Episode 7

Gloria, Chioma, and Anita were in a state of panic immediately after they saw the doctor come out of the ward. They approached him hastily and demanded to know about mama's health and Ngozi's.
"We have done all that is possible to ensure both of them are in a stable condition to receive treatment. Mama's case is very critical. She needs serious prayer to survive it. I wonder why you had not brought her on time. Her chance of survival is 'Fifty-fifty'. You know what that means. The trio was left in shock over the bad news and began to pray fervently for God's intervention.
The sudden turn of events remains a mystery to Chioma. She could remember how they were all at home talking happily and joking about the puff-puff that Chioma had bought and refused to give part of it to Anita because the little girl had refused to tell her about the ugly experience she encountered with her new teacher. Ngozi had tactfully collected three of the puff-puff and given them to Anita who had munched it leisurely. Chioma was about to hand some pieces of puff-puff to mama when mama shook uncontrollably from her seat like someone suffering from epilepsy and then slumped, moaning in excruciating pain. In the process of reviving mama in her critical condition, Ngozi felt that her water had burst. She had no more strength to help mama and collapsed on the floor like a pack of cards. Chioma and Anita were so much perplexed. They were left with what next to do. Chioma had to quickly call on Gloria as being the best solution at that moment. The night was fast approaching and no cab around. And if there's one, there was no money to carry out such a task? How much more are the hospital bills? Most especially, in some hospitals where someone has to make part payment before treatment can commence.
Gloria had just returned from work and was about to have a bath. She had earlier run into the restroom to pee. The long seat in a traffic jam had almost made her pee in her skirt. Thanks to almighty God that she was able to pull through and arrive home in good time. Hardly had she undressed when her phone rang.
"Sweetheart, you have a call" Bernard, her husband announced from the sitting room.
"Honey, please, pick up the call and tell the person to call me back in thirty minutes, I need to freshen up, please" She replied.
"I think this call is important. It seems something is wrong as I could hardly hear what the lady was saying. She was just crying"
Gloria was shocked by her marrow. Her mind didn't go any further than to Ngozi and her family. What could have been the problem was what she didn't understand yet. If Ngozi was due for delivery, that calls for celebration not terrible tears as her husband had painted it. She. hurriedly left the bathroom to return the call.
"Hello...Yes... You mean... What?... Okay. I will meet you in a few minutes, please" She dropped the call and explained the current situation to Bernard.
"Are you sure you can drive there? Why not let me drive you to their house?" Bernard offered in concern. He understood how tired and hungry she was. She had only taken two slices of bread and a cup of tea in the morning and nothing more. The hectic work at the office had made her lose appetite for food and the worms in her stomach are fighting a terrible war gnawing her stomach.
"Don't worry honey. I will be fine. Please, take care of yourself. She moved forth and kissed him.
" No problem. I understand. Please, let me know how things are going with them to know the way forward" Benard said.
"All right dear. I will." She replied.
She picked up the car key and drove to Mama Ngozi's house. She had met mama and Ngozi in a critical situation. She drove them to her family hospital. In no time, the doctors commence treatment.
Chioma understood why mama had slumped. She knew that mama had been battling with her ill health for a while. Her drugs had finished over a week and she didn't want to bother anyone about it. Especially when Ngozi was heavily pregnant coupled with the problems she had been facing with her late husband's family. She had a lot of problems troubling her already. Mama would not want to add another fuel to a burning flame. She needed comfort instead. So mama thought she could handle things on her own through self-medication. She had warned Chioma not to disclose anything with Ngozi until when things got resolved to normalcy.
Mama patronized a woman selling liquid herbal drugs. She found herself relieved whenever she took it. Chioma had stumbled on the woman selling the herbs to mama one morning and had complained bitterly about it but mama wouldn't listen. Mama pleaded to the woman to come at a time Chioma would not be around. Mama would signal to her to come around during Chioma's absence. Chioma blamed herself for keeping quiet all the while. She wished she had told Ngozi secretly but what would she have done? But never the less, something could have been done. Probably, seeking help from friends or so. Now that the situation had gotten out of hand, where will the help come from? She wept silently as the thoughts plagued her mind. Gloria walked up to Chioma and whispered some soothing words in her ears. Gloria was grief-stricken but she had to be strong to be with Chioma and Anita. She heard her phone ring and saw 'Honey' displayed on the screen. She had to pick it up and explain the current situation to her husband. Bernard had wanted to come but it was too late. The time was 12:05 a.m. She finally dropped the call after assuring her husband the doctors were in charge of the situation.
Gloria and Chioma couldn't sleep and kept praying fervently for a miracle to happen. If it was just about money, maybe, that wouldn't have been a problem but in a case where mama's health was critical and Ngozi was experiencing hard labor, the situation demanded divine intervention