FLYING WITHOUT WINGS

The 100^th operation in 2015

The lucky chap, a man

Married to a lovely woman

Yes, his wife is a woman!

Our man had a story to tell

Of course, it turned out usual

Headaches diagnosed as malaria

Yes, it’s always malaria!

Roaming doctor to doctor

One hospital to the other

And a pastor sandwiched

Yes, always in between!

The penny dropped late

He started walking funny

And collapsed in the house

Yes, it’s in his head!

A big tumour to boot

Pressing the brain

Blocking the fluid

Yes, an MRI is gold!

And so he came

A sorry sight to see

Tumour in a dangerous area

Yes, surgery the only cure!

The major question

Can it be done?

Here in Nigeria?

Yes, and with paper money!

For Nigerians want the best

Yet, fail to provide

Always looking for cheap

Yet, expecting the best!

The tumour is growing

More brain to damage

So, we need to hurry

Yes, to theatre we go

A spectacle to behold

A brain being strangled

By a perilous tumour

Yes, a killer for sure!

This particular tumour

Deserves respect

With gadgets and gizmos

Special instruments and monitors

Yet, we have none!

Still, a job to be done

And done well for sure

So we brought many cooks

Yet, not to spoil the broth!

More eyes better than one

More hands too for sure

For all hands on deck

Yes, flying to the Promised Land

Remove the whole tumour

Without removing brain

Clear the path

Free the brain

Yes, a tough nut to crack!

But, we managed

With skill and guile

A strong constitution

Yes, with Red bull for sure!

For this was a flight

To the Promised Land

With a wing and a prayer

Yes, perhaps just the prayer!

For we were flying

But without wings

Though flying for sure

Yes, feet firmly on ground!

And survived he did

With little more than

A bad headache

Yes, close shaves for sure!

For we are brain surgeons

Not barbers

And this an occasion

Not a beauty pageant

Yes, a real job for sure!

100^th operation!

A success to say

At least in the short term

For many rivers to cross

Yes, rivers still ahead

Radiotherapy

Chemotherapy

Adjuvant treatment

Yes, real money to spend

Patients with brain tumours

Deserve more in Nigeria

They need more

Than just a crazy hair cut

Yes, not barbers for sure

So, a job for government

Of that we are sure

As we cannot continue this way

Feet on the ground

Flying without wings!

NB: The operation was performed by a crack team of doctors, nurses and cleaners made in Nigeria. Not a single white skin in sight, unless you consider the scrub nurse speaking phonetics during surgery!