"There are over five women due tomorrow and we are short of supplies, what are we going to do? We never budgeted for this much,"
Sara said as she walked into Ruby's office, Sara is the head nurse among the nurses that volunteered and joined Ruby on this mission."We make use of what we have Sara, we can do it, I already called the hospital and they will send supplies as soon as they can but till then we are on our own,"Ruby replied while checking the pulse of the patient on the bed, Sara stood by watching her."Have you eaten today?"She asked the patient who shook her head and said no."Ma'am you have to eat, for you and the baby, it not good that you starve yourself,"She explained."It's not that I don't want to eat, but there are hungry children here, I can't eat while I watch children go hungry,"She replied, she was the first patient Ruby has had since she came here that had a good command of English, her other patients mostly speak in the island language, which she didn't understand and she had to get help from an interpreter to get information from her patients not as if she got much, the people here were very secretive and barely give information away, and she also tried to learn the basic things in the language to communicate with them but still, they didn't give much away."But still you can't just keep starving yourself, the baby needs food to develop well,""I will try my best,"replied but Ruby knew she would not, in the The patient past couple of weeks she has been here, she has come to learn a lot, first of which is that most women on the island were pregnant as if it was breeding season, even the teenagers were, secondly, the fathers were not known, she has tried to ask a few of the women to bring their husband or boyfriend along to clinic but they always turn up without them that she had given up, and thirdly, they were always a case of an abandoned child almost every week, so far there are about six abandoned babies and from what she gathered from the locals, it was a common thing, which didn't sit well with her which is why she decided to give numbers to every pregnant woman that walks into this clinic and so far she had over three hundred women.The fact that the island population were mostly women and children and half of those women were pregnant too didn't sit well with her either, but there was nothing she could do about it as they were not even talking to her.She had not thought hard about her decision when she decided to come here, she had been going through a lot that when the director had asked for people to volunteer she had said she will without even checking where she was coming to, not that she regretted coming here but, if she had at least done a little research before volunteering them she might not have come here.At that time she had needed a space to escape from her reality and the pain she had been facing."Ma'am please take care of your health and try to eat more, meet the nurse at the entrance and she will give you your drugs, try not to overwork yourself.She explained to the patient as she finished her check and the patient thanked her and left, she turned to Sara who had been standing there the whole time, she looked like she was going to hit something or someone."Sara we have to make use of what we have, I can't help this situation,"Ruby tried to explain but the angry nurse wasn't having it."That will be hard, and also we are short on staff, Nathan is not recovering and we need all the help we can get,""Nathan is leaving with ferry tomorrow, hopefully by the next return trip the hospital would have brought supplies,""God, this is awful Doc, did they really send us here and abandon us? Like I don't get it, what's so hard in getting the supplies we need here with a helicopter, and a doctor is sick, he has to ride a ferry? That's not fair,"Sara complained, she had valid reasons to be angry but there was nothing Ruby could do about it, she was tired too, of calling the hospital and them giving her the same answer over and over again."Sara, we are all having a hard time but the hospital didn't budget for this much, we have to understand that, I asked Nathan and he said he was okay with going back with the ferry, I will have one of the nurses go with him to be sure.""We can't let go of another person Ruby, if Nathan leaves and takes another nurse with him, we will be two hands short and that's not good,""What do I do now?"She asked, she was out of options."The hospital should have weighed their pros and cons before sending us here, I have done other voluntary works and this is the first time I am regretting it, we can't work without supplies, a doctor is sick, the patients are not communicating well, they are keeping lots of information to themselves, this island is not safe yet the hospital that sent us here are acting like we are in some kind of inaccessible place, why can't they do the needful or better yet and end this whole thing?""Even if they tell us to return, would you go back? Knowing that these women might give birth anytime and there are no health care providers here? Would you be okay with it? If yes then you can go with Nathan tomorrow, I will make use of who I have and who is ready to work with me,"She replied her own anger increasing."Is that how it going to be? I can't even talk to you again without you taking my words out of context? I am just stating our problems, you think I can sit back and watch these women go through pain? I have been here for weeks working my ass off every day, and you feel I don't care just because I am saying the hospital should have done better, then, alright I will leave,"Sara burst out in anger, Ruby knew she shouldn't have said what she said, they were all on the edge and have all passed their limits."I am sorry Sara I didn't mean to say that, I just don't know what to do,"She apologized taking off her glasses."I know, I am not even angry at you,I am just tired and scared too that we might have casualties,""I know, please tell everyone we will have a meeting by four pm, let's talk about this together.""Okay, doc,"She said and left, Ruby racked her hand through her hair breathing in and out to calm her nerves, there were fifteen people sent by the hospital and if Nathan returns tomorrow then it would be fourteen and she will be the only Surgeon on the ground, like Sara fear, they might be casualties, one of the women already looks like she can't push, she just couldn't understand why there were no nurse or doctor in the island, the clinic had standard equipment but no health care workers to use them, in fact until they arrived here, the clinic had been locked, if only Nathan didn't fall sick then it would have been easier but he did, he wasn't used to living in places like this so she couldn't blame him.Ruby spent the rest of the afternoon putting things in place, trying to make sure the few medical supplies they still had weren't misused, she hoped the hospital will get them what they need soon, she couldn't even think of leaving the Island to go to the hospital herself, she has to wait for the ferry and then get on a plane, and the ferry will not be back until three days times which means she would spend over four days trying to get there and back, and the nurses can't work without her."It's four pm, Ruby,"Sara announced breaking her out of her thoughts."Oh, right, I am coming,"she said and picked up her notepad before walking out to where everyone was gathered at reception, Nathan looked paler than ever."Nathan, how do you feel?"She asked checking his temperature."I am fine, don't worry about me, I am sorry I can't do my work,""No, it's okay,"She turned to the others and addressed them."As we all know, Nathan has to leave tomorrow to go get better treatment, and I will be the only Surgeon on the ground, which means I need help from the nurse, and also Pharm, you can help too.""Of course,"The pharmacist Reuben agreed, then she continued."So from now on, we need to work together more, I appreciate everything you guys have been doing since we got here, we can do it, I believe in us, and Nathan, don't feel bad about falling sick, you did your best too, you guys are amazing and you are helping these people and giving them hope, just know that for every minute you spend working you are saving a life, and let's all pray the hospital answers us on time too, for now, we welcome any suggestions on how we can do better, the floor is open,"She said and took a seat."I was talking with one of the women and she seems to know little about our work, I was thinking since we are short on hands, we can look for people here that have basic knowledge of what we do and teach them, they don't have to do anything big just the basics if you understand what I mean,"The scientist, Lewis said, Ruby liked the ideal and looked at the others and they all seemed to like it too."That's good Lewis, we will do that, any other suggestions?"She asked. everyone had something to say and by the end of the meeting she was glad she called for them, they didn't find a definite solution yet, but still, it would help."Thank you, everyone, I am so glad you guys are on the same team as me, we will work it out together."They all clapped and went back to their respective office."We should have asked earlier,"Ruby said to Sara."Yeah, I agree, but everyone has been busy since we got here,""True"She agreed."I still have to talk to some of the patients still here,"Sara announced walking off.Entering her office, Ruby sat down and rested and her head on the table.Her shoulders still hurt from where she bumped into the lad from the previous night who stole the other guy's phone, he was lucky though, if the lad had not bumped into her he might not have gotten the phone again, he must be new for him not to know that it is dangerous to walk around holding a mobile phone as a torch, she hoped he has learned his lesson."None, of your business Ruby,"She scolded, she was freaking tired but she still had a lot to do, she has not gone to the apartment that was given to her when she got here for almost a week now, the others took turns to go but she couldn't because she was the only doctor here, the only time she left was when she went to see the only old woman on the island, who was ill and couldn't leave her house. which was when she bumped into the stranger and the lad.She needed to get a change of clothes, so she had to go there today, she picked up her bag and headed out."I am going over to the apartment, Emily, in case they ask of me, I will be back shortly,"She said to the nurse at the reception on her way out, not waiting for her reply...Liam was woken by the sound of someone knocking at his door, he didn't bother to go check who it was because he already knew he won't meet anybody there, it has happened for the past two days he had been here and each time he goes to see who it was no one is always there, he knew this won't be different, he checked the time and it was two am, he tried to go back to sleep but couldn't so he got up from bed, got himself a glass of water and went to the sitting area where his laptop was, as he opened it, he had the sound of cracking, not cracking it was the sound of a crying child, he wondered who was out at this time of the night with a baby, he continued with what he was doing but the crying became louder instead of it to go away."Maybe the neighbors have a newborn kid,"He said to himself, he had seen the light at the next apartment on, this evening when he got back, he has still not met the person in the house but twice he could have sworn he saw a woman leaving but he has never see
"We can't leave until we are sure these women will be okay, you guys sent us here knowing how this island is, and now you want us to leave knowing there are people here especially women and children who need us?"Ruby asked dropping her glasses and biting down on her lips to prevent her from saying the words that bubble in her head."Then you are in your own, we are only going to pay for your expenses back, you return now or face whatever it is that comes with your decision to stay, the hospital is officially taking its hands off this, you have to return by the next ferry ride, tell us before you board it so that we can send a plane, have a nice day doctor,"The director said and ended the call before she could say more, so they are just going to abandon them? Just like that? How will they expect her and her team to leave knowing there are people here who need them?""This is bad, this is so bad,"She said out loud, her whole body ache from staying up all through the night, one of the
Going back to his apartment with the now sleeping child, Liam tried to think of how he will come up with what to do with the child, no one seemed to believe him when he said he wasn't the father, he couldn't believe what was happening, he had so much to do, he had been able to set up a hidden camera and a listener close to the marina where he suspected was where the gamblers and probably the drug dealers were based, he wasn't totally sure but he had asked a few of the locals and they had told him that place was a no go area, a tracker and a camera there will help him get at least a lead, but with a baby, in hand, he didn't know what he will do and he wasn't bad enough to leave a child on her own."I just need to get someone to help until I can find a permanent solution,"He said out loud, he thought of taking the child to the city to either of his sisters or mom, they will gladly care for her but what if the child's mother comes back for her, ruling out the thought of taking her out o
Ruby sat tiredly in her office, this was the first time she was sitting in over seven hours, one of her expectant mothers had gone into labor earlier than anticipated and she didn't have an easy birth which hadn't been easy for Ruby not with the shortage of supplies and staffs' it was one of the most difficult birth she has had in a while she took a deep breath calming her tired muscles' she knew she couldn't relax yet as the new mom had lost a lot of blood there wasn't any blood left in the blood bank so she hoped she doesn't go into a crisis.The hospital still hasn't changed their mind, in fact, they were no longer answering her cars, it was really up to her and her colleagues to help the women here, she didn't have much but she would do her best and the others swore to do the same, she believed in teamwork and know they will achieve much if they continue like this, everyone has been helpful even the women in the island were helping, so far they were doing okay but she knew things
"Can you please trust me on this and let me go and return? I promise I am not running away,"Liam pleaded, the pretty doctor wasn't convinced, he could tell bit he needed her to help him."I will help you in any way I can if you do this, I heard you telling your nurses that you guys don't have supplies, I can help you get those if you will just help me this once, oh and I can lean a hand at the clinic too,"He promised, he didn't know how he was going to keep that promise but desperate tikes call for desperate measures."How am I supposed to trust your words when I don't even know you? Yes, I need those things you are promising but his am I sure you aren't going to run away right after I agree to care for the baby and where are you going to in the first place? Why is it so urgent and why can't you bring your baby with you?"She asked, she was one feisty woman and she wasn't even going to let him go if he doesn't tell her, and he didn't know or trust her enough to tell her the truth."
Ruby looked up to see the handsome father of the kid, walking into her office, he kept his words and was back earlier than he had earlier said, his baby was still sleeping."I am back doc,"He said with a smile, he was handsome, if she still dated, she would have looked his way, he was everything her type, his broad shoulders that were well defined with the sleeves he wore which were now rolled up, his short milliary styled hair, adding to his alluring appearance, she had the urge to pass her hands through his hair and see if it felt soft or if it was all hard like his muscles, not that she knew much about those."Doc?"He called as she realized she was supposed to respond to his call."Yeah, thank goodness you are trustworthy, hope you could do what you went for?""No, not really,"He answered, he looked disappointed like things didn't go as he wanted, she wanted. To hug him and tell him that it will be just fine, then she cautioned herself, she didn't know the dude and she should be
The next morning, after doing her rounds, she walked out of her office towards the reception, and she handed over the list she had made the night before to Emily, who stared at it and back to her face."What's this doc?""Oh it's a list of supplies, I want you to give it to Liam, you know him right? He lives at our apartment too, he came with his kid to the clinic recently,”She explained and Emily nodded."Oh, I know him but I can't go there now, I have to watch the patients in room 003, Sara had to go see the old lady who can't walk,"She explained, Ruby, nodded in understanding, she figured it would be better if she just went by herself so she took the list back from Emily."Okay, I will just go by myself, I will be back shortly,"She said going back to her office to get her phone and her purse, she would just use the opportunity to take a bath and bring fresh clothes here, she could also sleep a little too."Call me if anything goes wrong okay?""Yes, doc,"Emily replied as she st
When Ruby left, Liam decided to make the call, he didn't know anyone who could get him hospital materials, so he had no choice than to call his mom, if he called any of his sisters, they would tell his parents and his mom will be mad that he didn't call her instead, so calling her was his best bet even though he risked getting an ear full."Hey, Mom,"Liam greeted when his mom picked up."Wait, you really called me first? This is not a dream?"His mom asked, he rolled his eyes at her dramatic response, it made it seem like he doesn't just up and call her, even though that was truly the case, he didn't like being reminded of it."Mom, come on,""What is it that you want? Because there has to be a reason why you called,"His mom said, she was right but that didn't mean he was going to agree with her."Mom, come on, why would a son need a reason to call his beloved mother?""Yeah, except you are the son involved, now spill, I will do it,""Wow, you are such a sweetheart Mrs. Wellington,"