Hallo Hallo great people! Hi
five yourself and anyone looking in need of a little more sunshine than they
seem to be getting. Today's post
is dedicated to a special group of people- Brother's/Sister's Keepers.
Today (by the time you read this it will be yesterday + days)
witnessed something that was quite eye opening yet at the same time
heart-warming. I was walking into the Kenya Re Plaza, opposite Hilton, this
lady who carrying her child on back collapses in a heap. Like seriously, plop!
Face flat and unconscious. Child on the other hand absolutely oblivious of
what’s going on.
A small crowd formed and guess what they did.
Watch. Wait.
For what? I have no idea.
A handful snapped out of the weird watch-waiting trance that the
crowd was in. The group included a lady security guard, two other ladies and
three gentlemen, and quickly swung into action. Meet the Brother/Sister Keepers
(BroSisKeeps).
Someone untied the child from the mother's back and one of the
gentlemen held her, distracting her from the scene that just happened.
Fortunately, the little girl was not injured. Next, the group turned the lady
around and put her in a better position. Watching from afar, also motivated to
help, I consulted the remaining male guard as to whether there was a clinic or
hospital nearby. He informed me there was a chemist, so I quickly dashed to
seek some medical assistance for the lady (I’ll refer to her as Lady X for the
rest of the story.) Figured if they are licensed to dispense medicine they
probably should have some basic first aid training.
Dash to the clinic to seek assistance and I'm told that the person
who is capable of helping is not around but should be coming back soon. Before
I could get back to the scene, Team BroSisKeeps came into the chemist carrying
the lady X. This was quite an effort because when one is unconscious the body
is like dead weight, and the distance wasn't as short as it seemed,
At first she was put on the ground and people tried to establish communication
with her to find inquiring how she was feeling. She could only manage a weak
whisper requesting to lie down for a bit. The faithful Team BrosSisKeep
assisted and kept trying to get first aid assistance from the chemist.
All this while, all the pharmacists were unperturbed, conducting
business as usual. The biggest challenge herein is that out of the Team
BroSisKeep, none knew any first aid so it was quite challenging. Yet, and I say
this very carefully because I am not aware of the training of the chemists, the
people we expected/anticipated had medical knowledge to assist were not even
helping. I must admit we got a bit flustered because we did not know if it was
a life threatening situation and the severity of lady X’s condition. Still the
team forged on.
The only response received was a casual-"She's (the lady who
was supposed to help) is coming."
Have you ever felt so vexed? I kept wondering and I figure something
we should consider when we find our fellow citizens/humans in trouble is was
what if it was me or my loved ones in same situation...how would I want to be
treated? How would I want people to react? With what urgency? What if this was
a life and death situation? Would Lady X have passed away or suffered a severe
health effect due to complacency? And what would have been the effect on her
family, her child? Why aren’t people willing to help? What has happened to our
hearts?
A good almost 10 minutes or more passed and the much awaited lady
waltzed in and went straight to the front desk as if absolutely unaware of the
situation. This is despite the fact that she had been called and requested to
come urgently because of Lady X. Another five minutes pass.
"What's happening?" she asked.
Those are the moments one takes a big breath, pauses, inhales and
exhales to prevent the bluntest responses that are sharper than a butcher's
knife.
Team BroSisKeeps explained the situation and guess what, the much
awaited medic turns out unable to do first aid.
By this time, I think everyone was tired and shocked. Somehow, by
God’s grace another staffer and her, were doused with compassion left their
desks to come help. The team tried to restart communication with the lady X to
find out who she was, if she has any relatives nearby and their contacts so
that they be contacted. Again, by God’s grace she was now able to feebly but
audibly utter some numbers and names.
After which she repeated she was tired, feeling very weak,
“Tafadhali nipe maji (Please give me water)," she whispers weakly to which
she is given at no charge. Compassion levels rising at the chemist. Clap.
She is sat up, given the drink. We later find out that there is a
clinic within the Kenya Re building.Yay! Unfortunately no medic can come check
on her. Instead we have to assist this lady up the stairs should we hope that
she can be looked at. As in, what? Start slow anger release counts.
Fortunately the water seemed to have done the trick and she slowly
regained her strength. She was then given soda by the kind gentleman (Team BroSisKeeps)
who was taking care of her daughter, and she regained more strength. Double
yay! Upon observation it was supposed that her episode had been caused by
severe hunger and true enough that was the case. She had been walking looking
for work and had not eaten for two whole days.
Quickly the Team BroSisKeeps who had been left took her to a cafe
for her to get a meal and waited to see if she would be okay. Fortunately, she
was.
I must a big big-up to the gentleman who took care of the lady X's
daughter. I tell you, there are super men among us. Men worthy to be called
men, who protect, care, are kind, loving and big hearted, God bless you and all
other men who are like you. I believe and know you exist.
This guy, from the onset, held on to and watched over the little
girl-who was anywhere between
3-4years of age. He played with her, bought her drinks to quench her thirst, a
snack to relieve her hunger and a meal for her and her mother, plus he let the
mum keep the change. By the time the two were eating- a span of almost an hour
the little girl was calling him Uncle and saying she wants to go with him. It
was precious. Out of calamity she just made a new friend.
From this ordeal a couple of things stood out for me and are worth
considering.
One. Our attitude towards our brothers/sisters/countrymen and
others when they are need/trouble. Perhaps we have become so enthralled in
reality TV when reality strikes we do what we know best. Watch, wait. We
honestly need to shift from the passive watchers and waiters to the active and
caring helpers. What we do in a second can edify or assist in destroying a
life. Become your brother/sister’s keeper.
Two. There is a need to have more first aid stations in town,
office buildings and even outdoor related jobs to assist in dealing with such
eventualities. Bigger still first aid should be a mandatory lesson taught in
school and work places to all because with this training more people are
equipped to save lives.
Three, life is short. Live like it’s your last day, help where you
can and be grateful for where you are and what you have. Even if it is not as
much as you, want at least you have something. Be grateful.
Finally, big up to a great team of Brothers/Sisters Keepers- our
doctors, nurses, ambulances, pharmacists-everyone in the medical sector. Thank
you for the work you do. It’s not easy and can be traumatizing for any human
but you brave it.
I must admit, many of us
take for granted the fine job you do on a day-to-day basis: saving lives,
restoring hope, acting swiftly and staying on your feet all day and night,
sacrificing time spent with your families and holidays just to treat us.
Thank you for making our emergencies your priorities. We hope that
soon if not soonest our thanks will be fully expressed in how we treat you as a
country, government, citizens and friends.
Till the next time,
MiMaTheng'e: Signing out!
