I was annoyed about missing my cake!

Last month, Mo, who is now 17, shared with us his experience of bullying at primary school and how he dealt with it.  Today he describes the day which was to change his life. 

It was one day when I was nine years old that my life-changing event occurred. Mum came to collect me from school before lunch. At the time my mind was fixated on the dessert after lunch – a piece of chocolate cake soaked in custard. However, my mood took a U turn when I was taken out of school before having my cake. Mum seemed tense and, in a rush, not her usual smiling self. I was about to insist on waiting till I had my lunch, but then mum said “Dad is waiting at home we need to go home now “. I asked mum the reason for the urgency, at first mum hesitated then told me that the hospital had rung and wanted us to go immediately! 

I thought that’s a strange thing, dad had told me that my appointment was in a few weeks’ time. I was always very inquisitive and prone to asking too many questions!  Mum would listen patiently and give me answers or an explanation to satisfy my curious mind. I walked home wanting to know why the hospital had changed the appointment, still a bit annoyed about missing my chocolate cake! On arrival at home, I noticed my dad was loading suitcases in the car. Dad also appeared a bit tense, not his usual relaxed self. Mum quickly got me changed out of my school uniform and we were in the car ready for the journey. I was the only one who wasn’t aware of the significance of this journey. 

On the way to the hospital, I bombarded mum with questions about the change to the original hospital appointment. During the drive dad was very quiet, then suddenly mum received a call asking her how far we were from the hospital. After a while I wanted to go to the services, so I told my dad I was hungry. We stopped off at the garage and I went inside the shop. I used to love getting TOXIC magazine and colouring / puzzle books to use in the car. Dad paid for the magazines and went back to the car. I told mum that I needed some food, but mum said she had left her purse in the car and would get food from another café. So still no food! Oh well I will have to wait a bit longer for something to eat.  I read my magazines, completed puzzles and eventually fell asleep. I woke up when the car stopped and heard mum say “Amaan sweetheart wake up “.  

As we walked towards the hospital, dad phoned somebody and told them that we had arrived. At the hospital entrance a lady came out to meet us. The lady spoke to my parents and then ushered us in. There was a strange sense of secrecy and urgency as we were led into a side corridor. Through a double door we entered a very quiet secluded area and encountered another set of double doors. The lady who was escorting us used a card to open the doors, suddenly we entered a large white room. 

Everyone in the room turned to look at us as we entered. Complete silence for a few seconds, I reached for my dad’s hand for support. In recognition of my anxiety dad squeezed my hand back in response. The quiet unspoken gesture comforted me. Dad looked at me and gave me a reassuring smile. I looked towards mum; she pulled me close to her. I felt safe knowing that my parents were protecting me as if I was about to be attacked by the people in the room!  

Then the staff reverted to whatever they had been doing before our arrival, as if they were going to retreat instead of going into battle! The room was a hive of activity. There was an array of colours reflecting the different roles of the staff.  The room was very large, white and clinical. 

 A very distinct smell of chemical detergents filling the air.  Many apparatus, tubing and other equipment were hanging from units. In the centre of the room stood a single solitary bed. A tall man dressed in blue surgical clothes came over to us. He introduced himself as Dr Manseuri – the surgeon. There was a discussion going on between the surgeon and my parents, but I couldn’t make out what was being said. A nurse approached me and asked to take blood (this was usual procedure at the hospital). 

Another member of staff came over and said “hello big guy”. I looked around and realized he was speaking to me calling me “big guy” well this was a first!  I enjoyed the sound of that. The man introduced himself as Dr Cole, another member of the team who would be taking care of me.  

Just then my stomach began rumbling! I suddenly remembered I hadn’t eaten all day so I asked for food. The doctor told my mum not to feed me as I needed to be nil by mouth! I could not understand why the doctors would not want me to eat. I was about to ask mum when the doctors told my parents to get me changed into the hospital gown. Everyone was   hovering around me, and  dad helped me out of my clothes and put the gown on. I thought I might be transformed into Bane from Batman! There was so much activity, I was very confused and asked my parents about what was happening … 

They both looked at each other and then at me. Dad said “Amaan you know that you have yellow eyes and want white eyes, well the doctors are going to sort that out”. Mum and dad both looked at me lovingly, they cuddled and kissed me. Tears falling fast from their eyes, they were trying very hard to control their emotions. I was confused. Why were my parents so upset? What was happening?  

 Then suddenly I was taken into the operating theatre, had a needle inserted into my hand. This needle was connected to a tube (cannula- which acts as a sleeping medicine to make the patient become unconscious.  )Next thing I saw a cannula being inserted into my hand and everything seemed to smell strange. Someone asked me about football and then I saw an oxygen mask put on my face; the mask smelled very strange. I felt drowsy and dizzy therefore i couldn’t quite make out what the doctors were saying or my parents. I was trying to talk to my parents but the oxygen mask muffled my speech so they just said, ‘You will be fine’ and ‘Pray to God’. The procedure took up to about 11 hours for me. I was given a new liver!  I’m not going into detail about the procedures in the operating theatre. It felt like two minutes as I was asleep for the whole operation.