A week ago, I was involved in a Road Traffic Accident (RTA). It was a harrowing experience that felt like I was watching a movie in which I was the main character, unable to change the status quo; but through it all I am grateful to God for preserving my life.
Flashing back to the scene with the bleeding driver trying frantically to pull the damaged vehicle off of me or the good Samaritans helping in different ways, I know that there is still a lot of empathy on the planet and that we need each other to make the world, our world, a better place and achieve our individual goals. So, the next time you drive by an accident scene or are about to ignore someone else's challenge which you can do something about, remember me! I am here today because of God and the people that helped me.
The pain was progressive, so initially I felt numb, till I began to feel it. For the first time in my life, I was given opioid analgesics and as the pain subsided, reaction to the medication became the focus and I had to be managed for that as well. I was drowsy while they moved me from the first to the second hospital, but I could pray and talk with my family members about my kids whom I couldn't pick from school myself. I still wanted to pass by their school even if I was lying drowsy in a vehicle, but they thought better and split themselves. One group took me straight to the other hospital while the other group picked my kids up. There are times in life you will feel helpless, incapable of doing the things you have planned to. When you can, do all that is in your power, but when you can't, it is okay to lean on someone else's shoulder. Don't stay silent or give up at any point, whether you are praying, declaring what you want to see or screaming 'HELP' like I did when I realized I was stuck under a vehicle, speak! It will give you hope and bring you the assistance you need.
There were very nice and jovial medical personnel as well as mean and uncaring ones. I was surrounded by people with different medical cases and in one hospital I was appalled by certain forms of treatment, but I also saw tenacity and love. There were people in serious conditions that broke my heart, the sight of a critically ill woman whose husband would not leave her side thrilled me a great deal. He would hold her head in his laps and look straight in her eyes, lifting her up or putting her down when the medical personnel needed him to. Painfully, a patient died adjacent to my bed and I learnt the accident was similar to mine. You can imagine how I felt, because there were no screens. I saw her alive, when they tried to resuscitate her and also her corpse when she passed on.
I was eager to be back home with my kids and was excited when my x-rays were reviewed and the doctor said 'no fractures', just a sprain. I woke up at home the next day, glad to be back, and that was when I consciously felt severe pain. My body seemed heavy, moving my limbs was a huge task, I ached all over. I quickly went for the analgesics I was given, as if the pain would disappear immediately. I rested as I was told I should and by the third day, I understood then what the doctor meant by the term 'trauma', in reference to my accident. The black patches on my limbs told me they had been hit, but I didn't see them before, so my gratitude quotient shot up significantly.
I thought I could jump right back to my regular activities, but my body told me to rest some more. So, while I am resting so my body can heal, I am looking ahead to when I will resume regular activities. To God, I am grateful for sparing my life and surrounding me with people that can help me through this phase.
To those caring for their friends and relatives at home or in hospitals, to those who sleep in chairs or on corridors, waiting to see their loved ones through, to those moving their family members and friends from place to place for better care, kudos! To those wondering what tomorrow holds, waiting for a miracle and the end of their pain, please don't give up. Sometimes, things turn around later than expected; sometimes the outcomes are not exactly what we want. Whatever the case, keep hope alive and maintain a heart of gratitude. You are not alone!
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