Tales of a First Year Resident: When it hits close to home

Today i realized my parent's mortality and it hit hard. It hit me that what is actually going into my dad's mouth has the propensity to kill him and save his life, and it all depends on an equation tested on rats and now performed on humans which trials have shown should go according to plan. Well what happens when one of the constituents of the equation lags? It hit me as i counseled my mother about what she needs for bone health, that outside of God's own intervention, she would have been wheelchair bound and maybe we would never be having this conversation...


It's easy when you are a doctor in training to be focused on getting work done rather than enjoying the moments at work; to be focused on giving information rather than ensuring information is received; to pay attention to the check list of things to send patients home with, rather than involve myself with the change in their life with what I have given. But here I am, dealing with the medical knowledge as it applies to the people I love, and the only defence I have is to doctor it up in other not to cry...


On thanksgiving day today, I am thankful for the reminder that life is fleeting. I am thankful for the blessing to sit in the same room with my parents after 3 yrs, even if it means I get to be their doctor and daughter all it once. And I am thankful that God intervenes and doesn't wait for us to thank him only for that which we remember. I am thankful for you Lord. 

We thank God

Two days ago I spoke to my dad for all of 48 secs. I had asked him to call because there is another Jos crisis, rumour had it that it was spreading even to Raifield where we live, and I had not heard from them. I was worried.

My parents are people of faith. I do not say that lightly. They give even when they have nothing to give. They fast to please God, not just to petition him. And they trust in God. My mother loves Jesus like no other woman I know. "Hmm Jagila," she says to me, "me I can't wait to see my Jesus. It's only for you kids I'm still here o." And my dad is the "we thank God" man. It is his answer in almost every situation. That and "we will pray about it." 

Jagila: Daddy I did not get an A in Pathology.

Dad: Well Jagila we thank God, I know you did your best

Jagila: Daddy thank you for sending me some money

Dad: We thank God Jagil, he provided

Jagila: Daddy you are not a young man any more, you have to stop every two hours on long distance trips and stretch and walk.

Dad: Yes Jagila. We thank God. He has given me a daughter that is going to be a doctor and take care of me. 

When I spoke to my dad in those few secs, he briefed me of the situation in Jos and then he said "we thank God we are fine. We are praying Jagila. We know that no weapon formed against us shall prosper. We will call you if anything... I am trying to save my credit because of this 24hr curfew"

His peace and calm, helped me be peaceful and calm.

So in agreement with my father I say in this situation,

even when Jos is burning
and the devil thinks he has won another battle,

the devil thinks he has succeeded in spurring the evil in man to overflow

one against one another,

we thank God

for the battle belongs to the Lord and he is already victorious!