Eric and Blessing got married at a very young age after their college so they were excited
and were willing to start up a family as usual. They are hoping to have the most blessed family ever. They prayed for a peaceful home, children and a happy life.
They live in a community where they value family, roads and all that. And they wanted to have as many children as possible because children are the component of a happy family. During the first year of marriage, Blessing got pregnant and had their first child which was a girl. They named her Miriam.
Miriam was such a quiet girl to be the first born. Nevertheless, she was observant, she was calm, she was cool. Miriam has a very calm personality.
Another pregnancy came after two years. The second was a girl. Her name was called Charity. And they were happy to welcome another child again. They went for the third pregnancy and by the third time it was a girl again. It continued till the sixth child which was also a girl.
At this moment, the joy of having children became a burden. They wanted a male child.
Their family were all calling for a male child. Eric's mother was wondering why
Blessing could not give birth to a male child and she was always advising Eric to go for another wife that can give him a male child which Eric declined because he loved
his wife so much which is blessing.
They have six good female children with
different personality, different hearts. But even though they were happy within their home but outside they faced a lot of criticism. Eric told blessing "We have up to six girls, what could be the problem".
Although they say next time, but next time keeps producing the same result. What could be the problem. At night Eric and blessing usually have some discussion about this problem of having a male child. They love their daughters but they are also expecting a male child to complete the happiness. They kept on praying, trying their best to be of good mood and cheer up themselves and be hopeful.
Years passed, they were getting older, Eric was 46 years old, while Blessing was already 42, grey was already coming out from her hair then when everyone thought that all hope is gone and everything was going to be thesame, then miraculously Blessing conceived a child. Although it was not easy at that age to be pregnant and it was nice that day because blessing was already weak.
They went for the scan, they were afraid to see the results, but when the doctor announced it was a boy, they were happy. Months later blessing gave birth to a boy and he was called emmanuel. They were happy that they finally had a boy in the house. Everyone was dancing around they were playing eric's mother was happy that she finally has a male grandchild to carry the whole family was excited both their extended family also.
From the day Emmanuel was born, there was joy, continuous joy in the house. The girls loved to play and take care of him. They did not joke with Emmanuel. He was their pride, both the sister, their brother, their uncles, everyone loved Emmanuel because he was so special in the family. Blessing made sure that she took care of him and never get tired of taking care of him and keeping him on her hands. Even Eric had to stay long to spend time with Emmanuel before going to work.
But you know life, life always has a way of reminding you that sometimes there is no joy without pain. Emmanuel was about three years when a sad news came. He was falling more than other children. Usually complaining of headache and all sorts of pain. Sometimes he just look dumb and as if he has lost his memory.
At first they thought it was just normal that children might grow differently and they might not cope as they appear, but over time they will be. Something so far happened one day where Emmanuel had a seizure. They rushed him to the hospital at night. There was fear and everything. What could be the problem? They did not want to lose their only male child. Then the test came and scan came and they discovered that Emmanuel has a brain tumor, which was very deadly.
That tumor paralyzed everyone in the family, every family. Everyone was just so confused what might have happened blessing could not be herself anymore, she fainted up to three times that day, Eric was trying to calm everyone down as a man of the house and they were wondering why with the American child being in this kind of position what could be the problem.
Days keep rolling and this was the other moment after happiness this was the other period of her life. They opted for treatment but it was so expensive. They have to beg their extended family, everyone have to contribute even though it was not enough. Eric had to work extra job. Blessing stayed back to take care of Emmanuel while he was still battling for his life.
The boy was healthy and now was struggling to even cope. It was not easy at all. Blessing slept on the hospital for morning. She was crying day and night throughout Emmanuel stay in the hospital. Eric was there to motivate them, although he was working extra hours so that he can raise the beef for them. But who knows what life might be. Are they going to lose Emmanuel or what will be the next? Even the Emmanuel sisters were all there for him. After school they came to assist and
to spend time with Emmanuel reading story books to him even though he was not feeling okay, but those moments that they were around him was quite okay to
strengthen his spirits from giving up the ghost.
The first daughter also were the one taking good care of Emmanuel the most and she felt the pain of Emmanuel. They never complained. They never thought the pain was too much. They stayed with Emmanuel all along the way to the hospital.
The family they thought it was complete now was shattered and in a bad moment. Neighbours and friends came also when they heard the news. They brought all kinds of gifts and contributed. You were the best to me and you are the best.
And the day of the operation, everyone was tensed. After the surgery that lasted for almost an hour. Everyone was in the hospital expecting the positive results instead of the negative ones. And finally, the tumor was successfully treated. It was removed. Eric and blessing were filled with tears of Joy. He didn't expect it. He was imagining how life could have been without Emmanuel. They were all happy. Although the recovery was not easy. They had to pass through a lot, they had to spend and sacrifice for recovery. But it was still good. They felt joy again.
They were happy. Emmanuel grew, not without scars, but he grew in strength, not knowing that he suffered while he was young. He was a miracle child. He was not the strongest in the house. He was not the man of the house. They all looked. Eric addressed the family, shared loved memories and talked about how he loved his family so much. Blessing could not hold her tears. They are tears of joy.
They are all gathered one day, laughing on one table, eating together. This should have been one of the best moments ever. The child they once thought would complete the family was never meant to define his joy or his pain, but to bring peace. All the struggle they went through, they managed to survive without a brain tumor, but more, there was more to that family.
They learned that sometimes you can wait for some blessings, but that doesn't mean you can't. It doesn't mean that there is no lesson that might be learned from this.
AI generated image
