Going by the above citations however, every soul must have a taste of death, that no one could escape death when his/her time comes irrespective of his/her gender, religion, age and or class differences etc. On the 18th day of May, 2010, Allah in His infinite mercy, took away my beloved wife, Khadijah from his world.
An obedient, patient and humane housewife, Khadijah died at Mallam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) in Kano around 12 midnight on Tuesday, minutes after she underwent a minor surgery owing to an ectopic pregnancy.
She died of heart attack shortly after the completion of the surgery, according to her senior brother, Dr. Mansur Yahuza, a medical doctor working with the AKTH.
I was at my place of work in Dutse, the capital of Jigawa State when my phone rang and when I picked her call, she told me that she felt sick and she needed to be taken to the hospital immediately.
I called one of my nephews, Nazeer Lawal Adam and directed him to use my brother’s car, Alhaji Lawal, to convey her to Premier Clinic for medical attention. Unfortunately, on arrival at Premier Clinic, they were told that there was no bed to accommodate her, hence, they referred her to Mallam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.
At AKTH, she was attended to by four different doctors at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the hospital before she was taken to Gynaecology unit. Two staff of the hospital and I moved her to the unit. On arrival, I was told that she developed ectopic pregnancy and that she had to undergo a minor surgery to address the situation. According to the Collins English Dictionary, Ectopic pregnancy is an abnormal development of a fertilised egg outside the cavity of the uterus and it is usually within a fallopian tube.
After following all the processes for conducting the surgery, I was asked to sign a consent form, which I did. Shortly after, she was moved to the gynaecology theatre for the minor surgery. Again, two staff of the hospital and I took her to the room.
At the theatre room, we had our final discussion which reads as follows, “Look at my hand, there is no blood in it. The entire blood has moved to my stomach,” she said.
She continued, “Please hold my hand,” she added, saying, “Abban Zayd, I know I will never survive from this sickness. You know that I gave birth to three children, but wallahi, the pain I am suffering from this illness is more painful than giving birth to a child. I want you to do three things for me. One, you should forgive me, secondly you should take care of our children and thirdly you should pray for me.”
She further told me that, “Abban Zayd, please pray for me, I heard from the doctors that, I am bleeding internally and I am sure I am not going to survive. I am sure I am going die today. Wallahi, my life has come to an end, so please pray for me and take care of our children.”
When she was finally taken into the main theatre room, I was then asked to stay outside. After some hours, one of the supporting staff came out in a hurry and directed me to go to the hospital’s pharmacy unit and buy an injection for my beloved wife. He insisted that I should rush because it was urgent.
On arrival at the pharmacy unit, I could not see the pharmacist. I was asked to rush to a nearby chemist opposite AKTH and buy the injection. Unfortunately, I was told at the chemist that it was finished. I then rushed to the next chemist but found it locked, meaning the owners had closed for the day.
I therefore took an achaba ride to another chemist adjacent to Yahuza Suya spot along Court road. I found the injection there at the cost of N150 only. I rushed back to the hospital and delivered same to Dr. Mansur Yahuza for onward conveyance to the doctors conducting the operation.
About 45 minutes later, while Tajudden, Gaje (Khadijah’s senior sister) and I were at the main entrance of the theatre, Dr Mansur came out from the theatre room crying and told us that my beloved wife, Khadijah was dead. He said she died of heart attack. Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’uun.
I met Khajdijah while she was a primary three pupil of Race Course Primary School, Nassarawa GRA, Kano. We were together for ten years before we finally got married in the year 2000. We also lived as a couple for ten years before the Almighty God took her away from me. Oh God! You know best why You took away Khadijah at this time. However, May Allah, the Almighty grant her Aljannah Al-firdausi.
Khadijah, as a Muslim was a religious servant of Allah, the Almighty. As a housewife, she was obedient. As a mother, she was caring to her three children, Ja’afar, Zayd and their younger sister, Maryam. As a nursing officer, she was a committed and patient civil servant. Oh God the Almighty, forgive late Khadijah and grant her Al-jannah Al-firdausi.
In fact, I don’t know how to describe late Khadijah’s virtues because she meant everything to me. Of all the years we spent together, there had never been a time when somebody from either my own or her own family waded into our relationship to reconcile us, showing how cordial we lived together. And for ten years as my wife, she had never quarreled with any member of my family.
On a final note, I pray to Almighty Allah to forgive Khadijah, grant her soul eternal rest. I also pray to Allah to grant Khadijah Al-Janah Al-firdausi. To my relatives, friends and well wishers, I enjoin you to please pray for my late beloved wife, Khadijah.
Yusha’u is a reporter with Media Trust Limited.
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