Today was supposed to be like a regular Thursday,

You know...take blood samples, run a few tests, deal with some dramatic patients 

But there was nothing regular about this one

At least, not until the intercom rang and my presence was requested 

Grabbing my lab coat and blood collection bag,

I made my way to the emergency ward 

The reception area was  choked up today.

That's a first.

The lab report form was handed to me  

Liver function test, Fasting Liver profile, Serum/E/U/Cr, Full blood count

Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, RVS

These were the tests required 

Wait ....RVS?

All these for a 3 year old ?

Getting to the emergency ward, I took in the state of the child..

Unconscious with machines around her 

And an oxygen mask strapped to her face 

A 3 year old 

With her mother beside her on the bad 

Her head bent,

Probably praying 

She made no movement when the needle pricked her skin 

What could have rendered her to such state ?

Well...I was about to find out 

Making my way to leave, 

Her mother called out 

"Will she be alright? She hasn't been responding"

Smiling, I said "I'm sure she'll be fine"

I just wished I believed that

Back to the lab, 

I got to work 

Full blood count first

Chemistry tests, later 

Then the serology.

Taking out my test strips, 

Hepatitis C test first...negative 

Hepatitis B next

Also negative 

Then RVS...

It can't be.

Can it?

Reaching for the HIV confirmatory test strip, 

The same result 

No!

She's just 3.

There must be a mistake somewhere

Carried out the test again,

Same thing 

No...

How come it wasn't diagnosed during pregnancy 

The mother looks healthy

She doesn't seem to have an idea of what's going on 

What could have happened?

She couldn't possible have been ...

No!

It can't be 

No one would do that to a 3 year old 

But then again,

It's not unheard of.

With shaking hands , 

I wrote out her results 

And sent it to the Medical Director.

I couldn't concentrate the entire day 

Thinking, wondering..

How will her mother take the news 

Her fate has been decided at such a young age 

The rest of the day blurred past 

Time to go home...

I locked the lab and left 

On the way, 

The only thing on my mind?

Why her?

She certainly didn't deserve it 

But who am I to alter her fate ?

No one 

Absolutely no one.

That's how a regular Thursday became my worst 

This should be a wake up call 

Don't neglect Antenatal care 

Please