Kindness has no religion

I have written repeatedly about the struggles I went through whilst living in Accra as a young mother. Recently, my mind took me back to a moment when one of my sons was ill and finding resources to take him to the hospital was not easy. After many days of struggle, a neighbor told me that there was a free hospital run by some Muslims in a different part of town. She gave me transport money and instructed me to go early. Next morning by dawn, I put my son on my back and went to get the trotro (bus) to go to the hospital. We got there by 6:30 am and my number was literally in the 100s.

Given that the boy’s fever was high, the security allowed me to sit inside, even though, given the number I picked I should have been seated outside.

The doctors started their process by calling the numbers, I was sitting with the boy on my lap and I was sweating from hunger, whilst he was weak with fever.

A young female doctor came out looking for her nurse, she looked at me and said “Come.”

I said “It’s not my turn”, but she l insisted. I went in her office. She took my son’s temperature and proceeded to order labs. She even allowed us to sit in her office while we waited for the result. She then asked if I had eaten, my answer was no, she asked, if the boy had eaten, I said no. She went in her handbag and gave some money to her nurse to buy us food. After we ate, the result came and she ordered the medication from the in-house pharmacy. What the hospital didn’t have she sent the nurse to buy for us. When we were about to leave, she again went into her bag and gave me transport money plus extra to buy food when we got home.

I didn’t know what to say to this young Muslim doctor’s kindness. I thanked her profusely as I was leaving and couldn’t stop thanking God for her.

Whenever I reminisce about this encounter, I come to the same conclusion-kindness has no religion.

Purpose this week to be kind to someone, anyone!