Dateline 29th December, 2014 at about 10:00hours Nigerian time. It seemed I was struggling to wake up from bed. First thought was why hadn't my wife woken me up earlier cos i was supposed to be at the office, suddenly a rush of memories started, I had woken up and left the house, drove to the next community and I parked off the road then Boom it hit me I've just had an accident. All of a sudden I became aware of the voices around me...
"Help him out!!", Someone yelled. Another said, "Let's get a car".
I tried opening my eyes but it took an effort and I still saw nothing. In my state of shock and panic I started calling out phone lines asking the people around to call the numbers. I believe I must have listed about five or more phone numbers from memory before losing consciousness again.
The next time I woke up I could open my eyes and saw a little boy who I'd estimate to be abour Nine years old. Wanting to be sure I was conscious, I asked him his name and asked him the colour of his shirt. When I heard him say "Red!" in his sweet boyish voice, I felt calm. I then became aware of the nurses around me and cleaning up my noticeable injuries. A nurse came forth and said "finally you are awake, you are indeed strong."
She then asked me if there was someone I'd love to call and I called out my wife's number. My phone was discovered at the crash site and had been brought to the hospital. I spelt out my unlock code and asked them to call my Supervisor at work as well as other well meaning relatives. I was sedated and drifted back to sleep.
By the time I awoke, I was surrounded by familiar friendly faces. The face I was most glad to see was that of my three year old son as he climbed up the bed to hug me.
When he hugged me, I felt nothing!! I then realized the only pain I felt was behind my neck and I felt nothing else.. strange as it sounds I couldn't feel my limbs or any part of my body below my neck and neither could I move even a finger. I called for the doctor and he simply said i was in shock and there was nothing to fear.
I insisted on my point and eventually, I was referred to another hospital. As my colleagues lifted me from bed to take me into another vehicle, my left foot stuck the front door of the hospital and strangely I didn't even feel the impact when the door slammed against my foot. At this point one of them said "This is serious".
I couldn't recall for how many minutes I lapsed back to unconsciousness but I woke up in the company hospital. I was quickly taken to a ward. I explained how I was feeling and the doctor asked me to close my eyes.. when I opened them I saw lots of prick holes on my arms and thighs. He asked if I felt anything and I simply said "No." He looked into my eyes and asked if I felt like urinating and instantly I felt the urge. He asked if I could handle it or should a pipe be passed through me. I knew what his statement meant but I said I can handle it. I was stripped and a metal bowl was brought before me. A nurse held up my equipment and voila, blood then little drops of urine came out. I was then scheduled for an MRI scan and a couple of x-rays.
I had the best of nurses around me. Cleaning me up feeding me and despite my inability to move and the pain, I was in high spirits. My X-ray results showed I had no broken bones, the MRI however was a different story. I had two scans, one was my Brian and he other was my spine. My spinal scan showed that I had an internal damage which led to what the doctor called an "Oedema" blocking the transmission of signals from my nervous system to my muscular and skeletal systems.
On the morning of the 2nd of January 2015, my doctor and a neurologist came to my ward. The neurologist asked me to try making a fist.. I can't feel my hands I said, although I looked at my right arm and tried wiggling my fingers to no avail. He asked me to move any of my legs which of course couldn't be done. He shook his head and said, Young man, even after surgery you have a 17% chance of recovery I simply said 17% is more than enough. They recommended physiotherapy which began immediatly
As the doctors left, my wife said I'm bringing your laptop and game pads to the hospital. I am sure seeing them would motivate you to play your football game funny as it sounded I agreed. My wife had over the years accepted the fact that I was a game addict.
Gaming was the only recreational activity she had known about me. FIFA14 was my territory and no one was gonna beat me when I'm with my team Shakhtar Donetsk funny how I could use an underrated team to beat other players using the big teams in other big leagues.
True to her words my laptop and game pads were set in my front. My cousins Sam and Sunday took turns taunting me with their lack lustre play. On one of the days they were playing, both my Pam's started itching and I felt a rush of blood around my body. My body started vibrating and I called the nurses for help. when this subsided I suddenly felt weak. That evening I found out I could move my fingers butnincoukdnt raise my arms up. The hands now seemed heavy for my muscles had become flaccid.
During my physiotherapy session the next day, I surprised myself and my therapist when I gave him a firm grip. He looked surprised and asked me to do it again which i did. I told him straight out I'm leaving this hospital on my feet, I'd walk out of this ward without any assistance.
I spent my day recalling several documentaries I had watched and journals regarding the subject of Mind over Matter*. Thinking how organisms like geckos could regenerate body parts and I wondered if humans as higher creatures could also from the mind do the impossible. Probably wishful thinking combat this point I could jt even do the wiggle your big toe exercise.
That night in early January was colder than usual, my wife was tired and had slept off on the couch beside the bed. I don't know how my blanket slid down from my body and I woke up. I didn't want to wake my wife up as I sighed, I heard two crack's from joints in my two big toes. I stared down at them and pulled in my mind wow!! The toes were dancing just as I saw in my mind. I took extra effort and I found I could move my knees up and down the bed. Concentrated on my arms and I pulled myself to a sitting position. I felt the greater jolt of pain I've never felt in my entire body.
Here was I who for over 10 days had been lying down and being bed ridden now sitting up. Despite the excruciating pain, I was overjoyed. My wife woke up and was surprised to see me sitting up. She handed me my game pad and i watched it slide down my palms. My hands weren't strong enough to grip them.
My Physio session changed the next morning. I was giving a plastic therapy ball to squeeze in order to restore my muscular strength. I started a walking therapy's session to strengthen my calf muscles.
Each day I achieved new milestones. On the 14th of January, my doctor requested to see me regarding some bills. As the wheel chair was brought forth, I declined sitting on it and insisted I'd walk down the stairs to the doctors office. "Come in," said the doctor when he heard a knock on his door. I can still see the bewildered look in his eyes when I opened the door, entered the office and shut the door before taking my seat. He couldn't believe I was the one who walked into his office. I must confess that it was difficult with each step painful. I refused giving up even though my escorts were saying I've done enough showing off. After our discussions, I requested to be discharged from the hospital. I told the doctor I'd recover faster in a challenging environment when I see tasks that need to be done. He accepted and on the 19th day of January, I left the hospital on my feet like I promised.
I was given a 17% chance but I took 17 days instead. Within my recovery period at home I ensured that I had a gift for my son, which became his baby brother 10 months after my discharge. I named him Oluwadarasimi meaning God has been good to me
Four years on, I am stronger than before although the residual pains are still being felt, yet i rise like the Phoenix.
Note my family are now an entirely gaming family.
