The August Visitors

Photo credit: wikipedia 

Good health is a treasure, if you have it guard it jealously and thank God everyday for it. I was so ill that I couldn't write but I gradually coming back to full health. Thanks to all who reached out privately when the posts stopped coming. 

I met the writer of this story, he volunteered to write while I recuperate, his story is apt at the moment and made me appreciate life all the more.

Life in Enugu,South East Nigeria has many ways it affects very different people.

As one that had my post-primary and tertiary education at the capital city - Enugu also known as 'Coal city' (for huge deposits of naturally endowed Coal) or better still, it's erstwhile dial code "042'.

One remarkable yet significant period during my intermittent stay (I was always in Lagos for the Holidays where I live with my parents)was between January and July 1992.

Fresh out of the College of the Immaculate Conception(C I.C) Uwani Enugu, of course,with flying colors and waiting for the outcome of my JAMB examination.

I joined the Legion of Mary at the Holy Ghost Parish Ogbete.

Life as a Legionary exposed me to the inner relationship with the Blessed Mother as well as the labour of love for social and corporal works of mercy.

Our 'presidium' visited the Prison yards,Orphanages,Hospitals(psychIatric, general,othopaedic,specialist)Motherless/Chesire facilities.

The 'Legion workers' prayed,shared lessons,consoled,lent words of encouragement and  gave alms sometimes to inmates,housemates and  patients (as applicable)..however, there was an outing of our periodic 'legion work' that changed my life -  our team's visit to the  '140 -:bedded ward' of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH).

Chima Anyasi,a 200 level Law student of the University of Nigeria,Enugu Campus(UNEC)our team leader suggested what later turned out to be a theatre of sorts.

I recall vividly that Sunday afternoon in February of  1992,we stepped into the major hallway of mini-wards.

As we waited on our team leader to complete accreditation procedures with the interns(student nurses and a doctor) I stole a glance at  the arrangement in rows of men,I mean,great men and women neatly tucked in clean hospital blankets.It dawned on us that it was showtime!

As we walked through their beds and greeted them,I saw the brightest smiles and cheerful faces I can't imagine was possible.Then, the drama started.

A middle-aged Woman beckoned at me,surprised,(not sure if it was me )as iwalked across to her bedside.

I'm Chinedu, I offered stretching out my hand for a handshake but she didn't bring out her hand

(We were later told she had a neurological disorder that partially paralysed her limbs)Legion of Mary? she inquired, cutting short my efforts at further introduction, surprised,yet curious, I muttered a slow and low toned 'yes'.

Soon after we prayed with them(wherever we went,we share lessons,) but for these 'unusual community', it was different..... surprised? Mrs.Okekearu continued, beaming with smiles at my bewilderment,I was a Legionary and went on similar visits while in school (University).

Momentarily, I was instructed to do the 'talk',and as I started explaining how our Lord Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life, I sensed everybody expected much.

As I spoke,everywhere was calm, many of the patients stole glances towards the central quadrangle spreading through the wards,where I nervously spoke from,then when I got to the part where I said.....God is taking you out of this place..... suddenly a voice from the rear end of the hall cut in, not anymore!

Everyone's attention now quickly moved to a grey haired man in his seventies.That's Professor Nnabuife - a consultant Nephrologist at Princeton University U.S.A Mrs Okekearu whispered to me! 

There you are! our 'AUGUST VISITORS' Prof.(as he was fondly called) continued,

young man, he called out looking my way, I answered, "Sir"! Why do you think we are here? to get treatment, feel better and go home? I stuttered (not so sure why they were in a special facility other than the regular male, female, children or even emergency/casualty wards). Prof smiled and in a sober voice said, "son,we are not only critically ill but 'terminally' too, none of us may make it back home".

Those words sent cold chills down my spine, and Chima had to come in asking Prof, questions which he got answers....as the discussion class continued, I walked towards a corner of Ward by the entrance trying to look through an open window to the skies wondering if I could find answers? Suddenly,a middle aged man dressed in brilliant white soutane,touched me and I turned to him, he said,Chinedu, I'm Daniel,

My new friend,Daniel went on, you see?Prof is right, I have cancer,and I may not be here for so long because it's spread.

Our normal time for the work lasted 1 hour 15 minutes for prayers and 45 minutes for sharing of the word.We ended up staying close to 3 hours on that first visit.

As time went by, I looked forward to future visits,to learn more from these 'beautiful souls'...I became a regular guest to where I now referred to as my 'other home', I even celebrated my birthday in March of that year with my new found friends! Then came the heartbreak! 

Sometime in July during our last Legion work, as we made to walk into the halls,we saw paramedics, nurses moving all over the place, wheeling out a stretcher with a lifeless body briskly through an alternative exit.

Soon after,I heard Prof yell out my name, Chinedu!! As I walked in,this time with Esther my teammate alongside two new legionaries. In my usual manner,I greeted and stopped over briefly by these wards Prof's, then, Mrs Okekearu and finally Daniel's.

On getting to Daniel's bed,I noticed it was neatly dressed and as I made to ask?Prof called me aside, looked me straight into my eyes as if I had a particle inside my eye balls? 

He then told me that Daniel died a couple of minutes back and urged me to pray for him.

As I embarked on vacation to Lagos late July 1992, Prof sent me to two of his friends with two letters and while in Lagos, I delivered his letters and got two stuffed envelopes as replies.

I came back in late September 1992 to register as a JAMBITE, excited, I rushed  to the hospital following day with two loaves of bread in addition to 'Prof's envelopes' and it became the day I started seeing life differently.

Walking into the hall,I noticed that Mrs Okekearu and Prof's wards had new occupants.The older patients watched me as I greeted everybody and asked after my friends. One lady, a patient on the quiet side, apparently explaining to her visiting children my ordeal in hush tones, looked at me and shook her head from side to side and I knew it was all over! 

Mrs Okekearu died in August while Prof.died a week before I came back from vacation. I dropped the things I bought for them with their replacements.

I  made enquiries and was directed to Prof's residence in G.R.A. Got there in good time and met his widow and two of his daughters,after commiserating with them,I introduced myself and handed them the two envelopes, they smiled and told me their father told them about me and they tried to encourage me. Finally, they informed me that their father instructed them to wait for a message for him from me but they should tell me, it's for me.

I broke down and later started smiling still with tears in my eyes wondering who really were the 'AUGUST VISITORS'.

Written by "Wordsmith"

Ps: the names have been changed for privacy sake, any coincidence is highly regretted.

Please stay safe and be clean as we wait for our August visitor to go!