I remember my industrial work experience at the physiotherapy department of Lautech Health Center, Ogbomosho, as a student trainee. On a typical working day, we usually have athletes who will come to use the gym facility or join in the early morning aerobic exercises. Most interestingly are patients with paralysis, stroke, and recuperating accident victims who will come for their rehabilitation programmes at the prescription of a resident doctor. As trainees, I and my colleagues were mandated to join or even lead the aerobic programmes. On starting my position as a student trainee, I remember having a goal to help my skinny body gain some muscles but that was shortly aborted by hunger. I mean, who goes to the gym on a stomach filled with garri only to come back home to the same? He that gymeth must eat well.

So it came to pass one day when one of our visiting fitness coaches asked that I and the attendant follow him to visit one of his private patients somewhere in the town. Damn! Had I known what I was about to see, I wouldn’t have gone with him. Look! I care less about what you are going through in life, as long as you have good health. Please be grateful.

After trekking for about 25 minutes under the scorching sun of the ancient city of Ogbomosho, we got to a fairly completed building isolated in a bushy environment. In fact, I would have thought I was about to be kidnapped if not that my supervisor knew about my movement and those I went with. So I was at perfect peace.

On getting inside the house, we were first greeted with a smell suggestive of what was inside one of the rooms. Anyway, we were welcomed by a feeble-looking aged woman who introduced herself as the mother of the person we were about to see. She complained bitterly about the deteriorating health of her daughter and was almost moved to tears. I was deeply moved by her pain. But at that point, I still never knew the gravity of what I was about to see.

Ladies and gentlemen, I kid you not. What I saw when I got into the room was unimaginably depressing. Lying naked on the bed was an average-age woman who had been down with paralysis for about 2-3 years. The bed she laid on was covered with old newspaper because she defecates and urinates right there. Her health had deteriorated over the years and she had literally become a living skeleton. As in, a living skeleton! In my life, I have NEVER seen or yet to see a living thing in such a hopeless state like that. Only the predicament of Job can beat that. Maybe.

Standing in that room completely transfixed, I could barely take a second look at her in that state as she was still amazingly able to mutter a few words. She lamented in her faint voice about how her condition made her lose her job and how her friends and family deserted her except for her aged mother and her dear husband who was working in Lagos at the time. After assessing her state of health, the people I came with encouraged her and then we took our leave. Till we got back to the clinic, I couldn’t speak a word because I knew without a doubt in my mind that she wasn’t only going to eventually die but soon. Her condition was that critical.

6 years later, I was on the call with the same fitness coach I accompanied to that unforgettable building. During our heart-to-heart discussion on the phone, I abruptly asked him if he could remember the paralyzed woman we both visited years ago and he delightfully said, “Yes”. So I quickly asked about her. To my greatest amazement, he said that the woman was now in perfect health. As a matter of fact, she was driving the last time he saw her. Gadamnit! I couldn’t believe him so I tried to describe how she laid on her supposed “deathbed”, perhaps he would remember exactly who I spoke about. He quickly interrupted me and affirmed that he knew her very well. He said to me in his words translated from Yoruba, “Am I not the one that took you there?”. Still, I didn't believe him. I didn't believe him because I was not expecting his reply. I actually asked about her to know when she died. God forgive me.

Just nearly 4 months ago, 3 years from the very first time I asked him about this woman. I asked him the second time about the woman just to confirm that he lied to me the very first time. Surprisingly again, he said that the woman has been in perfect health ever since. It was then I believed that a miracle did happen even though the Thomas in me would still like to see the woman with my very own eyes when next I visit Ogbomosho. I would like to confirm his claim with a video interview with her.

Now, the story of this woman has been the most inspiring story I witnessed in life. Anytime I am in a hopeless situation, I remember her and I instantly get fueled to try again and again. Are you also in a hopeless situation? Maybe you have countlessly applied for jobs without success and you feel all hope is lost. Are you in a state in your life where you no longer get excited about your dreams because you no longer see how they can ever come true? Maybe you currently feel you've been left behind seeing your mates progressing in life. Please don’t give up because there is hope for you. Just like the story of this woman, she was still willing to pay for her rehabilitation even in her hopeless state. That’s some effort, that is faith! Don’t write off yourself, try again but this time harder and your own miracle will happen. Truly, when there is life, there is hope.

Written by Ifedayo Oyewumi

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