Trying for babies and Mr Cheap of Gambia

When me and my husband went for a week to the tiny country of Gambia, lying by the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded completely by its neighbour Senegal, I was not in a very good state emotionally. I had just suffered a miscarriage and even though it was only in the early stages, it was hard to get through. I wanted a baby and my fear was - what if that was it? What if I don't get pregnant again? What if I keep having miscarriages? Reality was that these things just happen and it did not reflect on my health or ability to carry pregnancy to term, but at the time it was hard to keep telling myself that, even harder to believe and trust in it.
After a miscarriage, the advise is to not try for a baby for a couple of months to let the body recover. So we booked ourselves for a trip to the rather unusual destination - Gambia.

My most, perhaps, significant memory of this trip is of Mr Cheap.
That day we had hired a guide who took us to Abuko Nature Reserve which is home to many rescued animals, including hyenas and baboons.

Later went to lunch at a very unusual restaurant - Lamin Lodge. It's built on stilts over the river Gambia and is no more than a shack built from thin wooden planks with large gaps between them so that even when we were sitting upstairs we could still see the water two stories beneath us. Yet it was one of the best places I have been to. It was extraordinary with astounding views. Enclosed from two sides by lush mangrove forests, it looked over the vast Gambia river that stretches up to 13 km in width. The food itself, as everywhere else in Gambia, was delicious. The fish here were so fresh, fished out only that morning, and tasted divine.

Afterwards we went to see Mr Cheap - a local souvenir seller. This lovely old man was very sweet, asked us what we do and if we have any children. Talked about his life, that he used to be a local soap opera star (whether it was true or not, I can't tell). We ended up buying a few necklaces and bracelets to bring back home for our family and friends.
After we had paid and were already walking away, Mr Cheap caught us up and put a necklace around my neck saying it was a present from him. Later, once we were settled in the car and driving away, our guide told us, it was a necklace that helps to conceive. Now I am not superstitious, so I dismissed its superpowers, however such a kind gesture did put a smile on my face.

We enjoyed the rest of our holiday in this most unusual of places that is Gambia before going back to our daily lives and preparing for the upcoming Christmas. And even though I felt foolish, I left the necklace on, day and night.
A few days after we started trying again, I took the test. I did not expect a positive result. Really did not. Yet that is what I got. We must have got pregnant on the first day. This time the pregnancy went smoothly and now, years later, I have the most amazing daughter that anyone could wish  for. So every so often, I remember Mr. Cheap. Even though I still do not believe in necklaces with baby making powers, sometimes I do wonder - did it help?

 

#Gambia