Ten years ago to the day, on Monday, the 17th of August 2009, my Mother was brought to our home in Yaba. She could not walk. Her first words, were “If only I had come earlier.” She had suffered a stroke. The Friday before, she had gone for her monthly medical check-up at a specialist hospital. She had complained of a head-ache, and they decided to treat for malaria. They did not detect the ruptured aneurysm in her brain, which turned out to be fatal. We took her into the downstairs visitors room, where she lay down. She couldn’t move one side of her body. This incredible woman remained cheerful as she sang songs of praise to God in her beautiful high-pitched voice even in this condition as she forced one hand to manipulate the paralysed one, up and down, willing life to return to the paralysed half of her body. We watched her as she sang merrily, while we made efforts to evacuate her to the hospital. About six years before, she had gone to South Africa for knee-transplant surgery. The surgery on both knees had been successful but on the night of the surgery, she had suffered a stroke, which like the current one, left one half of her body paralysed. When the medical personnel were comforting her and making strenuous efforts to treat her, she had cheerfully told them that they should not worry, that by morning, Jesus would have healed her. This is exactly what happened, to the amazement of all. By the morning, there was absolutely no trace of the stroke or paralysis. Funmi, my sister in law along with her son, Jemie accompanied her to South Africa. They can bear witness to this miracle. So, this time again, we believed she along with her tested and trusted Jesus would defeat the stroke. My in-law, who is a medical doctor came along and examined her. He confirmed the stroke and an ambulance was sent for. She could overhear us speaking, and must have heard his response on her chances of full recovery. She may also have heard him say that another stroke could be fatal. My Mother was tired. She had six months before turned 80. She had fought so many battles especially over her husband, my Father and we, the children. The last being the multiple organ failure my Father suffered the month before. She had stood and willed him back to life. I have never seen anyone pray the way she did for him. I have never before seen such faith. She willed him back to life. She was indeed exhausted. She had spent her life fighting for us.....in the spirit and in the physical. She smiled again as I hurried away to confer with my friend and brother, Dr. Ebun Bamgboye, Medical Director of Saint Nicholas Hospital. In my short absence, she shut her eyes in the arms of my wife, Alero and my sister, Chima and allowed a second stroke, which killed her....She was smiling. She was done. She had run the good race. Like Paul, what lay ahead was a crown of honour. We remember her today fondly. She was a Christian soldier. A General in the Lord’s army. The song “Onward Christian Soldier” has never been so real and apt.
Your memory is evergreen in our hearts. We will do all we promised in Jesus’ name. To God be all the glory !