Nina was a pretty young lady of 25. As an IT undergraduate, her entire life was ahead of her. She was highly sought after by members of the opposite sex as she belonged to a select BB group - BB stands for beauty and brains. It wasn't long as expected, before this dashing young man sought ,and successfully wooed and married her. I have to state here that then, and even up till now, in most parts of Africa, having children is thought of as the primary purpose of conjugal union. So in a few months, the pressure was on Nina to prove herself a worthy investment for her partner. She did not fail in this regard as she fell pregnant in record time of 2months after marriage.Everything proceeded well and she was even begining to be accorded some respect by her inlaws when tragedy struck - Nina's baby came at 6months. At the state owned hospital where Nina had her child, there was no incubator. So they had to take the baby to another hospital that had incubators. Here the baby died after 4weeks of nurture, surgery, blood transfusions etc. Throughout the duration of the baby's stay in the hospital, Nina was a basket case! she cried for every and any thing. Surprisingly when the baby died she couldn't even drop a tear. Within the next 6 months, she was to concieve 2 more times and loose them to miscarriages.Her trips to the doctors to find solution to her problems proved abortive. The doctors' gave reasons that ranged from nutrient deficiency in her body to organ malfunction as possible causes of her predicament. Meanwhile her once loving husband had started sleeping out and generally flirting with other women in an attempt to have children.His family encouraged him in scantily disguised manners. To them he was a man and it was needful he proved his manhood.Desperate Nina eventually got pregnant once more. She couldn't be careful enough but the baby once more came at 26weeks rather than 40.But against all odds, this baby lived! He had to be in oxygen for the first 2years of his life.He was jaundiced at birth and had to get an exchange blood transfusion.He was said to be brain dead as a result of some sleep aponeia he had. Nina cried a lot these days.She had to travel overseas a lot as most of the procedures her baby was undergoing could not be handled locally. Baby couldn't meet most developemental milestones initially.Nina was gradually becoming a religious recluse while her husband galivanted around town and eventually had an illegitimate male child. I lost contact with this family and only ran into them a couple of weeks ago. To my amazement, Nina's baby was a handsome, intelligent young man! It was only the shape of his head {it was called craniofacial} that re minded one of his earlier ordeal. And here was the couple acting like lovebirds again. Surely time is the best physician of all times.

Tags & Keywords : Premature,miscarriage,exchange blood transfusion,craniofacial and aponeia