No trophy for suffering

Ade bent to press the spot just below his ankle for the umpteenth time and the resulting pain surged through him as usual. He is trying to grow stoic with each torturous step. He balanced his frame tenderly on the strong right foot and support it with a precarious stand on the painful right foot, he limped on.

“Don't you think you should consult a doctor on this leg, I think it's taking too long to heal and it seems to get bad sef” Jade, her sister, watched as Ade limped and groaned at intervals.

He popped two caplets of Ibuprofen and gulped it with a cup of water for the third time in the day and it was just midday.

Ahem! Clears throat. “It'll go. It will heal, I just need to endure a little more” he said.

“A little more till it's ripe for amputation abi?” his mother cut in.

“Ah ! God forbid o, what kind of wish is that?” He said frowning as he hanged the left leg resting on the right and leaning on the door frame. He was becoming increasingly pained and irritated with the sore which has refused to heal and spreading towards his knee.

“Iwo lo mon. I won't watch while you kill yourself in silence. I've told Daddy Ogunronbi about it and he promised to check on you after work today. If you like do like limpopo away and be absent when he comes around. Thank God you know everyone in my family, we don't have a 'gurugu' and you can see me too (she stretches her limbs to display health and fitness).

Ade has been enduring the pain for a year now but he has kept it to himself. It started as a little bump just below his ankle with a strange tingling sensation spreading to his knee and he could feel it up his to hips. Now the tenderness has spread all through his left leg. His family had thought it was an injury sustained from his pursuit of stardom through football. The extent of the pain became known about a week ago when he couldn't hide it any longer, the grotesque figure he cut while walking or standing gave him up.

Despite the nagging pain Ade has refused to visit any hospital, today will be different, he really wished to know what it was that was devouring his leg.

…................................

After careful examination, Ogunronbi, a senior nurse, removed his glove and looked straight into Ade's eyes with a hint of hopelessness.

“Ade, (he sighs) why have you kept mute over something as serious as this”?

Ade gave him the can-it-be-worse look.

“Okay, it has spread wide and you'll need to see a doctor. I hope it's not as bad as I think, but I can tell you this is very bad”

….................................

Only God knew what the old nurse told Ade's mum, but she was gloomy for the rest of the night looking at him like a living-dead. He would get to know as the doctor finished analysing the test results.

“You said you are 22 years old?” the doctor asked.

“Yes sir, by next week I'll be” Ade answered as calm as he could but anyone listening could tell anxiety in his voice.

“You are a very strong man...(taps his pen on the big x-ray result envelope) to have withstand such pain this long”

Ade looked down on himself with a little sense of justification and piety.

“But, it's a pity there is no compensation for suffering in silence. You'll have to celebrate your birthday without your left leg” the doctor paused a little for effect and continued speaking before Ade could say a word.

“We must ampuatate the leg immediately. So call me your mum”

Ade looked at his leg and muffled the scream roaring through his lungs as he limped out of the doctor's office.

“Oko mi, what did he say” the mum rushed to meet him.

“Ah! Maami aye mi ti baje o, they said they'll cut my leg” as he lounged to hold her he hit his leg against a gurney.

He fainted!