****I ALMOST DIED IN 2011****

I was posted to Kebbi State, North western Nigeria, for my National Youth Service (NYSC) in 2011.

My place of primary assignment (PPA) was a fine Government Senior Secondary School (GSSS) in Bunza, where I taught Biology. Before taking up the role, I took part in the 2011 National elections and served as the Presiding Officer of Bawada Uni it in Zogirma Ward in Bunza Local Government Area, Kebbi State. It was a dangerous affair but I survived it.
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Soon after the elections and taking up the role of a Biology teacher at GSSS Bunza, I began to feel sick. At first I thought it was Malaria fever, because the symptoms I had were general indicators of the disease. Having a genotype of ‘AA’ meant I was highly susceptible to Malaria so I always took antimalarial tablets anywhere I went as backup. After taking the medication, I continued to feel slight fever indicating that self-medication is indeed a bad idea as the judgement of non-professionals could be 100% wrong!

I soon visited a nearby health centre where a resident Medical Doctor prescribed medications for Typhoid fever for me without carrying out any test. His explanation was that since I was still feeling feverish despite taking antimalarial tablets, then it had to be Typhoid fever 😂😂😂😂 I followed his instructions without question. After exhausting the medication he prescribed, the symptoms persisted. In fact, a new symptom developed. I began to have double vision. I then decided not to return to the same Doctor cause I perceived he was equally as confused as I was. 😂😂😂😂😂 So I headed straight to the General Hospital at Birnin Kebbi, the capital city.

On getting there, I was ignored by nurses for 2 hours who were either chatting with their colleagues or helping those they knew personally. It was pathetic! Perhaps, because I wasn't rolling on the floor like I was about to die, they felt my case did not deserve any running around so I should just take a chill for 2 hours!!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 When they finally had my time, they asked, “Young man what did you say you came here to do again?” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. I explained my situation that I had a combination of fever and double vision. They finally let me see a Doctor.

After narrating the entire episode to the Doctor, he sighed heavily and advised me to see an Eye Doctor. I pointed out that I wasn't sure the fever was connected to the double vision. Suddenly, he began to look confused and it dawned on me that I may need to depart Kebbi to Lagos for better diagnosis. He prescribed more Typhoid medications for me but I didn't take them cause I could see he wasn't confident at all.

Within days, I began to feel weak in my joints especially my knees. I couldn't run nor walk long distances. My left eye lid also began to droop and the double vision worsened. It was at this stage that I wrote to the Principal of my PPA that I needed to return home (Lagos) for proper diagnosis and treatment. He grudgingly approved my request; I was the only Biology Teacher in the entire school so he feared the students may suffer after my departure.

The 18 hour bus ride to Lagos (cause I couldn't afford the cost of the 3-5 hour flight from Sokoto to Lagos) was a devastating one, for we ran into armed robbers on the highway in Kontagora, Niger State. Our driver quickly diverted the bus into the forest and continued along a secret path for about 1 hour before returning to a safe express road upfront. This event is to be discussed another day. The most important thing is that I got to Lagos in one piece and unharmed.

On arriving Lagos, I was taken to the General Hospital in Iju. I revealed the medical history of my condition, but the Doctor insisted that it was typhoid fever without carrying out any confirmatory test. I was given typhoid medications. After completing the dose, the symptoms grew worse. Soon, my family moved me to a private hospital in Ikeja where I was admitted and paid N50,000 per night. Series of blood tests and chest x-ray were conducted. The Medical Director of the facility said the results look okay but that he spotted traces of Salmonella typhii in my blood sample which shouldn't be enough to break me down. However, he recommended that I should be given typhoid medication via a drip since I had lost appetite to eat.

After 3 days, I told my mum that I could feel no improvement in my health and that we should leave and she agreed. I was returned home and later taken to an Eye Clinic in Surulere. The eye expert who conducted series of tests on my eyes said my eyes were generally healthy. Although he admitted that he didn't understand why the left one was drooped. He concluded that I do not need an eye surgery but perhaps a corrective measure to strength the muscles. I was taken back home.

At this time, 2 months had gone by and the symptoms had grown worse to the point that all the muscles in my body began to fail. I couldn't walk, chew, talk clearly, etc. Even breathing became heavy as I found it very difficult to inhale freely. I could feel myself gradually dying. The deterioration was slow but crippling. My mum bathe me every day cause I was literally like “water leaf” – completely helpless. I could only eat liquid food like pap. Trust Nigerian mothers...my mum took up prayers every night, casting and binding all evil forces against me. She claimed that some village people were envious of my first-class degree and had seen my glory but wish to abort God's plan in my life. 😂😂😂😂😂 Oh the love of genuine mothers...second to none, I must confess.

Not long, one of my uncles arrived with some concoction (I am too ashamed to describe the content) for me to drink. Even though my scientific mind questioned the unrealistic logic behind the acclaimed potency of the concoction, I was too weak to argue. So I drank it anyway. Drank it for weeks and nothing happened as I had expected lol.

Finally, one night. I was in tears all alone in my bed. Others had slept off. I made a silent prayer to my maker and told Him to help me with divine intervention as we had exhausted all options. I had a dream that night; I saw myself standing in front of the General Hospital in Iju. The next morning I told my mum to take me back to the General Hospital and she agreed.

On getting there, the Doctor who initially attended to us the first time I visited complained bitterly that my mum shouldn't have taken me away. When we told him that his prescriptions failed he was silent for a while and replied, “I will take you both to my boss now. He is the most experienced Doctor in our facility. If he doesn’t know what is wrong with you then I am afraid we may not be able to help you here.” I sighed heavily on hearing this and demanded to see his boss.

The man he referred to as “my boss” was a Consultant who only visits the hospital twice a week. I was lucky to have even met him on ground. On approaching his door, I could see a lot of patients already waiting to see him. One of the nurses had to go into his office to inform him of how critical my condition was so I was allowed to jump the queue. Even the patients waiting did not complain after beholding my helpless state.

My mum and I went into his office and sat at his instruction. He closed the door, looked at my medical records for a few seconds and asked, “Did you change your diet or travelled to a new location in recent times?” “Yes sir. I was living in Lagos but I was posted to Kebbi few months ago for my youth service.” “Ah, I see!” Then he informed one of the nurses to call the senior Doctors around.

Five Doctors arrived including the one who attended to me initially. “Who among you said this young man is suffering from Typhoid fever?”, he asked calmly. The room was silent. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 “Can’t you see one of his eyes is drooping? What should that tell you immediately?”, he added. The room remained silent. “This is a very distinct sign of only one disease and it has nothing to do with Typhoid fever. It is related to neuro-muscular functions. Who knows it?”, he dropped several hints. Finally, one of the Doctors responded, “Myasthenia Gravis?” “Exactly! And I am sure he is unable to walk, talk, breathe properly and chew. Cause from what I see, his condition worsened due to poor diagnosis and inappropriate treatment”, the Consultant added.
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After schooling the senior Doctors, he told them to leave, then he turned to me and educated me properly on the condition of my health. “Mr Macaulay, you developed a rare medical condition called Myasthenia Gravis. That is Latin but the English interpretation is Grave Muscle Weakness. Don't be scared, it is not terminal neither is it contagious. It is just rare. So please forgive our Doctors and I apologise on their behalf for the error. It is an auto-immune disease which means that the body is fighting against itself thinking it is engaging an intruder – just like a soldier shooting his fellow comrades on the battle field. The cause is not known yet but we know a change in diet, temperature and location could trigger it. So to solve the problem, you need steroids that will help tame the excessive activities of your White Blood Cells so that they stop wrestling with the body, particularly at neuro-muscular junctions which is the reason you feel completely weak all over your body. Oh, as for your eyes, muscles are needed for the opening and shutting of the eye lids so it makes sense if one of them droops. Any questions before I proceed?”.

His brilliance and superb confidence, which I never saw in other Doctors who had attended to me earlier, left me in awe and was damn so attractive. All I could mutter was, “Where have you been sir?” He smiled and said, “I am Dr. Onuwa, a Consultant Neurologist, your troubles end today.” My mum suddenly shouted, “Praise Goooooodddddd!” – Nigerian mums no dey slack! Hehehehehe.

He finally prescribed some medicines worth N700 only. I improved drastically within 2 weeks! In fact, for my next appointment with Dr. Onuwa, I needed no physical assistance at all as I was strong enough to walk on my own. I began to eat solid food again; talking was much easier as well as breathing. My left eye also returned to normal.

When he saw me during our follow-up meeting, he was so excited and proud of himself that he called on the senior Doctors to come see the wonders of medicine! 😁😁😁 Truly, those Doctors used my rare condition as a source of new knowledge for future use. I finally got the chance to ask more personal questions from the amazing Consultant Neurologist. “What could have happened to me if I didn't get the treatment I needed on time?” “Well, let’s not talk about that because you are fine now”, he smiled. “Where did you study?”, I was curious. “I studied Medicine and Surgery here in Nigeria but I had to travel to the UK to specialise in Neurology since Nigeria lacked the resources required.” “Why did you return to Nigeria?” “This is a very good question. I returned because I realised that there are more dying patients in Nigeria than in the UK.” “And I was one of them”, I pointed out with an appreciative smile. “If there are more selfless and highly trained Nigerians like you who think more of the helplessness of poor Nigerians than the economic conditions of the country, significant impact will be made in spite of our failed government. Sir, your name and the role you played in keeping me alive is now proudly crested in my biography”, I added. He looked at me and was speechless afterwards.

Two months later, I returned to Kebbi to complete my Service year. I ended up serving for only 7 months, as the remaining 5 months were exhausted on my health. The NYSC did well to pay up all my arrears, thanks to the NYSC Lagos State Coordinator (Mrs. Mohammed) who supported me all through the challenge.

Fellow steemians, indeed I almost died in 2011 but thanks to Dr. Onuwa who was God-sent. I am alive and healthy today. If I had died, the MBM you know today, the quotes, the scholarship songs I sing daily, the charge, the motivations – none would have existed. In fact, if I had died, the overly spiritual Nigerians must have said it was my “village people” that killed me for they knew I would do well in life. 😂😂😂😂

Many Nigerians have died in similar ways because of our poor health/training systems. Rather than fix the problem, our political leaders are treating themselves abroad with tax payers money while the poor citizens are left to wallow and die in Nigeria. If we keep running away, who would save helpless Nigerians? If we keep protecting only our heads, what do we tell the voice of conscience pricking us daily? And if your conscience has died, then you may never understand this call.

To my learned colleagues in Diaspora, I know Nigeria has failed us all in multiple ways. Sadly, foreign countries ended up giving life to our childhood dreams. I am not asking you to go back home for the country; Go back home for the sake of the people. Many Nigerians back home are starving, sick, helpless, challenged, troubled, misguided, poor, uninspired, even dead! Life has been fair to you; Gave you a second chance; Gave you most of what you wanted and needed.

Further developing an already developed country will never be as significant as helping to develop a poorly-developing country – think about it. I know we do not want anything to ruffle our calm and safe lifestyles abroad, but without Dr. Onuwa's painful decision to abandon the sweet life abroad, many young Nigerians could have died including myself. Each time I hear Nigerians give testimonies that they got their permanent residency in a foreign country, I weep for my dear country because the more highly-skilled Nigerians flee the country, the more terrible it will be for the helpless citizens.

When a country is not functioning, the helpless citizens will cling to God for hope, not necessarily because they want to make heaven but because the message of hope gives life to a dying man. It is only in Nigeria you hear a Christian praying to God to please provide electricity so that he can iron his shirt to attend an important interview the next day. In the UK where I never experienced interrupted power, you think they pray to God for electricity? Michael Faraday whose works on electromagnetism and electrolysis made it possible for humans to harness electricity for domestic and industrial use. He was British so there is nothing spiritual about it. An average Brit knows that a structure only has to be put in place to ensure that power is constantly supplied. Thanks to a working UK Govt, Brits do not have to pray like Nigerians everyday.

Who is ready to join Dr. Onuwa? I am sure you already know what my answer will be. If more people are inspired to return home, the few people at home doing their best will gain confidence and strength. Numbers are vital to form a formidable force. Let’s grow our numbers intentionally and take over the affairs of important sectors of the country gradually.

#FoodForThought * @sammyswt