Against all odds
There are moments in medicine that test not just our skill, but our soul. One such moment unfolded in Asankrangua some years back, when a heavily pregnant woman arrived at our facility, bleeding profusely. Her life — and her baby’s — hung in the balance. But the odds were stacked against us: our theatre was down, there was no blood available, and no ambulance in sight.
In that instant, I wasn’t just a doctor. I was a decision-maker, a risk-taker, a human being staring down the impossible. I laid out the grim reality to the patient and her family. We chose the only path that offered hope — a transfer to Bibiani Government Hospital. The road was rough, the journey long and uncertain . I drove them in my vehicle, fueled by urgency and a quiet prayer that we would make it in time.
We did, their doctor had another emergency so I had to operate on her and against every obstacle, both mother and child survived. The baby was named after me — a gesture that pierced through the exhaustion and reminded me of why we do this.
Later, when I recounted the story to a colleague, he cautioned me about those risks I often take. He wasn’t wrong. In our line of work, the very people we fight hardest for can sometimes be the ones who scrutinise us most harshly. Many patients never learn our names until something goes wrong and our names are fished out and dragged to the mud. Yet, paradoxically, it’s often those we help in passing who return with overwhelming gratitude.
So I told him: if saving lives means risking everything — reputation, safety, even legal consequences — then I would do it all over again. Because this job isn’t just about protocols. It’s about humanity.
Reflection
That day reminded me that medicine(and other services to mankind) is not just science — it’s sacrifice. It’s the quiet courage to act when everything seems broken. It’s the emotional weight of knowing that our choices can mean life or death. And it’s the bittersweet truth that recognition may never come, but the impact remains.
When those I’ve poured my heart into leave me feeling unseen or betrayed, the ache tempts me to retreat. But, then, I am reminded that devotion isn’t sculpted from praise, perfection nor payback but a quiet grace of touching lives, the courage to keep risking love, and the compassion that stays even when no one’s watching. This gives me the courage to do it all over again, though wiser.
Serenity Prayer
May we, in the face of chaos and uncertainty, find the strength to act with courage. May our hearts remain open, our hands steady, and our purpose clear. May we have the righteous burden to impact lives and may our steps be ordered always. Amen.
MAY YOU NEVER LACK WISDOM ,DOC