In September 2021 my husband Orville suffered an anoxic brain injury in Zimbabwe where he worked as a finance expert on an EU funded project. The injury was due to the failure to intubate him after he collapsed from a heart attack. Orvy was by all accounts healthy, had a heathy diet and exercised regularly. He had just travelled two days prior after taking the COVID-19 vaccine a week and a half before. When I flew to Zimbabwe to get my husband after his injury I did not know what to expect. I walked into the ward and Orville was laying there with tubes coming out of every part of his body. The screams were welling up in me. Somewhere deep down I knew I could not fall apart. I knew I had to summon every bit of strength I possessed. This couldn't be about me - I had to be strong for Orville; He had to feel my presence and feel a sense of calm. I knew the screams in my head had to be quieted. I don't remember walking to the bed, but my head was on his shoulder, my arm draped around him, and I'm telling him its going to be OK. I don't think I completely understood the extent of his injuries. Yes I'd spoken to the doctors, yes they'd explained what had happened - but it still didn't make sense - I couldn't wrap my head around it. I couldn't understand how this had happened to the love of my life. |