Reflecting on a year that was: He will make a way
“God will make a way, where there seems to be no way; He works in ways
we cannot see ; He will make a way for me” Song by Don Moen
The probability theory is one that we learnt in school and apply every
day. Sometimes the odds are against you. You reason out using logic and it
seems there will not be a way out. Other times small actions make a big
difference and we only realize so when looking back. When I woke up sluggishly
and only warmed the water instead of boiling it was not a thought out action.
As I shared in the last post I slid and fell on water. Sometimes wonder, what would have
happened if the water was boiling hot.
And I was in that pool of water, scalding? That did not happen, and I
believe in Godly interventions, and that was one of them.
As I sat in the car outside the hospital in pain and wondering on
the next step I was thinking about home and my family. I was not sure how or
what to tell them. At that moment I was more worried about how they would react
and feel helpless so I postponed informing them. My friends and colleagues had
made some calls and we were trying out to see what the best way forward
is. I applaud Christine for being calm
and thinking in crisis, and from the word go it was about “where can we get an
x-ray; how do we get her to Nairobi”. The Yei Medical clinic was one place we were
assured of Xrays. The alternative private clinic was miles away and on rough
road and I was not in a position to travel further. By the time the medical
personnel arrived the pain was unbearable and the leg was swollen. I now know
that skin is elastic if it did not burst from the pressure.
I still shudder when I recall the process of being taken out of the
car, to the bed; from the bed to the Xray room; from Xray room back to bed.
That was the most painful moment of that journey. Sometimes before or after the
Xray I decided it was a high time I alerted my family and a few friends. I
called our youngest brother, Jose and gave him the task of assuring others that
I was okay. (…because I was not...). What mattered was that I was in good
caring company as my friends and colleagues tried to map the way forward.
At that time there was nothing to make me think this was more than a
severe sprain on the ankle. When the X-rays were out, the doctor calmly informed
me I had some fractured bones and I then knew there was something called fibula
bone and other terminologies that did not make sense. The reduction process was done and I came to,
feeling groggy and cold. The whole leg had been immobilized but within a short
time the pain was back. By that time my
friends and colleagues had made steps and I had been booked for a flight to
Nairobi. The Eagle Air that operated from Yei to Entebbe operated on Tuesdays
and Saturdays and bookings needed to be done about two weeks prior. The day was
Thursday and but somehow I got the last seat!
I spent that night in hospital with Christine in the next bed. That was
one of the interesting things, since there were few patients in hospital, they
did not have restrictions on guests. The following day I went back to the house
in preparation for travel on Saturday. Those two days were long and hazy. The
pain was intense and we decided I take Betapyn tablets to ease the pain since
the injections and pain killers given at the hospital seemed not to be working. I was to later find out Betapyn was not to be
in my prescriptions anymore.
The journey from Yei via Entebbe to Nairobi was the longest I have had.
I also got a taste of the life that people with physical impairments face. My two
wooden crutches and immobilized leg were quite conspicuous and I got some good Samaritans
wishing me well. I particular remember one lady at the Entebbe airport who encouraged
and declared “you will be on your feet young lady, you will not be confined to
that wheel chair.” Another one asked if she could pray with me. An image of a
role play that is done at the Alabastron open day
struck me. There are many people suffering emotional wounds but since we cannot
see them, we do not empathize or help them. While I appreciated the kind
gestures and was greatly encouraged, I knew there are many other people who had
emotional pains and wished someone would speak to them, smile at them, and give
encouraging words.
My family members were waiting for me at the Nairobi at the JKIA (Jomo
Kenyatta International Airport). When they called wondering if we have landed
since it had been almost one hour after scheduled landing time, I told them “I
am in Mombasa”. They thought I was joking. And I suspect silently wondered “is
she that sick that she thinks this is Mombasa, or she went to Mombasa?”
Yes we had landed in Mombasa. The flight had been slightly delayed
in Entebbe. Ten minutes before landing the captain informed us that we were
actually going round (in circles he should have added) at Athi River as there
were debris being cleared at the run way. When we were finally cleared to land
the plane descended to the ground and just before the wheels hit the ground it
started going up. Nobody spoke. Nobody screamed. We were all silent. May be too
shocked to talk or scream. We could not see outside due to very heavy fog. The
captain later informed us that we were heading to Mombasa. The flight could not
land due to poor visibility. Neither could it attempt again as we had already
spent time in the air so low on fuel.
With all the pain, we landed in Mombasa instead of Nairobi. But we
got back to Nairobi, and God continued making a way for me in more ways than I
can write.
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