It took me several hour to realize every member of my family was looking for me. It was an ordinary day and I woke up and headed to the hospital for a continuation of several medical examinations which had started the previous day. Determined to come back early, I left the house around 6.30 A.M. I reasoned it would be possible to come back to the house by 2.00 P.M
As I hurried out, I forgot my phone and that was the beginning of untold anxiety among my family members. The previous day, i had told my daughter and sister about the hospital visit. On the day I was “missing” my daughter called me twice without response. One of my sisters also called me and when i did not respond, she told another sister that I was not picking calls. My oldest daughter also informed my other daughter that i was not picking calls. Everyone who got information that I was not picking calls would call me and when I did not pick up, they would inform another relative who would also try to call me.
My daughters got someone to jump over our perimeter wall to check if I was in the house. Of course both front and back doors were secured. The fence jumper informed my neighbors (who had come to witness incase he was mistaken for a thief) that there was nobody in the house.
By this time several relatives were on their way from my house to mount a search and rescue mission. Some one else was sent to Nairobi Hospital to establish if I was there. One of my sister visited my son’s school to make inquiries. This would establish whether i was in the house that morning as he left for school. My son was shocked and confused to hear his mother was missing but he assured every one that I was in the house when he left for school.
Mean while i was called over the loud speaker in Nairobi Hospital and told to report at the nearest reception desk. I thought it was about my medical examination. I was confused about the loud speaker call. But when I reached the reception, i was instructed to talk to my relatives over the phone. I did not really understand the magnitude of the situation until i went back home in the evening. Some people were still in my house waiting for me to ensure i was well.
Who would look for you if you got lost today? Keep your relationship with family strong. Other wise bizarre incidences such as the woman who died and stayed for three years before any one realized. Indeed, people only realized she had died when they came to put up a fore closer notice in her home. And lastly, if you always pick your calls, or call people back when you find missed calls, always carry your phone with you because when people miss you, they will always assume the worst
