********
Dr. Lola
Bello was obviously surprised that he asked for her. She went to meet Duke outside
the OR. She saw Ahmed and noticed he appeared to be unhappy and quite tensed.
Zara was very jealous and left to the ER to assist Jidenna. Duke narrated the
surgery was successful but the patient was still unresponsive.
“Could it
be she is bleeding internally?” Lola suggested.
“No, she is
not.” he said. “Also, the anesthetic administered to the patient was the right
dose.” Duke told her. “The sedative is not the cause in case you think so.”
“We have to
talk with the boyfriend. He’s name is Mr. Fred. He should be able to contact
her family so that we can ask questions. She might have an ailment that is
trigging her not to wake.”
“She is
breathing through a ventilator for now. We have to detect what is wrong with
her or else we might lose her. I don’t want to lose any of my patients today.”
Duke said with passion in his voice.
“Before we
see her boyfriend, some tests should be carried out.”
“The
patient’s blood has been extracted for test.”
“Okay.”
Ahmed came
out with a worried expression on his face. He faced Lola. “Please, do we have a
solution now?”
“Dr.
Ahmed,” Duke said to him. “You need to put your mind at rest.”
“I failed
you Dr. Duke. I failed you. You gave me the opportunity to prove I am a good
surgeon but I failed you.”
“You didn’t
fail me. I watched what you did and you did it right. It is not your fault she
is unresponsive.”
“Maybe if
you had done the surgery, she will alright.”
“I don’t
think it is the surgical procedure that is the cause of the problem,” Lola
quickly said. “Something else that has nothing to do with you is the fault.”
“What do we
do now?” Ahmed asked.
“I want you
to relax,” Duke responded. “Dr. Bello and I will talk with the patient’s
boyfriend.”
He nodded
at them and rested his back on the wall. Lola and Duke walked away, they were
optimistic to come up with a solution. Ahmed was devastated.
*******
Lola and
Duke approached the room where Mr. Fred was and a female nurse came out from
the room. She told them Fred was awake and was asking for the condition of his
girlfriend, Amara. Both of them went in and saw how distraught he was. He was
indeed very troubled.
Fred raised his head and looked at them. “How is Amara? How is she?”
Fred raised his head and looked at them. “How is Amara? How is she?”
“The
surgery was successful, but there is a problem we have to fix.” Duke told him.
“What kind
of problem?”
“First of
all, we need you to contact her family.”
“Amara’s
family does not live in Nigeria and they stopped communicating with her two
years ago. I am her only family right now.”
Lola and
Duke looked at each other and back at him.
“How well
do you know your girlfriend?” Lola questioned him.
“I know
everything about her. Her family abandoned her because they didn’t accept our
relationship. Maybe if she had listened to them, she won’t be here.”
“You don’t
know that.”
“I do.”
Fred said. “Two months ago, Amara found out I was going to buy her a car and I
couldn’t say no when she wanted to learn how to drive. I gave her the order to
go to a driving school. Today, she told me she has finished learning and I gave
her my car to drive us. I was foolish.” He started to cry.
Duke felt
pity for him but he didn’t come there for that. Lola took a deep breath and
moved close to him.
“I am
sorry.” Lola said. “If you know everything about her, we will like to ask you
some questions.”
Fred wiped
his eyes with his hands. He grabbed his trousers beside him and dipped his hand
inside one of the pockets. He brought out a small black box; he opened it and a
beautiful ring gleamed at the surgeons.
With tears
hovering around his eyes, he spoke to them. “I was going to tell her to marry
me today. You can ask me anything and I will give you the right answers. Amara
means a lot to me and I don’t want to lose her.”
“I
understand.” Duke said when he noticed Lola had become quiet. “We have carried
out some tests but the results are not out. Does your girl have any ailment or
medication she is supposed to take?”
Fred
thought for a moment and shook his head. “I don’t think so.”
“What does
your girlfriend do for fun?” Lola asked. “Does she smoke or drink?”
“She
doesn’t smoke. We drink together.”
“Alcohol?”
“Yes.”
“How
often?”
“We drink a
lot especially on weekends. Could she be diabetic?”
“Why would
you ask such a question?” Duke asked him.
“Amara told
me her father was diabetic.”
Duke
sighed. “Has she ever complained of how she felt?”
“No. I
don’t think so.”
“Mr. Fred
you have to think.” Lola told him. “Has she ever complained of fatigue or loss
of appetite?”
He blinked
his eyes, thinking. “Yes. Few weeks ago, she told me she didn’t feel like
eating. I thought it was because of a hangover but it continued for days. She
even felt nauseous and vomited. We thought she was pregnant but we did a urine
test at home and it came out negative.”
Duke
thought about the symptoms. Lola gave Fred a look and asked.
“What was
the color of her urine?”
“It wasn’t the normal color. It was dark urine
color.”
“Oh my God.” Duke muttered. “I think I know
what is wrong with her.”
Lola looked
at him sadly. “I do too. She has liver disease.”
“That’s
true. She could be diabetic and it’s one of the risk factors of having a liver
problem.”
Fred put
his hands on his head. “Jesus Christ!” Tears burst out from his eyes. “What is
going to happen to her?”
“We have to
now.” Duke quickly told him. “We will get back to you.”
Duke and
Lola left the room and Ahmed approached them with a paper in his hand.
“I was
coming to meet you,” Ahmed said to them. “She has a liver disease.”
“We know.”
Duke said and collected the result from him.
“I have
ordered for a CT scan to know the level of damage. I also took some of her
tissues for analysis.”
Duke
collected the result to read.
“We don’t
have to wait for a scan.” Lola said. “For her not to be able to wake up, it
means her liver is damaged. She needs a
liver transplant. We have to put her name on the list of patients in need of a
liver.”
“You are
right,” Duke said. “For her condition, if we don’t get a liver for as soon as
possible, she might not have the strength to stay alive.”
“What do we
do now?”
“I have to
convince Dr. Wendy to put her name on the list although she might refuse
because it not the normal procedure.”
“If she refuses,
you can talk to Dr. Wole Bello about it.” Ahmed said. “I heard he is around.”
“Oh.” Lola
realized she has not delivered Jidenna’s message. She gazed at Duke. “Dr. Duke,
I am very sorry. I forgot to tell you. Dr. Jidenna told me to inform you that
Dr. Bello is around.”
“I
understand. We will see him together with Dr. Zara and Dr. Melvin.”
“Okay.”
He looked
at Ahmed. “Before we wait for the scan, page them, we have to see Dr. Bello
now.”
Lola and
Duke went to check on the patient before the others joined them to see the
owner of Bello’s Hospital.
*******
“Come in.”
The deep voice said after Duke knocked on the CEO’s door. Both of them were
quite close to each other.
Duke opened
and entered alone while Lola, Ahmed, Melvin and Zara waited outside the office.
Dr. Wole
Bello was a handsome old man with nice grey hair. He smelled nice and he had an
expensive wristwatch around his left wrist.
“Welcome
sir.” Duke shook his hand.
“Thanks.
How is everything?”
“I’m fine.
The surgeons are outside waiting.”
“I am aware
Dr. Lola Bello is among them.”
Duke gave
him a look before he answered. “Yes. I will tell them to come in.”
“I know you
want to ask me a question, go ahead Dr. Duke.”
“I don’t
intend to ask you a question. I want you to open up to me if you are going
through something.”
“Something
like what, Dr. Duke?” Wole Bello asked him.
“I don’t know.
You are the one to tell me if you are going through something we should talk
about.”
“I don’t
have anything to talk about right now.”
“No
problem, when you are ready, let me know.” Duke opened the door and told the
surgeons to come in. They entered.
Wole Bello
stood on his feet and walked towards them with a smile on his lips. Before Duke
could introduce them, Wole shook their hands one after the other and when it
got to Lola’s turn, he held unto her hand. Duke focused his eyes on Wole.
“I heard
your name is Dr. Bello.”
“That’s
true sir.” Lola said. “It’s an honor to meet you. I am proud to work in your
hospital.”
“Thanks.”
The smile on his face increased and he released her hand.
Duke sighed
and called the names of the other surgeons.
“Nice to
meet all of you,” Wole said to them. “I want to advise all of you to take this
place as your second home. Your colleagues are not your enemies but your
partners. As partners, you have to work together with peace and love. If you
have concepts for the benefit of this hospital, my door is always opened for
that.”
“Yes sir.”
The five of them chorused with a smile on their faces. Zara’s own wasn’t real.
She was upset how Wole Bello acknowledged Lola.
What if there were bearing the same
name?There was nothing special about that. Zara thought to herself.
They
thanked him for the advice and left Wole and Duke alone. Duke faced him.
“I know you
didn’t attend the job interview and you have not been around. How did you know
that was Dr. Lola Bello?”
“I
guessed.”
“You
guessed?”
“Yes. Are
you interrogating me?” Wole asked.
“No.” Duke
replied. “Do you know Dr. Lola Bello before?”
“Dr. Duke,
I only guessed and that should be the end of our conversation.”
“No
problem.”
********
Lola and
her colleagues where notified the scan for the patient was ready. They went to
check and analyzed the level of damage to the liver. They were not pleased.
Lola went
to inform Duke about it and they left to see Fred.
“How is
she?” He asked them.
“Your
girlfriend needs a transplant.” Lola answered him. “Her liver is damaged.”
“Oh my God.
What’s going to happen now?”
“We will put
her name on the list but I am afraid time is not on her side.”
“Is there
anything I can do to help?”
“What she
need from you is your love and prayer.”
“I am not a
religious person.” Fred said and looked at Duke. “Doctor, are you married?”
Duke was
surprised. “No.”
“Do you
have a girlfriend you love?”
Lola heaved
a low sigh and folded her arms.
“My answer
won’t solve the problem your girlfriend has.” Duke stated.
“I know but
if you were in my shoes, what will you do?”
“I will wait
for the surgeons to find a solution and save the woman I love.”
“Is there a
solution for me to help her?”
Lola stared
at Duke. “I might have a solution but I don’t know if you will approve it.”
“You are
going to be in charge of the surgery. Whatever solution you have, do it to save
her life.”
“For real?”
“Yes. This
is not my area of specialization. My work was done after Ahmed did the surgery.
I am here just to assist you.”
It occurred
to her, he was right.
“Thank you
Dr. Duke.”
He smiled
faintly and nodded. “What is your solution?”
“We can
keep the patient alive if the boyfriend will agree for me to take part of his
liver and give it to her. She can survive with that for weeks or even months while
we wait for a liver.”
“If it’s
possible, I will do it.” Fred quickly said.
“Dr. Bello
don’t forget he drinks too.” Duke told her.
“That is
true.” Lola said in a saddened tone.
“But I
don’t have liver disease. You can do the test to check. I am ready to give her
part of my liver. I love her.”
“We will do
the test.”
“Please do
it. I will not give up on her. I am ready to help Amara in any way I can.”
“No
problem.”
Lola and
Duke walked out of the room. Duke went to the cafeteria to eat a light meal
while Lola did the test and waited for the result. When the result came out,
Fred’s liver was in a good shape. Lola and Ahmed went to meet Duke in his
office.
“I can’t
believe it.” Duke said after he looked at the result. “He must be very lucky.”
“He is very
lucky.” Lola said. “When I told Mr. Fred, he swore never to drink again.”
They
couldn’t hold it. They laughed.
“Everything
is in your hands now.” Duke said to her.
“I won’t
fail you.”
“I know you
won’t.” He stared at Ahmed. “I can see that you are looking happy.”
“Yes I am happy.”
Ahmed said. “I thought it was my fault.”
“You,
Melvin and Zara should join Dr. Lola in the OR.”
“We will.”
“You are
not a good surgeon,” Duke said to Ahmed. “You are a great surgeon.”
Ahmed
beamed and Lola couldn’t stop smiling.
“Thank you
Dr. Duke.” Ahmed said.
“You’re
welcome.” Duke grabbed his bag and turned to Lola. “I have to go now. Send me a
message after the surgery is over.”
“I will.”
She said.
Lola and
Ahmed left him in his office. Duke sent a message on his phone, combed his hair
and walked out. Duke was on his way home to refresh up and prepare to have
dinner with his girlfriend and her father.
******
Daniela and Duke arrived at the restaurant, ordered for drinks and waited for Daniela’s father. Duke kept staring at his phone to see if there was a message from Lola but found none.
“Are you happy with me?” Daniela asked him with a frown.
Daniela and Duke arrived at the restaurant, ordered for drinks and waited for Daniela’s father. Duke kept staring at his phone to see if there was a message from Lola but found none.
“Are you happy with me?” Daniela asked him with a frown.
He looked
at her. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You have
been staring at your phone ever since we came here.”
“We have
been waiting for your dad,” he said. “What do you expect me to do while we
wait.”
“I expect
you to look at me.” Daniela said angrily.
Duke
decided to drop his phone on the table, relax his back on the chair and stare
at her face.
“Why can’t
you call your dad? We have been waiting for the past thirty minutes.”
“There is
no need to call him,” she said. “He will come.”
They waited
for another twenty minutes and Duke ordered for food. Daniela refused to order.
She excused herself to the bathroom. Daniela called her dad’s number and he
answered.
“Dad, where
are you?” She questioned.
A male
voice spoke. “I am very busy dear. I won’t be able to make it.”
“Why didn’t
you tell me?”
“I am busy.
I have sent one of my bodyguards to you and Duke. How is he?”
“He is
fine.”
“Tell him
to call me. We have to talk about the hospital I want to open soon. I need him to
work there.”
“Dad, he
already told you he is not interested. He is happy where he is.”
“I don’t
care. I am the father of his girlfriend and he will obey me. I have to go now.”
“Okay. Bye
dad.”
Daniela
didn’t receive a response. He had ended the call. Daniela applied power to her
face and went back to meet Duke. He was reading a message from Lola.
I am excited. The surgery was
successful. The patient is awake. I am hopeful for a liver next week.
Duke
smiled. He was tempted to call her and hear the sound of her voice.
“What’s
making you to smile?” Daniela asked.
He looked
at her. “A patient of mine survived her surgery.”
“Are you
sure about that?”
“Daniela,
please don’t start.”
The waiter
came to set his food and left. A muscular man in a suit approached them. Duke
recognized him. The man greeted them and gave Daniela an envelope and left. She
extended the envelope to Duke. He refused to take it.
“What is
that?” He asked her.
“It’s money
for our dinner. My dad said he is sorry. He won’t be able to make it.”
Duke wasn’t
surprised. “You can keep the money for yourself. I will pay for my meal.”
“Why?”
“I am
capable of paying for my meal.”
“My dad is
sorry he can’t make it. He is busy.”
“I have
heard you. I will pay for my meal.”
Duke
started to eat and Daniela watched him with a scorn on her face.
********
In the
evening, Lola went home. She bathed, ate and went to her bedroom. At 9:23pm,
Lola couldn’t stop smiling as she chatted with Jidenna on her phone. He told
her some jokes before he asked her a question.
Do you have a boyfriend?
Lola stayed
silent for a moment before she answered.
I will like to take you out during the
weekend. Dinner at 7pm on Saturday?
Lola took a
deep breath and thought. She replied.
Okay, no problem.
********
To be continued.
Carina I thought Fred's girlfriend was called Cassey, or is Amara her local name? I was almost getting confused.
ReplyDeleteYes dear. I will change it to her local name to avoid confusion . Thanks
DeleteHmmmm... Conflict loading
ReplyDeleteYes oh...It is loading😊
Delete