The day I saved a life

How often does anyone get to say this? While reviewing some of the best things I had done, a memory flashback came to me, it reminded me of the day I saved a friend's life. It also reminded me of the day I said I would never be a doctor, I was young and dumb then but if given the decision now my answers would remain the same. A big thanks go out to all the professionals in medicine, I don't know how you do it but continue saving lives, may God also save yours in the process.

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This story dates back to High School, my junior year (JS2), I had just been elected the new class captain, this position had its benefits because it made me friends who wouldn't want their name to be written as one of the "class noise makers" which attracted punishment from the class teacher, it's the type of position that makes you feel powerful like you're the boss. I used the power for evil most times especially when I want to get back at someone who had offended me, I'm not sorry though, they deserved it. I was loved by some and hated by others but I guess that is what having power is about, you can't be loved by everyone.

The school lacked emergency services at the time and when the case was serious, the student would be rushed to a clinic that was at least 35 to 45 minutes away from school. It was not uncommon to hear a student die on their way to the clinic which was very sad. This case could have just been one of them if I hadn't interfered.

I am not going to point fingers at anyone because no matter how hard I look at it, everyone had a part to play in the blame (Everyone except me because I'm a Saint ha!). Being in the boarding house means you need to try and keep up with the school timetable, sometimes you might end up oversleeping and getting to the dining hall late only to see that the gate had been locked, this would mean starvation till lunchtime.

Timothy was one of such students who fell prey to this disciplinary system one day and had to go to class on an empty stomach. It started as a stomach ache which was easily diagnosed with hunger. We had no idea it was about to get serious. Lunchtime came and everyone all went out to get snacks to eat but Timothy remained seated. He couldn't move from his seat, but as it would appear, everyone had their problem to take care of to care about another student.

The bell was rung and it was time for the afternoon classes, that was when I observed he wasn't breathing right (imagine, I would have been a great doctor). Of course, I questioned him to find out what was wrong, he was able to answer by saying it was just slight chest pain.

I reported this to the class teacher, who came to give him a quick check-up but didn't observe anything wrong according to him and the class continued. Later, the hiccups began, I took an excuse to go get him a cup of water hoping it would stop the hiccups but it didn't work.

Alas, the teacher instructed me to take him to the school clinic which was a long hike from the class, I wondered why he didn't do it himself since he had a car and would have made life better for everyone, I didn't argue though, I agreed to follow Timothy to the clinic.

We were not even close to halfway to our destination when the breathing became worse. He couldn't walk again, I looked around to call for help but there was no one in sight, everyone was in their various classes. He tried speaking begging me to just leave him to die, saying he couldn't walk again.

At that point, I got so scared and didn't even notice where the strength came from for me to carry him on my back and staring jogging towards the clinic. The fear of having a friend die as a result of me not getting to the clinic brought fear to me. I kept on praying for some sort of miracle to occur before I got to the clinic.

On my journey, a senior student (a girl) saw this and ran to my aid, she was much bigger and stronger, I was so happy to have met her, I can't remember her face or her name but if not for her, maybe Timothy would have died. We exchanged the load along the way, during this period, Timothy was almost out of breathe and was barely breathing.

I remember begging him not to die, I'm not sure if I said it out loud or it was just in my head but we hurried along until we got to the clinic. Thankfully, the head nurse was around and knew exactly what to do. They told us to stay outside while they took care of him so I waited with the Senior. As soon as they were done, we came to check on him and there was a notable difference in his breathing, he was getting better.

He was diagnosed with Asthma, and no one was aware of this (including his parents), he claimed he had noticed signs of an attack but kept it to himself. The attack came as a result of dust inhalation from that morning because his name was included in the class roaster for sweeping for the day.

It was a close one but everything worked out well for him. He's alive and well today, at least he was the last time we chatted on Facebook. That day I wondered what it must feel like for doctors who practically hold the lives of their patients in their hands knowing fully well that the patient might not walk out of the hospital alive if they don't do a good job.

There you go, that was how I saved someone's life and it felt really good

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