Chapter 2: Thee Chapter 2 - through Esoko's eyes

 It all happened in a blur. In very inexplicable circumstances. Approximately 8hrs between my initial respiratory failure and total organ shut down.

As promised, here is chapter 2 of my story, told through the eyes of my sister-in-law, Esoko, and my cousin, Ken. In their own words. I cried when I read the narration from Esoko. What an ordeal it must have been for her, Ken, and the medical team. I am grateful for the quick response at Coptic hospital because, without it, someone else would have been telling my story today. It all just seems to have been God orchestrated.

Esoko

Esoko Samantha Chibangulula (42) is the older sister to my wife. The firstborn in a family of seven (7). Bubbly and calm by nature, she is someone my kids and I have come to count on for pretty much anything. This is her narration of what happened to me on that fateful day.

I was dosing in my favorite chair at home when I received a frantic phone call from my sister, Charmaine, informing me that Japhet was unwell and was at Levy hospital. She urged me to go and check up on him as Levy hospital is a stone throw away from my home. Within a few minutes, I arrived at the hospital and saw Japhet by the reception, sitting in a wheelchair.

The very first thing I noticed was his swollen face. I asked if he was experiencing any headaches he said no. At this point, his temperature felt very cold to the touch and he was shivering. When he spoke, he appeared to be choking and his speech was getting incoherent at intervals as he was going in and out of consciousness. At this point, we were moved to the observation room.

Japhet requested Kenneth to bring some tea and a blanket to cover himself as he was feeling very cold. The tea was brought but he was struggling to swallow. He managed to take a substantial amount of it and then requested that he rests a bit as he was feeling very tired. He lay on the hospital bed for some time without incidence.

When he woke up, I noticed his speech was slightly slurred and each time he cleared his throat the slur would slightly reduce. Shortly, he started complaining that he could hear loud sounds in the ears. That he had a tingling sensation on lips, numbness on the right side, numbness in the face and pain in one eye. At this point Japhet was extremely sleepy and his legs were getting weaker. I also noticed that his lips were twitching uncontrollably.

After much consultation with the doctor who was seeing him at Levy Hospital, Ken and I made the decision to transfer Japhet to Coptic Hospital for a second opinion. Along the way, Japhet is drooling and losing control of his body. When the vehicle halted, he would fall over.

Arriving at Coptic Hospital, I immediately rushed into the reception area and described Japhet's condition as I tried to fill in medical forms. A wheelchair was quickly taken to the car to pick Japhet as at this point there was no strength in his legs. The hospital personnel immediately recognised Captain Mesa as they fondly called him. I was told to stop filling in the forms and we were rushed to the ER.

At the ER a lot of questions were being asked as they were checking for his vital signs. The oximeter showed 20% blood oxygen level and I saw panic on the doctor's face. He wanted to know what happened.

The last words that Japhet said to the doctor treating him were "you treated my daughter" and he was hooked on an oxygen tube. The doctor kept on asking why his organs were shutting down. What poison had he been exposed to. I had no answer for his questions

Just under 3 minutes I noticed Japhet’s eyes were static and yellow. The male nurse and Ken who were with us tried to shake him but he was non-responsive. The doctor rushed in and tried to do CPR, it also failed. He then quickly moved him to ICU where the mechanical ventilator was.

Ken and I rushed to the second floor where the ICU is located. We were not allowed in but we could watch through the glass door. At this point, I too lost my leg strength and my ears did not feel right. I guess my adrenaline levels were high too. I was scared, to be honest. Ken watched from the door as I sat on the chairs outside the ICU. I covered my face and prayed to God. As I prayed, I kept seeing visions of Japhet's children, wife, and mother.

I lost count of time but it was a while when the doctor came out of the ICU and informed us that Japhet has been hooked onto a ventilator and his organs had stabilized. He said he was stable and that if we believed in God, then we were to stay in prayer. God always answers prayers.

In the early hours of the next morning. We heard the nurses saying Captain Mesa you are in a hospital calm down. I guess Japhet woke up in a panic.

When I was finally allowed in, Japhet was hooked up to machinery I have never seen before. Tubes on tubes. I was so happy he was able to recognize me. He gave me a thumbs-up as he was unable to speak. At this point, the ICU room was now filled with uniformed men from ZAF and Japhet's relatives trying to find out what had happened. I did not even know that Japhet had a stroke at this point. I was just happy to see him responsive and back to us.

It is an ordeal that no time can erase from my memory, God gave Japhet a second shot at life. Japhet make it count!!!