Chapter 1:A difficult decision to make
Getting no response from Dylan, the gynae probes , “Sir?”.
‘Tanya is pregnant?’ The sense of what is being said dawns on him. He repeats this in his mind repeatedly, stopping only because the doctor interrupts.
‘Sir, we need to have your decision, I understand this is a difficult time but it’s important that we move swiftly.’
Dylan realizes the gravity of what he’s being asked to do. To decide whether he loses his children, the kids he has yearned for years, or his wife, after so many sacrifices.
‘I didn’t even know she is pregnant, I’m still trying to wrap my head around that. How far along is she? Can’t you save them all?’ The desperation in his voice would be heart-breaking for someone who hadn’t steeled themselves from being easily moved by emotions.
‘23 weeks’, is all he says.
There is a moment that Dylan experiences a mental blank. The decision he must make, and the urgency of it, disorients him. He gets up to try and clear his mind, to try and focus for a lot of questions are demanding answers.
Had Tanya known? How had this happened? How could he have missed it; didn’t pregnancy announce itself through morning sickness and weird cravings? Was this God playing tricks on them? Was his wife more important than the babies? Did they even have a chance of surviving, being so premature?’
‘What’s the chances of them surviving, the babies?’ He wants to know.
‘20 – 35 % of the babies at this stage survive Mr Tembo’, the gynae is flat in his tone, Dylan wishes there was hope or even sympathy in his words.
He wants to ask what happens with the 65%, wants to shout that it’s too much of a chance for death. He finds himself wondering how they dispose the little bodies, if there are funerals where they can celebrate lives never lived.
He paces the room, aware of the doctor’s impatience and uncaring. His phone vibrates in his pocket. He takes it out to check the caller ID, it is Kupakwashe. He switches it off and throws it on the table.
Wife or babies? He tries and fails to make a mental table, highlighting the positives and negatives for either of the choices. Finally, agitated, he stumps into the seat.
‘You will do everything humanly possible to save my wife, you hear me?’ His voice trembles as he says this, he can only hope the gynaecologist does not ask him if he is sure, he doesn’t.
He fumbles through a file, extracting a small pile of papers that he hands to Dylan.
‘Please go through this and sign should you agree, I will give you a moment.’
Dylan does not make an effort to read the contract, he signs it and waits for the gynaecologist to come back.
When he does, he checks to see if all pages are signed, nodding.
‘Thank you, we are working to ensure your wife and children are all healthy, Mr Tembo. They are in the best hands. Excuse me,’ with that he leaves Dylan alone. A nurse walks in shortly after to escort him out.
He takes a few steps towards the door before his legs turn to water and fold under him. He crumbles to the floor, crying so loudly he doesn’t recognize his own cries.
