I am so passionate about my career in medicine and surgery. It's where my passion lies, and I don't care about money anymore — God will provide for me. God will do it again, just as He has done before. I would rather sacrifice the lettuce for my career than carry the burden of not pursuing it. Where there is life, there is hope.
Many people have tried to talk me out of it by saying that my dreams are bigger than me, but I see myself in surgery one day — and I know that no one, I mean no one, can talk me out of it. I will persevere through this period of waiting until I laugh at the end.
Flashback:
I think it was 200 level, first semester, when I was involved in a tricycle accident that almost took my leg. Yet, I said to myself, I will definitely finish the semester. I lost hope for some time, but lo and behold, there was a strike (ASUU), and all universities were closed down for almost a year.
I was on the bed, trying to read up on the lower limb to understand my injury. Very severe it was. Still, I stood determined to be the best in my department. I thought I would lose my leg. However, my mom said these words:
“Joseph, se iwo o ni igbagbo ni?” — which means “Don’t you have faith?” 😂
As in, she shook me. Hearing that from your sweetheart — it means a lot.
I read so much.
Soon, the orthopedic doctor saw my leg and the X-ray. He said surgery could not be done without proper healing.
Another blow.
It meant the leg would be left the way it was until the flesh healed. After that, another surgery would be performed.
However, an orthopedic nurse used a non-surgical approach after a month or two, to allow the skin to heal. Actually, that skin didn’t heal within that time, but he carried on.
A soft callus had formed, and one day, after removing the splint, he held on to my leg.
Kai!!!
He turned it 360 degrees and pulled the broken leg 🦵 toward himself. A sharp sound was what I heard...
I almost fainted, guys.
After that, he manipulated the bones and asked for an X-ray. But after it was done, the doctor at the scan center said there was a slight anterior displacement — and the bone needed to be reduced again.
Kai!
Pains.
Tears. 😭😭😭😭
I held myself together. Omo! No be play!
Soon, the next phase came. He did the reduction. I cried. I screamed.
Bone pain is different from cutaneous pain.
Same result.
Next, he took me to the hospital himself, and 17 different reductions were performed before getting a nearly perfect alignment. He said, “80 percent alignment is still okay.”
Not perfect — but I still walk with my leg.
I can't blame anyone but me.
I thank God that I was able to walk by the time the strike was over.
Hallelujah. Glory.
So, guys, you see why I tell people that I can sacrifice the lettuce for my career.
If I could go through that… then giving up comfort is a small price to pay.