The Waiting Room
The waiting room
*Susan pulls a chair, takes a deep breath then sits next to the consulting table. She steals glances at the room, the same room she sat in not too long ago. The room that once daunted her. The room that almost whispered to her, ‘It’s never going to happen’. She stares at the walls one more time as if to announce her presence again except this time, surer of herself. She is back in the room, her hope alive again, and now bearing a gift she yearned for.
Three years ago, Susan had accompanied her friend to the hospital for an ultrasound screening. Susan had tried to conceive for almost two years with no luck. She had been to different hospitals but she couldn’t get a proper diagnosis on what was preventing her from conceiving. It was until that day she accompanied her friend to the hospital for the screening that the tides would change for her.
“I think you should try this hospital”, her friend had told her.
“What’s the point if I’ve not had luck from everywhere else, I’ve been to?” she protested.
“I know you have but just try this hospital.”
That day after Susan’s friend was done with the doctor’s appointment, she decided also to have an appointment the following week. She came back to the hospital and met the consulting gynaecologist, Dr. Wainaina at City Health Hospital. Her first visit was life-changing. Dr. Wainaina assured her that all would be well and he would walk with her through the journey ahead. What followed was a series of tests that revealed she had a hormonal imbalance and fibroids which prevented her from conceiving. She was immediately put on medication for some time with regular checkups to ensure all was well.
Susan one day noticed she had missed her periods. She wasn’t alarmed at first but then decided to put her mind at ease by getting a pregnancy test. She first did a urine test which turned out to be negative. She was advised by the doctor to do a blood test instead. The results were shared with her and to her surprise, the blood test confirmed she was indeed pregnant. She was overwhelmingly happy with the news she had hoped to hear for two years.
Two years may seem like such a short time for someone. But for Susan, it felt like a lifetime as she waited with bated breath for her day to come. Her day to exit this particular waiting room. The news of learning she was pregnant was one thing and the journey that awaited her was another. She developed high blood pressure which was managed by medication. This was necessary to avoid complications. Nine months later, Susan delivered a beautiful baby girl who is soon turning one and a half years.
Today, as she sits in the consultation room telling her story, she desires that no woman should ever be measured by her ability to bear children. She is saddened that our society still labels women who are in their ‘waiting room’ as ‘not enough’ because of lack of children.
“It is wrong for anyone to place value on a woman based on her ability to bring forth life. Children are a gift from God. If there’s a woman who is trusting God for the fruit of the womb, I would implore her not to give up. Remain in that waiting room holding your head high and keeping your hope alive because one day, the sun will shine on your path too.”
Susan takes another look at the room and the memory of the days she would come for checkups linger in her mind. She remembers the tears and how she almost gave up but Dr. Wainaina encouraged her to soldier on. She remembers the overwhelming joy she felt the first time she held her long-awaited gift in her arms. As she walks out of the room, a tear flows down her cheek as her heart leaps with joy. She is happy that while in her waiting room, she didn’t give up and today she is a proud mother of one.
Gynaecology service is available at City Health Hospital every Tuesday and Saturday. We provide quality and affordable healthcare services.
Authored by: Mercy Waithaka
