The First Five Days of September !

Day 1:

it was a Saturday, and my dad wasn't feeling too good but I didn't think much of it. I was sure he'd be good in no time. We went to the hospital to visit and we spoke about 'Purple Hibiscus' -a book I had just finished reading. "Daddy, how can a father pour hot water on his child's leg? That's just mean!" "You need to read it daddy for real." My dad replied " I'm still reading this big one Babatunde gave me."

We stayed in the hospital till late that night...

Day 2:

My dad said his final goodbyes today... but we didn't realize it till he actually passed.

We were together all evening. The visiting time had elapsed and just as we were about to leave, he told us not to. He asked that we sat on the corridor and spent quality time with each other.  He was the only one who knew that the quality time would be the last conversation we were going to have together as a family.  He kissed my mum and I said "ewwwww."  I would never forget that Sunday; moments that I would never be able to describe in words. They are all memories...that I would forever cherish. No husband or father like him. We got home a bit after midnight; I cried and I prayed myself to sleep because I desperately wanted for him to feel better.

Day 3: whenever I think of day 3, I feel sad all over again because it was a day I wish I could go back to and fix something.

6:18pm, I called my dad: "daddy I won't be coming to the hospital today, I have a cold and I don't want you to catch it. I have been sneezing all day." ...and He simply said ok. If I could turn back the hands of time to spend day three with him...

It is harder to get closure knowing I could have done something differently.

Day 4: I got a call at work at 2:19pm. It was my mum. She didn't understand what the doctors were saying about a possible death. I couldn't concentrate at work, so I asked for permission to leave. I went straight to the hospital. We all prayed and just as if it happened yesterday, I recall, clearly how my dad kept asking for a cold drink. I phoned my sister. "I've never seen dad like this" I remember telling her.  She got a ticket and came over as quickly as she possibly could. At 10:46pm, I heard a nurse saying "let's allow the family of bed 17 stay the night. he is likely to pass so make them comfortable."  My dad's bed was 17. What a memory to attach those digits (in that exact order) to. My mum said all 3 of us couldn't sleep over. I was to go home, get some rest to come back in the morning so that my brother who would stay the night could go get some rest in the morning after I had returned. It was the last time I saw my dad.

Day 5 : I went to bed at 2.30am and I woke up from a dream around 4ish -what I'd call a nightmare. In the dream my dad had died and for the first time I was too weak to rebuke such thoughts or dreams. In the real world, My dad had passed around past 3. Although I wasn't aware of this, I finally woke up at 6am to get ready for the hospital and saw 3 messages from my cousins conveying their condolences for the passing of my dad. My response: " it's ok, the devil is a liar. He is going to get well." They realised I had no clue of his passing when they read "he is going to get well ".

I got to the hospital to find my dad sleeping.  I smiled and said "oh... he slept when I left" but no one replied me. There was a smile on his face some sort and I asked what painkillers they had used for him and still no one replied me. He looked like he was still breathing, I touched him and he was cold. I started to hit his chest, telling him to wake up.  This wasn't the type of sleep I wanted for him. At this point, everyone left me in the room.

No day goes by without the thought of my dad. I know that he will want my memory of him to be a happy one; of his peaceful smile. Every time I say Ayodele ka re laye (meaning Ayodele did well in his lifetime) I smile because he ran a good race and though his life here on earth is over, he is resting in perfect peace. People say move on but how do you move on from a great father. Someone who displayed love in his deeds and his words. How do you move on from someone who gave you the best life ? How do you possibly move on from one of the best relationships you had the privilege of enjoying on this earth?

I'm so thankful to God for the time spent with him. I'm so thankful for a wonderful life. I am thankful for comfort, healing and thankful to God for the amazing family and friends that have been there endlessly.