{"id":4199,"date":"2019-12-27T20:03:16","date_gmt":"2019-12-27T20:03:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.com\/gambia\/?p=4199"},"modified":"2019-12-27T20:03:16","modified_gmt":"2019-12-27T20:03:16","slug":"a-rambling-essay-my-near-death-experience-at-jacobi%e2%80%8b","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/a-rambling-essay-my-near-death-experience-at-jacobi%e2%80%8b","title":{"rendered":"A rambling essay: My near-death experience at Jacobi\u200b"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As the year is about to zoom out of<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>oblivion<\/span><\/span>, everyone is trying their best to recount epic moments that defined the year, and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>probable\u00a0<\/span><\/span>takeaways that will fo<\/span><\/span>r<\/span><\/span>ever be etched in their minds. \u00a0<\/span><\/span>How do we recount the events that defy logic?\u00a0<\/span><\/span>How did we escape from certain incidence, whilst<\/span><\/span>others<\/span><\/span>\u00a0were not so lucky?<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>And why\u00a0<\/span><\/span>do we sometimes<\/span><\/span>dream, and<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>miserably fail to recall what we dreamt about? \u00a0<\/span><\/span>Like Novalis<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0the German philosopher cum- poet says we are near waking when we dream that we dream.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Perhaps, I was merely dreaming when I was asked by doctors<\/span><\/span>\u00a0at Jacobi health center in New York,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0on a fateful afternoon of December 26th to sign a consent form before they could perform perforated ulcer on me. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>To this day, I still could \u00a0not fathom the brave face I put up with when the doctors who thought I was going to decline the request to undergo a surgery, consented. \u00a0Many patients avoid surgery because it is a matter of life or death;<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>I chose life, knowing full well, it is only Allah who has knowledge of the unknown, and it is \u00a0only Him who knows when and where the angel of death will take our souls. I therefore, prayed in solitude for Him to spare me and enable me undergo this operation successfully. \u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span>There were so many things on my mind as I lay in bed surrounded by at least six female doctors who were waiting for me to sign the papers before the time<\/span><\/span>\u00a0for the operation<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>When\u00a0<\/span><\/span>I saw the lead surgeon looking at her wrist watch, a tinge of fear flashed in my heart, I heave<\/span><\/span>d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0a deep breathe, and paused<\/span><\/span>. I started to imagine whether my time on earth was really up. Suddenly, one of the surgeons said I should provide them the contact mobile number of someone who\u00a0<\/span><\/span>will<\/span><\/span>\u00a0be contacted after my operation. I knew the implied meaning of this:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in other words, the surgeon was infering that I may not survive this operation, should death occur, they will contact that individual.<\/span><\/span>\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0At the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>operating room<\/span><\/span>, everyone was armed with a knife<\/span><\/span>;<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>one of the last statements<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>one of the surgeons uttered was \u00a0to check whether I wore any bangle or brac<\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span>let. I was stark<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>naked saved for the white gown that I had sported. My thoughts started to vacilate<\/span><\/span>between surviving the operation or dying<\/span><\/span>\u00a0but there was no time as\u00a0<\/span><\/span>I<\/span><\/span>went through the<\/span><\/span>\u00a0general<\/span><\/span>\u00a0amnesthia<\/span><\/span>\u00a0surgery patients are required to undergo.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>For me that period of unconsciousness was akin to \u201clittle death\u201d, because I didn\u2019t realize what had happened to my<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>body. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n
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When I woke up from my \u201cdeep sleep<\/span><\/span>\u00a0after the surgeons were done with me<\/span><\/span>\u2019\u2019\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and ushered into the post-surgery room<\/span><\/span>. A nurse\u00a0<\/span><\/span>handed a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>remote control and told me to switch a certain button when I needed help. After a<\/span><\/span>\u00a0while,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0I heard the voice of<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Marafang Tambajang<\/span><\/span>\u00a0the older brother of the owner of the apartment where I was lodged in the Bronx, called my name. \u201cThank God, I have successfully gone through the operation\u201d I said to him. I was not expecting any visitor at the time, because New Yorkers<\/span><\/span>were<\/span><\/span>usually very busy<\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>at this time of the year.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>I was not going to blame anyone for not visiting because I know it\u2019s a gigantic struggle to work hard and pay<\/span><\/span>\u00a0a<\/span><\/span>\u00a0mountain of bills<\/span><\/span>. For others, it was perfect moment to spend quality time with loved ones during the holiday season.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u200b\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0The old man sat near my bed, an<\/span><\/span>d<\/span><\/span>console<\/span><\/span>d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0me; memories of the Gambian hospitality kicked in. I have never been admitted to a hospital in my life,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0while in the Gambia, I used to visit friends or family members when they are admitted to a hospital.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>I can recalled instances when visitors\u00a0<\/span><\/span>had to spend the night at the waiting shed of the Edward Francis teaching hospital in Banjul<\/span><\/span>\u00a0or other health centers<\/span><\/span>. \u00a0<\/span><\/span>After a while, another nurse appeared and said I was going to be transferred to another room after my condition had stabilized. I politely asked Marafang to go home and assured him that the nurses would take care of me. I<\/span><\/span>asked him to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>deliver<\/span><\/span>\u00a0my phone charger to his son, Mbemba to enable me charge my phone and communicate with my family in the Gambia.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/ins><\/ins><\/ins><\/p>\n

\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bOn that morning,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>I left my apartment in a hurry; after tossing and turning in bed the whole of the night because the pain in my stomach couldn\u2019t just let me sleep. I made distress calls to alert my roommates<\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u2013 Mbemba Tambajang & Ousainu Niasse,<\/span><\/span>to<\/span><\/span>\u00a0take to the hospital<\/span><\/span>. I was lying flat on the floor, sweating profusely on a wintry morning! \u00a0Ousainu Niasse, realized that I had firmly placed my hand on my abdomen,<\/span><\/span>he\u00a0<\/span><\/span>began reciting some verses from the Quran to soothe me. Suddenly, the pain subsided, Mbemba had gone upstairs to alert the landlord, Lansana Tambajang, who fractured hi<\/span><\/span>s leg<\/span><\/span>\u00a0on his way to my room. However, he asked Mbemba to flag a taxi to Jacobi which was\u00a0<\/span><\/span>about a few minutes drive from where we lived.<\/span><\/span>\u200b\u200b\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Before this operation, I was eagerly looking forward to welcoming 2019 with fanfare at the iconic Times Square<\/span><\/span>, after\u00a0<\/span><\/span>all,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>I was done with my NYU Fall exams and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the<\/span><\/span>school\u00a0<\/span><\/span>was\u00a0<\/span><\/span>closed<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>I\u00a0<\/span><\/span>needed a break to enable me unwind with old friends, family, and loved ones.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0I\u00a0<\/span><\/span>had\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a<\/span><\/span>\u00a0long<\/span><\/span>ambitious l<\/span><\/span>ist\u00a0<\/span><\/span>of places<\/span><\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>visit. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u200b\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span>As fate\u00a0<\/span><\/span>had<\/span><\/span>\u00a0it, I was going to spend the new year at a hospital with strangers.<\/span><\/span>Whilst my impression of Jacobi may be clouded with fear of the unknown, especially during the countdown to the theatre\u00a0<\/span><\/span>room. \u00a0<\/span><\/span>I met some kind Gambian<\/span><\/span>-born health workers<\/span><\/span>; who were quite helpful.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Few minutes after my admission<\/span><\/span>,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Fanta Trawally,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0a native of Janjang Bureh<\/span><\/span>entered the patients\u2019room and read my name written on a small paper\u00a0<\/span><\/span>fastened\u00a0<\/span><\/span>on my\u00a0<\/span><\/span>wrist<\/span><\/span>. (<\/span><\/span>this reminded me about my pilgrimage in Mecca,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>for\u00a0<\/span><\/span>every pilgrim was required to have this as identification)<\/span><\/span>. My encounter with Fanta brought me fond memories of The Gambia, but the truth was that my stomach was hurting<\/span><\/span>. S<\/span><\/span>he began by asking where I lived in the Gambia<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0whether I was the one who used to work at GRTS-TV. I nodded\u00a0<\/span><\/span>my\u00a0<\/span><\/span>head in response,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u201cOh the pain, my stomach is hurting\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0I\u00a0<\/span><\/span>cried, eager<\/span><\/span>\u00a0to be given medicine to ease the pain. She assured me that the doctors will take good care of me.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u200b\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span>The\u00a0<\/span><\/span>treatment regime was rigorous, for three flat days, the doctors insisted that I should be not given water and food at all! OMG! I cried as different duty nurses tried to calm me, \u201cwe cannot defy what the doctors say\u201d, one of the nurses whispered to me. \u00a0<\/span><\/span>Amadou Keita, was the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>second Gambian-born nurse<\/span><\/span>\u00a0I met<\/span><\/span>;<\/span><\/span>\u00a0originally from Baddib<\/span><\/span>u, in the North Bank region. Occasionally,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Amadou and I<\/span><\/span>\u00a0spoke our native Gambian languages,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0changed my grown<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and gave me ice to wet my throat.<\/span><\/span>\u200b\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span>Thanks to Fanta\u2019s efforts, a relati<\/span><\/span>ve<\/span><\/span>\u00a0of mine, Tida Sabally visited me upon hearing that I was at Jacobi. My landlord who was struggling with his fractured leg, tip-toed to my bedside later that evening. He assured me that I will<\/span><\/span>\u00a0be fine<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0I<\/span><\/span>t<\/span><\/span>\u00a0was an overwhelming experience<\/span><\/span>, I\u00a0<\/span><\/span>felt that I didn\u2019t deserve this attention and affection.<\/span><\/span>\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

E<\/span><\/span>very<\/span><\/span>\u00a0morning, the doctors<\/span><\/span>\u00a0examined all the patients and made recommendations to the nurses on the treatment regime and would tell the patients if their condition was improving or when they will be discharged. The senior doctors\u00a0<\/span><\/span>were<\/span><\/span>\u00a0usually accompanied by an army student doctors sometimes from NYU, or other elite<\/span><\/span>teaching<\/span><\/span>hospitals. \u00a0<\/span><\/span>After the inspection<\/span><\/span>, I asked<\/span><\/span>\u00a0my doctor<\/span><\/span>\u00a0when will I eat<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and drink<\/span><\/span>again, she smiled and said to me soon. \u201cHow soon\u201d? I didn\u2019t get a response. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b
\nO<\/span><\/span>utside\u00a0<\/span><\/span>my<\/span><\/span>\u00a0room, in the words of the late Gambian poet, Dr. Peters, I could hear \u201cthe silent-throated sister\u201d bellowing in the background. Some\u00a0<\/span><\/span>patient<\/span><\/span>s have been brought in. The doctors and nurses ran amok, trying to salvage the situation. Sometimes they<\/span><\/span>\u00a0had to abandone us to handle more complex issues. I pitied the health workers for enduring all sorts of insults and in some cases physical attacks from some patients who called the doctors names.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>I changed rooms for the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>forth<\/span><\/span>\u00a0time in two days; I was put up with a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>lousy patient who was<\/span><\/span>admitted at the hospital after he was involved in a violent gunfight in the city<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Despite his pain, the boy was\u00a0<\/span><\/span>glued to his cell phone, \u00a0talking to family members and loved ones and occasionally,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>when\u00a0<\/span><\/span>he wanted to visit the bathroom, he will shout; \u201cnurse, nurse, nurse\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span>When the nurses appeared, the boy told them that he ha<\/span><\/span>d<\/span><\/span>forgotten what he wanted to tell them. \u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

By December 28<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span>, it dawned on me, I\u2019m going to welcome 2019 at\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Jacobi. Some of the nurses were not keen to work on new year\u2019s eve or the first day of the new year-\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in any case,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>it was<\/span><\/span>understandable. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 On new year\u2019s eve, I was transferred to another room by now, I was getting hungrier everday relishing the opportunity to drink and eat again. I was\u00a0<\/span><\/span>accomodated in a<\/span><\/span>\u00a0spacious room with<\/span><\/span>beautiful multi-colored curtains,where I saw the snow\u00a0<\/span><\/span>fall<\/span><\/span>and melt away.<\/span><\/span>\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As the night wears on, my mind hovered back to The Gambia, following various Banjul-based online channels that<\/span><\/span>\u00a0feed its audience news and current events from The Gambia. Reporters were deployed at strategic places such as the busy Senegambia strip where party revelers usually hang out to celebrate the new year.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span>On the first day of the new year,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0I was taken out of my bed by one of the doctors and made to drink a white substance that tasted like chalk<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>The doctor said if I thr<\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span>w<\/span><\/span>\u00a0up, \u00a0I won\u2019t be allowed to drink or eat because it\u00a0<\/span><\/span>was a sign that\u00a0<\/span><\/span>I was not getting better.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Thank God, I passed the test.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b<\/p>\n

After, awhile, \u00a0a nurse brought me a sumptuous soup; and said I have now been cleared to drink and eat normal food.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>At lunch, a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>cart\u00a0<\/span><\/span>loaded with good food<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and drinks<\/span><\/span>\u00a0was emptied on my table. The nurse cutely said I should get up and eat. I spent the night watching epic images of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the famous<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Congolese soukus\u00a0<\/span><\/span>si<\/span><\/span>nger,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Koffi Olamide entertaining Equitorial Guinea president Theodore Obiang and his guest former Gambian president Yahya\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Jammeh.<\/span><\/span>I was wowed with the activities taking place around<\/span><\/span>\u00a0the world; the dancing party at Malabo stunned me.<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bI was discharged from Jacobi on January 3<\/span><\/span>rd<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and continued swallowing tonnes of tablets everyday<\/span><\/span>\u00a0until I re<\/span><\/span>gained my health.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span><\/span>The author, Ebri<\/span><\/span>ma Baldeh, a Gambian-born journalist\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in September 2018,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>benefited from a World Journalism Fellowship to study MA Journalism\u00a0<\/span><\/span>at NYU.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As the year is about to zoom out of\u00a0oblivion, everyone is trying their best to recount epic moments that defined the year, and\u00a0probable\u00a0takeaways that will forever be etched in their minds. \u00a0How do we recount the events that defy logic?\u00a0How did we escape from certain incidence, whilstothers\u00a0were not so lucky?\u00a0And why\u00a0do we sometimesdream, and\u00a0miserably fail […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64,"featured_media":4200,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,3],"tags":[1065,2295,2294],"class_list":["post-4199","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-community","tag-gambia-news-everyday","tag-near-death-experience","tag-rambling-essay"],"yoast_head":"\nA rambling essay: My near-death experience at Jacobi\u200b - Gambia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/a-rambling-essay-my-near-death-experience-at-jacobi\u200b\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A rambling essay: My near-death experience at Jacobi\u200b\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"As the year is about to zoom out of\u00a0oblivion, everyone is trying their best to recount epic moments that defined the year, and\u00a0probable\u00a0takeaways that will forever be etched in their minds. \u00a0How do we recount the events that defy logic?\u00a0How did we escape from certain incidence, whilstothers\u00a0were not so lucky?\u00a0And why\u00a0do we sometimesdream, and\u00a0miserably fail […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/a-rambling-essay-my-near-death-experience-at-jacobi\u200b\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Gambia\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AfricaPressTunisiaa\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-12-27T20:03:16+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/gambia\/sites\/19\/2019\/12\/5ADF27A6-9DFD-4EE2-9CA5-FD2ABB53ADF7.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"540\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"538\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"adama\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"adama\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/a-rambling-essay-my-near-death-experience-at-jacobi%e2%80%8b#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/a-rambling-essay-my-near-death-experience-at-jacobi%e2%80%8b\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"adama\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/#\/schema\/person\/a7488a69bb91ed4cb95c78165665a7c2\"},\"headline\":\"A rambling essay: My near-death experience at Jacobi\u200b\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-12-27T20:03:16+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/a-rambling-essay-my-near-death-experience-at-jacobi%e2%80%8b\"},\"wordCount\":1850,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/a-rambling-essay-my-near-death-experience-at-jacobi%e2%80%8b#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/gambia\/sites\/19\/2019\/12\/5ADF27A6-9DFD-4EE2-9CA5-FD2ABB53ADF7.jpeg\",\"keywords\":[\"gambia news everyday\",\"near-death experience\",\"rambling essay\"],\"articleSection\":[\"all news\",\"community\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/a-rambling-essay-my-near-death-experience-at-jacobi%e2%80%8b#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/a-rambling-essay-my-near-death-experience-at-jacobi%e2%80%8b\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/a-rambling-essay-my-near-death-experience-at-jacobi%e2%80%8b\",\"name\":\"A rambling essay: My near-death experience at Jacobi\u200b - 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