Duty Calls
I just finished my chore in the kitchen on a "sand-stormy" Friday night and was having a sip of my hot coffee when my cell phone rang. The call was coming from a friend of ours, Ate Sor who I was actually going to call that same night. I wanted to tell her that we were going to visit the next day to see her newborn baby boy, as she just gave birth this month. On the other hand, she was calling to ask me if I could accompany her overnight at the hospital where her 1-year old daughter, Shasmeen (my godchild) has been confined due to pneumonia and asthma. I told her that I would call her back after Tian and I talked about it. Tian readily agreed so after I gave my friend a call I immediately prepared to leave. I had to explain to Xiane what has happened and she understood it right away. This would be the second time that I won't be spending the night home, the first one was when I had to accompany the same friend in the hospital when she gave birth via CS last year. We were actually looking forward to spending the night watching movies but then duty to a friend called. It's always good to be able to help when friends need it the most.
I was fetched by Kuya George, her husband. We had to drop by the house first to get some clothes and other needs for Ate Sor and Shasmeen. After a few minutes, we arrived at the Hamad Hospital. We went straight to the common room (ward) where the baby was staying. There were about 6 children's hospital beds in the room, each area divided by curtains. I would have to say that for a ward, it was very good. It was not a happy sight to see a lot of sick children though. When we arrived at the cubicle, Ate Sor was sitting on a chair while she carried the baby. Shasmeen, had an IV on her left hand, oxygen tubes on her nostrils and a gadget attached to her toe, to monitor the oxygen levels in her tiny body. It was a really sad thing, little children sick on hospital beds. I had to assist her whenever it was time to nebulize Shasmeen which was every 2 hours. I had to hold the mask close to her face. Poor baby couldn't get enough sleep and would cry everytime someone else comes in the cubicle and starts touching her. She must have been traumatized with all the procedures that they had to do on her. Poor mom too, she had to carry her the whole night that's why it was my duty to assist her in every way I can. I was happy that I got to spend time talking to Ate Sor though. We talked about a lot of things, mainly married life, until past 1am. Luckily, there was no patient on the bed beside us so I lay there and took my catnaps. Every now and then you could hear the children taking turns in crying. It is really sad when children get sick, especially for the parents but sometimes there really is nothing we can do. I understand how difficult it is for the moms there to see their child suffer from pain with each piercing coming from needles. You wish that children didn't have to get sick.
The next day, Tian and Xiane fetched me from the hospital. Although I would have wanted to extend more help to Ate Sor, it was time to go back to my family and take care of their needs. I am just glad that I was able to give a helping hand somehow. Shasmeen won't be leaving the hospital for another two days. Although I'm not able to help physically anymore, here's hoping that she gets well soon and regain her health.
