving birth was this intense. After operating on Zano we lost his heart beat and we had to resuscitate him. Luckily he came back to us but my head was already spinning so a fellow colleague of mine who was assisting in the surgery had to stitch him up for me.
"Well done Dr Zulu" I hear him say after we clean ourselves off.
The nurses also follow suit. I don't have any words to say so I just nod my head with a smile. I feel like bawling my eyes out but I know that I have to keep it professional as best as I can. After checking on him,I go update the family on his current condition they must be worried about him.
"Sphesihle how is he?" Mamkhulu says.
"We have been waiting for seven hours with not update just that he is still in the theatre" Muzi chips in.
I nod my head at them to stop talking at the same time because they are starting to make my head hurt.
"The surgery was a success we managed to remove all traces of the bubble,right now he is in ICU" I say.
"Is he going to be alright?" Enhle asks.
"Can we see him?" Gogo asks.
"Yes he will be alright now it's up to his body. No unfortunately you cannot see him today he is still in a critical condition but please be assured that he is in the best care" I say going back to my office.
I don't even want to hear their arguing because they will just think it's negotiable to see him just because they know me.
Im still in my scrubs as I sit down in my office. I decide to call my brother and update him. We talk for a while about anything,I'm suspecting he is trying to cheer me up. When I'm calm he gives the phone to the boys,they tell me about what they have been up to and it immediately makes me smile.
"I love you boys. I will see you guys soon okay?" I say.
They tell me they love me too and then give the phone to Diego.
"Puffetta are you going to come back home tonight?" Diego asks.
I smile. My brother knows me like the back of his hand.
"No I just told the boys so that they don't make a fuss,I have to keep an eye on Zano" I say.
He hums in understanding.

I have spent the entire two days without going home. I have been showering and changing into scrubs at the hospital. I don't know when was the last time I ate,I don't even have an appetite.
"Doctor! Doctor! Mr Zulu is having a seizure!" A nurse tells me in the hallway.
What? I just checked on him he was fine. I run after her to Zano's room and it's bad.

"Mr Zulu has lost a lot of blood unfortunately our blood bank is low,I would recommend that you all get tested and if you are a match you can donate" I say briefing the family after three hours of making sure that Zano is stable.
The way I'm so tired I don't even look at all of them,I am looking down at my shoes. I feel somebody wrap their arms around me.
"Puffetta you need to rest" My brother says.
I didn't even know that he was here. I hug him,I'm really glad that he is here.
"Where do we get tested?" Enhle asks.
I tell one of the nurses to help the family out. They all get tested including Diego and after two hours we still don't have a match. I'm sitting in the waiting room also next to Diego,the mood is very sombre not even a bit of chatter.
"Doctor none of them is a match" the nurse updates me sadly.
I close my eyes for a minute. What do I do now? The boys can't donate they are still very little and I know for sure that they are a match. I don't know my blood type so I stand up.
"Test me if I'm compatible to him" I say.
The nurse looks shocked I mean which doctor does that for their patient but she quickly recovers and leads the way. Fortunately I'm a match but blood cannot be drawn because my glucose levels are low. Im now stuck in the waiting area trying to swallow the food that Diego bought for me.
"Please try to eat Sphe" Nokuzotha says brushing my back.
I nod and silently finish the entire plate. It felt like cardboard. Now I have to wait for another hour to get my blood drawn. During that time I try to make sense of this,crossing me with Zano the boys were not supposed to be blooded type B also. Since the science doesn't make sense I'm thinking the answer to that is the ancestors,it's like me and Zano are the same person.
"I have to go apparently the boys are throwing fits" Diego says.
My poor boys they must be missing me. I can feel the entire room looking at Diego,they must also want to see those boys.
"Are you okay now? Or should I bring them?" Diego asks as he stands up.
"Im okay,I will make sure I come home soon. I don't want them in this kind of environment it's not good for them" I say.
Diego nods.
"Can I go with you?" Siphephelo asks Diego.
Diego gives him a sad smile.
"Can you please look after my sister for me,I would really appreciate that" he says.
Siphephelo nods and they bro hug. Diego kisses my forehead and then leaves. I can see the hurt in Siphephelo's eyes.
"Let's make sure your brother is okay before we involve the boys okay?" I say standing up and walking to the room where I will get my blood drawn.

Luckily Zano didn't reject my blood and he is stable right now. Im so exhausted I can't even hide it,im in my office gulping down coffee. I guess I'm not going home even tonight,I need to make sure Zano is okay.
"Hey I brought you some food" Nokuzotha says giving me a sandwich.
I smile at her even though I'm not sure how I'm going to eat it.
"Thank you Sisi" I say.
She tells me about the girls. Khethiwe is starting her first year in highschool next year and the twin girls are about Khethi's age when I left. She tells me about how Siphephelo once saw her walking home with a boy and scared the boy away with almost punching him and I can't help but laugh. Im so glad that my twins are not girls they would also be signed up under that. After catching up for a while she leaves as I go check on Zano. Everything is good. If he keeps this up I guess he will be out of ICU by tomorrow,that makes me smile because I can go home to the boys now.