I’ve heard cousin Comfort complained of tooth ache before, but not as terrible as crying.
It was the day my dad hosted a Christmas celebration for the extended members of our family. The year had turned out great and memorable and Christmas seemed like an opportunity to celebrate Dad’s new house, Mum’s new car and my admission into the first and best university to study physiology. Yes physiology- at least, that was my intended course until the night that changed everything.
The day of the celebration had been eventful. I could remember the family visited some centers of tourism; from zoo to beach to many other places. And on getting home in the evening, I, cousin Comfort and others were nominated for a competition called “fastest mouth”, where we hastily devoured three wraps of pounded yam and one bottle of coca-cola each- big size. Coz was still basking in the joy of emerging the winner when dinner got ready. As expected, most of us who participated in the in the competition couldn’t eat except cousin Comfort who managed two pieces of chicken.
So-and-so the day passed by until 9pm when everyone retired to their beds to have a good night rest after the day stress. I must be so tired, to have slept off almost immediately I jumped on bed. I didn’t even realize I was to share my bed with cousin Comfort.
I only woke up to the sound of someone sobbing by my side and alas, it was her.
“Cousin Comfort, What’s wrong with you?” 
I’ve heard cousin Comfort complained of tooth ache before, but not as terrible as dying. 

I bolted out to call my dad and mum. I must have woken others the way I banged the door to my mum’s bedroom. Even after all of us entered to comfort cousin Comfort, cousin Comfort was not comforted.
The time was 11:05pm and her agony seemed to worsen by every passing second. We had no option than to rush into mum’s car and find the nearest dental clinic. The man we met told us the doctor had some other emergency he was attending and he wouldn’t like to be disturbed. He however saw how perplexed we were and decided to offer some help.
“This lady has holes in two of her teeth. I could give some anesthesia and extract the damaged teeth.” I heard him telling my parents after he examined my cousin. My parent consented without holding back. All they wanted was for my cousin to be relieved of the excruciating pain.
It was late into the night, about 11:55pm, so mum decided to pass the night in the hospital while dad drove me and three family members who had followed us back home.
The following day broke with the news of my cousin’s death. No! No! I screamed…
I’ve heard cousin Comfort complained of tooth ache before, but not as horrible as death.
We later got to know she died of anaphylactic shock as a result of medical error. I almost cried out my eyes… fuming, cursing and promising myself to be a dentist- at least for my family sake. During those periods, my mum would come to console me but I wouldn’t stop lamenting until my mum told me how glad she would be if I stayed true to my promise and became the best dental surgeon. So all I could remember was what my mum said “…go and be the best dental surgeon ever” when I received the news of my admission the following year to study dentistry in the University of Ibadan.

AYOBAMI OLUWATOSIN
BDS 2K19