Not Today, Not Today

Twice my whole life flashed across my face. I knew it was not death; I knew this one won't claim my life. But I couldn't say anything but my shahada.

0.

The time is 12:16AM and the date is February 15th as I write this. I know I should be sleeping, or revising or doing anything helpful to my recovery, but I must write. I must write because I am a writer. Because I don't want to forget any part of what happened to me in the last 24 hours. Because Grandma would say ọmọdun melo ni ẹ tó ti ń gbàgbé nkan; how old are you that your memories are already at war with amnesia. So for me to beat forgetfulness, I do the basic chore of writing everything down. So I don't forget. So I don't get misunderstood. So that they live forever.

1.

My MTN line got barred several weeks ago. I have procrastinated a lot about going to retrieve the line. However on February 14, 2024, I decided to visit the closest MTN office and have the issue resolved. I walked to AK's place, borrowed his bicycle around 9:30AM and promised to return before 12PM. We even joked that if he did not see me by then, he should call me or report to the nearest police station. I sped off to my destination. My ride was uneventful: got to the place, payed for parking, walked in and had the whole sim issue resolved within an hour. I was told to wait for four hours before using the new sim. I paid, then left. The time was 11:20AM. Since I was on bicycle and I don't want to loose anything, my phone, wallet, documents were all inside a black backpack firmly strapped to my back. I started my journeying back home.

2.

If you are familiar with the layout of the road from Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital to the Sokoto State Government House to City Campus, my explanations would be clearer to you. Anyway, there's a big roundabout a few meters after the MTN office, going round this junction is the road that leads to the government house. While I was about crossing, I almost collided with a large white van that was coming from the adjacent road. I thought the van was going round the roundabouts, which was the same way I was going. Unknown to me, it was heading straight and I crossed it. I missed the whole collision by a hair's breath.

Less than 10 meters from the potential site of a bigger road accident, I rammed my bicycle on a stationary car in front of Civil Service Commission. I had entered the road of the government house, and all I did was look back for a second, to check whether the white van that almost hit me was coming in my direction or had followed another way. The right handle of the bicycle struck the car by the side and I somersaulted off the bicycle and landed face first on the back windshield of the car. It felt like film trick; like I had been picked up by a giant force and thrown to a car.

(I was coming from purple arrow direction. The green circle was where I almost collided with the white van which went upward to A126. The red circle was where I rammed into a stationary car.)

3.

Within split seconds half of my face was covered with blood and glass particles lodged on my skin. The owner of the car and the man with him came down. The bicycle was off a few distance away from me, across the road. My nose mask was soaked with blood, and the glass shards had cut my face in three places: one on my eyelid that missed my eyeball by just a few centimeters; two deeper cut on my right cheek which was the major site of impact on landing on the car windshield. The car owner came out angry, was speaking loudly in Hausa and I was soaking up with blood. I did not lose consciousness however I was disoriented for a while.

When I could speak, I told him I am a medical student at the teaching hospital and I'm deeply sorry for hitting his car. I called the president of my medical students association and AK immediately. The car owner who was now calmer brought out a bottle of water from the car and helped me wash my hand. Because of the severity of the lacerations on my face and with glasses involved, I did not want to wash my face until I get to the hospital. So I used my handkerchief to cover the injuries and at the same time pressing it hard to stop the bleeding. I think I must have lost about 300 - 500 ml of blood.

4.

While we waited for the people I called to show up, many things was running through my mind. I've landed in trouble; I may have to get to a police station; I'd be needing stitches; how to settle the car damages; why did the universe conspire against me to make me go fix my SIM today. A small group had gathered. AK arrived first on bike, after looking at my wounds and even though I was incoherent, he started talking to the car owners. The president also arrived just a few minutes later. At this point, I was feeling fainter, and really did not know much. Another student whose face seemed familiar was riding his own bicycle saw the scene, stopped and assisted me into the president's car. I do not know his name but I'd definitely recognize him if I see him again. AK went with the car owner to the auto mechanic shop for the repairs while the president drove me to the Trauma Centre of my university teaching hospital.

Before we got there, he made some calls and I was admitted. Within minutes of getting to Trauma, I saw classmates, senior colleagues, and other people coming to check up on me. As students, they'd come, say a couple of prayers, offer their support and leave afterwards. Another group would come in few minutes later, and it went on and on up until when I was treated and discharged. My classmates brought fruits, electrolytes, water, and everything I needed. As I write this, I feel immensely grateful to everyone in my med school.

5.

At this point DON had arrived at the centre and stayed with me all through. He was also in communication with AK and was informing me as it goes. My phone was with DON and he became the point source till I left the hospital.

The doctor who attended to me was a professional. He knew all what he had to do, and had a swarm of student nurses around him for support. This was the hardest part of the incident for me: getting treated. The doctor flushed the wounds for broken bottles and was informing the nursing students about everything he was doing each step of the way. The young nurses were also professional, they knew their onion. I had to be stitched but before that, I had to take a couple of injections. It's not a lie if I say I don't like needles. I had a couple of stitches across all the lacerations.

DON said the stitches were fine and hopefully I'd have not too big scarring. Faymous, Khadija, Mimi came around and stayed for a long while. They informed me of the Renal Physiology result that came out and we discussed for a while. I got more tired and tried to sleep. When I woke up, Hikmat was back and she stayed till I was discharged. She and Don joked about how I must write poems about this incident, we did some anatomy discussion too. As I write now, I have an anatomy incourse on Friday (Feb 16th). Hopefully, I pray I'm strong enough to write it.

6.

The president came around to check up on me again, same as the car owner and AK. Later in the evening, DON and Hikmat went out to get the drugs. Faymous stayed back and we started differential diagnosis on the other patients that were brought in after me. Another doctor came to take my history and wrote my discharge papers. The doctor who attended to me initially walked by and told me to come back in a week's time. I left trauma around 4PM in the company of friends and went home to eat, take my medication, and sleep. Of course, some of my classmates took pictures of me with the funny bandages across my face.

Arnold came around 8PM and stayed very late. In his words and quoting the Game of Throne Series, he said, “What do we say to the god of Death?” And I responded: “Not today”.

7

I am very grateful for what happened today. I missed a big accident. Got involved in another one barely 30 seconds later. I did not lose an eyeball. All the damages have been offset. I got treatment. At my lowest moments today, I had people around me — senior colleagues, friends, family, classmates, even students I barely know from other classes came around. Those who couldn't visit called, reached out, etc. I got home and still received visits from my neighbours. Save for when I had my cancer surgery in 2015, this is the second biggest trauma I've experienced in my life and I'm just contented that it did not take my life.

While I was admitted at Trauma Centre, a lot happened that I cannot say due to confidentiality. I saw people in worse condition; I was optimistic for them but deep down was scared too. I hone I never have to repay this kind of debt that I owe everyone. I pray everything good will come.