Patient encounter 4: "Grandfather"

She was a shy little girl. Standing at the door way to the Clinic, she had to be encouraged to get in. Eyes fixed on the ground, she only spoke when spoken to. Even then, just a whisper.
Twas my last day of gynecology clinic and I was very excited to finish my Internship rotation in Gyn. I liked my interactions with the patients, its the speculum exams that I was not so fond of. I would pray silently that the next patient on the list did not have any complaint that warranted a Speculum exam. I was often unfortunate in that regard. Most women presenting to this clinic, just like in most poor rural clinics i had been to, were solely here because they had been witnessing something "weird" from their "private parts". Preventative care is still not a norm around here rather an exception.
She said she was 13. She had been in eighth grade when she was hurriedly married off to offset her father's dowry debt accrued when her older brother married two years earlier.
She had been having abdominal pains for 3 days. She had gained weight . Hours earlier she had seen some watery discharge from her "private parts."
One look at her and it was Obvious, she was in Labor!
I quickly took her to the Labor room and she was 8cm dilated on VE. She was now very exhausted. She had labored for 3 days. On intrapartum monitor, The fetus was in distress in addition to being a transverse lie! In 5 minutes I was doing the C-section and a beautiful 3 pounds 6 ounce baby boy was delivered. Had some meconium staining at first and on a few suctions later,He delivered the best sound in the OR. Cry.Cry.Cry.His mother was excited and for the first time I saw her smile. Since she was under epidural anesthesia and I handed her her baby, before we rushed him to the Nursery, as I finished closing her skin with sub cuticle sutures.
She was wheeled to the Post-delivery Unit and she made a quick recovery. The baby did well too. It was One week later that I met some of her relatives.
I was rounding on other patients in the Obstetric ward when I was called by the Nursing staff and asked if it was ok for the baby's grandfather to see him. I went out to meet him.
He was an old 6'3'' tall man, with golden hair and a stooped gait, a cane in hand for support, wearing a Maasai garb with a younger ochre-covered warrior in tow.
I quickly assumed that the younger man who may have been in his early 20's was the father to the baby and I ushered him in the nursery and took him to his baby's cot. He was satisfied with the care and I assured him that we may discharge his son in a day or two. That's when he turned and told me that the old 70-something year-old man at the waiting bay was the baby's father and not him. I was speechless! The 13 year old girl was the old man's 7th wife!
I went and met him again. Now recognizing that he was the proud father of a the 37th addition to his nuclear family. He was as proud as a first-time dad! The age gap notwithstanding!