Martha going for maternal leave
1508 Words
Chapter 1
Martha going for a maternal leave
Martha secondary school teacher posted in a distant county in Kenya to teach English literature busy marking examinations for the midterm test, she was expectant and her time for delivery was soon. There was a knock on the door.
"Come in," Martha said.
The student having an envelope strode into the office.
"Madam here is your letter," The student said.
Martha received the letter.
"What's your name? Martha asked
" My name is Kenneth "the student responded.
"Which class are you in?" Martha asked
"I am in form three north" Kenneth responded
Martha looked at the boy directly into his eyes Kenneth avoided her eyes and looked in a different direction.
"How was the examination?"Martha asked
"It was fair not so hard neither easy we are expecting to pass the examination," Kenneth said.
"You can go," Martha said
The boy left Martha liked the boy and was taken by thought.
"I wish my unborn baby is a boy," she said to herself
She opened the letter and read, the letter was from a doctor indicating that she has only a month to give birth, she took the letter to the principal's office.
The principal seated watching news there was a knock on the door.
"Come on in principal said.
Martha strode in with a letter in her hand she passed it on to the principal, he received and read.
" This is good news your visitor is almost coming am happy for you," Principal said
Martha smiled and sat and waited for the principal to finish reading the letter.
"You are supposed to start your maternal leave as soon as next week" Principal said
"Yes that's why I brought the letter" Martha Said
"I understand I will file this letter for reference but you should start your maternal leave as soon as possible, by the way, do you uncertain if the child is a boy or a girl?" Principal asked.
"No I wanted to be surprised to me and my family," Martha said
"OK, I understand travel to your rural home tomorrow first thing in the morning" the Principal advised.
"Thank you so much," Martha said.
Martha move out of the office she went straight to the staffroom she met her colleagues to bid them goodbye since it was time for her to go home.
"We will miss you madam" Her colleague Betty said
Other female teachers came and embraced her it was an emotional moment since Martha will go for about six months of maternal leave, she went to her house to pack some belonging to prepare for tomorrow's journey back to her rural home rift valley.
The following day Martha woke up early to travel back home she board a motorcycle known as (Bodaboda) in Kenya to Kisumu city to connect using public transport (matatu) to Kericho rift valley reaching the bus stop the matatu was almost full.
"Matatu taut shouted" Kericho Ksh 300
Martha paid and boarded a (matatu) meaning passenger vehicle carrying a capacity of 14 passengers.
They started a journey to Kericho county the driver drove meandering through Kisumu city town roads to the main road, the weather was very hot Martha had to remove her sweater but she was still sweating.
"Put on your safety belt," the conductor said
The passengers followed the instruction but the driver was reckless he over speed most of the time.
"Stop over speeding or else we will board another matatu" one of the passengers bellowed
"Stop the vehicle or else we shall call the police" other passengers shouted.
The driver reduced the speed and drove well but reaching the Awasi he over speed another vehicle coming from Eldoret almost hit the matatu the driver drove the vehicle into the ditch and the matatu overturned. There were screams all over the place people coming trying to save the lives of the passengers.
"There is an expectant mother in the vehicle" One of the passengers billowed
That was Martha people struggled to open the door of the matatu and save Martha Martha was still alive but she was very frightened in a distance you could hear the siren of the ambulance coming one of the women held her on the ground to give her first aid she struggled though she was injured to talk.
"Save my pregnancy and take me to hospital," she said
The ambulance arrived they removed a stretcher and placed her the woman who assisted her for first aid escorted her to the ambulance.
She struggled to talk.
"Thank you," Martha said
The ambulance drove the woman who gave her first aid cried uncontrollably as she saw the ambulance drive off to Kericho hospital. The other people having minor injuries were taken to the nearest dispensary to be examined to ascertain their level of injuries and those with minor injuries were released to go home others were admitted with major injuries.
The ambulance drove faster to Kericho county hospital reaching Martha taken to a casualty to receive emergency treatment and in the process, she gave birth to a twin prematurely.
"What are we going to do? Maggy asked the doctor
" They are going to survive to take them to nursery machine
The two nurses Maggy and Sandy did exactly what the doctor said.
"Sadly their mother is in critical condition," the doctor said.
"Doctor what is the remedy? Nurses asked
" We are going to refer her to Kenyatta hospital they have equipment that can save their lives" the Doctor responded
The nurses prepared all that they required to transfer Martha to Kenyatta hospital they used a self-contained ambulance for Martha's life to be saved.
Sandy and Maggy prayed that Martha's life is saved but the two nurses liked the two children and coincidentally both of them were barren.
"What are we going to do the babies?" Sandy asked
"They are very beautiful to let's pray that nobody could come and claim their custody" Maggy responded
"Let's temper with the documents showing that the Twins are in this hospital," Sandy said
They both went to the registry of the hospital and removed all the documents about Martha and her twin babies.
"Soon we will be having our boys on our arms," Sandy said.
"Remember we are committing a crime that can get us unto jail for many years" Maggy warned
" I don't care if I go to jail having gotten what I have been looking for for a long time " Sandy responded
The conversation was interrupted by the doctor entering to examine the babies in the incubator, the doctor observed closely how the babies are responding.
"How are they responding?" Sandy asked the doctor.
"You are amazing paramedics you are doing your work amazingly within two weeks they are going to be free but sadly their mother isn't here for her to breastfeed them," Doctor said.
"Have you called Kenyatta hospital to ascertain the health of their mother?" Maggy asked.
"Yes I called the doctor and I got sad information that if she survive within two weeks she will be in a coma for one," the Doctor said sadly
Sandy and Maggy looked at each other happily pretending to be very sad but in their hearts, they would like to take custody of the twin boys, the doctor got out of the room the two nurses jumped in excitement.
"I don't wish their mother to die but I wish that the doctor was saying the truth that their mother is to be in a coma for one year," Sandy said.
At the Kenyatta hospital, Martha in a coma admitted to the intensive care unit beside her two nurses who check on her attending her. The doctor came in both nurses stood.
"How is my patient?" The doctor asked.
"She is responding well but we don't know when she will wake up " Nancy one of the nurses responded.
The doctor examined her by checking her pulse and the doctor nodded by nodding portraying that she is responding well to treatment, he looked at Nancy and turned to Janet with a smile.
"So good so far you have great hands to take care of a person like this, I had already lost hope" Doctor said.
"You decide who will go for off duty for you two have rest" Doctor said.
Nancy and Janet looked at each other in surprise Janet smiled.
"I think we two can go for an off duty at the same time since we have interns who are coming tomorrow to work," Nancy said.
"Oh, that's a good idea," Doctor said
"I understand that this patient was pregnant when she was involved in an accident?" Janet asked
"Yes she gave birth prematurely, but Kericho hospital is taking care of the kids" the Doctor responded.
The doctor went out of the ICU room to his office people were waiting for him to attend to.
"Imagine one year being in a coma?" Janet asked.
"It's beyond our imagination I pity her babies" Nancy responded
- Writer
