Creating Life: A Tale of Love and Growth _My Pregnancy Journey, Episode 7

Welcome back to the latest episode of my pregnancy journey, where I share the most remarkable and challenging moments with you. This episode is about balance work, academics and pregnancy

A Shocking Accident

In our last episode, I promised to reveal why my husband couldn’t be there to pick me up from my antenatal care visit. It turns out, he had been involved in a shocking accident, and now, we’re sharing the story with you. His main concern was keeping me calm, given my pregnancy and tendency to get easily worried.

A Collision with Fate

The accident unfolded when my husband swerved to avoid a speeding oncoming vehicle, leading to a collision with a nearby shop. Unfortunately, the other driver fled the scene, a common occurrence in our region due to fears of “jungle justice.” My initial fears were manifold: I hoped my husband and the person with him were unharmed, and that there were no casualties. That day marked the darkest and most challenging point in our pregnancy journey.

The car in question wasn’t just any car; it was his official work vehicle. Picture a total disaster: the windshield shattered, the bonnet crumpled, and the side mirror hanging on by a thread. It was a scene right out of a car crash movie. Naturally, he had to get it fixed, but that was just the tip of the iceberg.

To add to our woes, two people were injured in the accident, and the other driver made a hasty getaway, leaving us with the aftermath to deal with. One of the injured individuals had minor injuries, but the other, a married woman, faced a much more serious situation, spending weeks in the hospital.

Now, here’s where things took a bizarre turn. The woman’s husband, instead of appreciating our readiness to take responsibility, decided to make our lives a living hell. He explored every avenue to make us pay more than we should have – changing hospitals, demanding hefty sums for meals, and doing everything in his power to add to our burden.

But the worst part? He concocted a tale for his wife, making it seem like my husband had abandoned her and wasn’t responsible for her hospital bills. It was an infuriating deception that left me seething with anger. What could possibly justify such a blatant lie?

The ordeal was tough on all of us, but it weighed heaviest on my husband’s shoulders. He not only had to deal with the woman’s hospital bills but also took on the responsibility of fixing her shop, which her husband subsequently demolished. The situation escalated to the point where the police had to get involved. It was an incredibly trying and difficult period for us all.

Dealing with query from work, having to fix the car as well, we had to dip into our savings, originally meant for our naming ceremony, hospital bills, and baby essentials, to cover all the expenses. We chose not to seek financial assistance from others and only informed our families once everything was almost resolved. Alhamdulillah, we managed to overcome that phase.

Balancing Work, Academics and Pregnancy

Amidst all this chaos, the ASUU strike finally came to an end, and I had to return to school with a seven-month pregnancy. This period proved to be the most demanding for me, as I had to juggle work, academics and pregnancy all at once. I relocated from Ibadan to Ilorin to attend school, and my dad’s support was invaluable in getting me to and from school. The idea of deferring my admission briefly crossed my mind, but I decided against it.

Academic Overload

I had a mountain of deadlines, assignments, and impending exams, with a stack of voluminous notes to go through. I don’t mean to boast, but I’m typically a diligent student who starts studying weeks before exams. However, for the first time in my life, a week before exams, I hadn’t even begun to study. I had thousands of pages to cover for some of my courses, and my workload increased due to covering for a colleague on maternity leave.

My back was in excruciating pain, and my sleep patterns were disrupted. My husband provided motivation, reassuring me that I was doing well, but I was on the brink of depression while managing work, academics and pregnancy. .

Facing the Unthinkable

For the first time, I walked into an exam hall with doubts, fearing questions I might not be able to answer. Those who know me understand that I typically enter exams fully prepared, with a deep understanding of the material. I don’t cram; I read to comprehend. I’m the type who can confidently tackle any question and make my choice. I’m not bragging, but I’m providing context to illustrate how challenging this period was for me, as I felt I wasn’t living up to my usual standards.

Surviving the Storm

I almost reached a breaking point during this period. There was a day when I broke down, shedding hot tears, I was tired of it all. But Alhamdulillah, I managed to persevere through that phase. I completed my exams, but I still had assignments to complete, especially in Mass Communication. I couldn’t wait to leave and reunite with my husband, who was eagerly waiting to embrace me and ease my worries.

The Reunion

The night before my departure, my friend Cheeseball Azeezah called and suggested that we meet up before I left. She rightly pointed out that we didn’t know when we’d see each other again. We decided to meet at a specific spot with our friend Doyin. I hoped that this outing would help relieve some of the stress I had been under. Little did I know what my friend had in store for me. Stay tuned for the next episode to find out!

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