GIVEN AT CHANNEL OF PEACE INNER HEALING SERIES
On that fateful day, my elder brother was preparing yam for launch, my mum was in her shop and my dad traveled. He brought some yam, oil and drinking water and went to finish up the cooking. All of a sudden I burst out in cry, vomiting blood and my brother rushed out only to see blood everywhere, (I could imagine who terrible I must have felt, I must have gone through hell and came back, O what an agony from my mouth, through my gullet down to my stomach) my brother called out for help and mum carried me (I could imagine the agony my mum went thru seeing his little angel in such a terrifying state) to meet my god-father who is a doctor in Auchi, he shouted and tried his best possible to stop my bleeding. What did he eat? "Yam and oil" my mum replied. He then asked my mum to go and check well to know if ever I ate something else. On getting home, she saw that my cup of water was dark as if malt was poured into it. She dipped her hand and touched her tongue, behold it was a sharp and coerced taste as if it was acid. She ran back to the doctor and showed him the drink. "This must be poison", he said and after they ran test on it, it was confirmed caustic soda (CaCO3).
What! Caustic soda is white and how come the dark colour, I don't know, who did it, I don't still know because that was not the most important thing but to save my life. I was referred to Eku Baptist hospital where two white doctors swung into action and succeeded in removing my oesophagus and some damaged digestive tract. Wow it was twisted by the chemical effect, they cooked it and it opened up but not completely. I still thank God for it, what if I had died in the process of my oral operations. I was operated three times; on my tongue because I lost my saliva due to the chemical effect, on my oesophagus while bringing out and while taking it back. My mouth was always open, my food was through my nose. (Tears...) Who believe say Ify go make am, every body that knew me then seeing me now calls me a miracle boy, some begin to shed tears when they were told my story? Sometimes the thing go tire the doctors, "dem go wan give up, but God was their come back and they succeeded in the oral operation. I was just like that every day on the bed shedding tears and looking always focused on God. Dear mum, dad, uncles, aunts, siblings and all who visited me, the pain I caused you all those while was so much, but you never gave up on hope. I am alive today to be a living testimony of God's goodness, follow me thank my God, he has done me well. After three weeks of my discharge from the hospital, I had grown thin, no food could enter, I eat and pour out the food in an empty plate and for water I keep it in my mouth for long until it enter and later I say, mummy thank you. She starts crying for my condition, eating but not swallowing. We had already come back to stay at Obiaruku in Delta state, my mum was in her shop on market day when I started crying unusual cry, "it must had started again", she said, rushing out to get me I had already collapsed and later recovered again, this kept repeating itself. She cried like one who has gone mad, she took me to the house locked the door and started challenging God, that God should just come and take her life for mine, with her clothes soaked with tears, her hair unkept as she cried, my aunt came, pleading with her to open the door and this after hesitation she did by then, my critical condition calmed down and she asked my mum to bath me and said, ify shebi you go follow me go see daddy, I said yes, mummy no go follow us because she sabi cry well well abi? I said yes, she took me on the machine and asked my mum to carry me in the back cus she couldn't drive with one hand holding me. When we got to daddy's house (that's my late uncle Chief Gilbert Nwogueze) seeing me in my condition, he cried and lamented, "God I have told you to spare ify's life and take mine, I am old so please come and just take me, he is just 2 and becoming thin day by day, his skin colour has faded and has not eaten good food since 15 months, God why me! why my son". While my mum recently narrated this part of my story, I was moved to shed tears, imagine how people wished to replace my condition, how they grew lin fasting for my recovery, It got me thinking I would put it into writing and record. "no cry again" was my responds as little as I can remember to my mum and dad who at night join me in shedding tears for the pain was much in the region of my operation and the hunger was much, and all who cried while I was not crying. They felt my pains. My mum ran to Fr. Igolo and complained that she is tired, that she was referred to a native specialist, Fr. Said,"did you come to take permission from me, don't mind those people referring you to native home, darkness cannot give light only God gives light and when all things seems difficult, God comes in, this is the time when God will have to act". The man of God prayed for me. Obulu nobuyingi chim, onyekamga kosalu (if not you my God, whom shall I tell). Our neighbour, mama Obim, seeing me, knelt down and cried, "God, if this boy should get better, I would do thanksgiving in my church. Many a time, my mum and dad takes me to the chapel to pray, Rev. sisters who came to see us in the shop would shout that why shouldn't she bring me to the hospital, "sister you no go understand wetin this boy dey pass through, na long story",my mum replied. While they were still talking I exclaimed, "mummy, I wan chop banana, in their front, they brought banana and gave me, I ate and pointed at the empty plate where I poured it out, this I did until I finished the banana, I said mummy, thank you. The three sisters; Sis Chukwuemelie, fiat and the other started shedding tears, "indeed its a long story" they said and brought black stone, mixed it with milk and used spoon to give me to swallow, the first time I swallowed it and the second but the third I vomited it and that was the food that sustained me, they took me to the convent and prayed for me, the charismatic prayer group of which my mother belonged to came also and prayed for me, that was when the miracle started from. My aunt, Mrs. Benedicta Nwogueze took me as usual to her shop and placed me on the small bicycle she is selling and I started matching it and riding it round the shop, all of a sudden I cried for malt, they gave me and I drank it and swallowed, the news went to my mum that ify drank malt, my mum said, "ehen he drank it and vomited as usual" my cousin said no, he swallowed malt. "Stop kidding me", mum replied. But she said, "we even gave him gala and he ate it". As my mum hear am, she abandon every thing, pick race go see wonders wey no go end. On getting there, she saw me eating gala, she came and carried me, she couldn't believe her eyes, she started shedding tears overwhelmed with joy. As I finished the gala, I shout mummy, moi-moi, they ran to get it, finishing it, I said, fanta, finishing a bottle, my flat tummy came out and my I said, mummy, moi-moi. I ate up to 5 moi-moi that day and they stopped in order not to get me overfed. My dried salivery gland was filled with saliva and if care is not take it starts falling from my mouth. What I was deprived of was now in abundance.. What a marvelous God. That night was so peaceful, I didn't wake them up with my cries. They woke up, came and checked whether I was still breathing cus it was quite unusual that I didn't cry in the night. Seeing that I was breathing they were happy, sleep they have been missing over 15 months, wow! Shhhh don't wake him allow him to sleep. I woke up around 8am only to see people gathered and the first thing I said was moi-moi, during that period, moi-moi was my favorite, I ate like no other. I am healed, the news spread, friends and well wishers came and joined us on our thanksgiving day, carrying me on their shoulder, dancing to the music my dad composed for my recovery. The song goes like this: Unafugo ihe nna meremmo unafugo ihe nna meremmo, ozoputara ifeanyichukwu kai buniefayenuo, kai bunie afayenuo kabuniafayenu ozoputara ifeanyichukwu kaibunie afayenuo..(Have you seen what the Lord has done for me, he saved Ifeanyichukwu, let us lift his na$e higher), mama obim, my neighbour fufiled her promise and did thanksgiving for me in Baptist church, calling me a miracle boy any time she sees me, up to date. Conclusion With an everlasting love I have loved you, I have drawn you with loving kindness (Jer. 33:3);It gets me thinking, I could spread this news far and abroad, only God knows best why he kept me alive till today and if not him, I would have died. Because someone else who was 15years old suffered same thing with me but didn't make it after the open operation. I don't know where to start from in thanking God, not that am the holiest, finest and most worthy. Words alone cannot express the debt of my gratitude to God. He doesn't eat food, even if I bring the whole money in the Central Bank, it won't be enough, silver and gold comes from him, If I start writing of the good things I have received from him, the largest book will not contain it. Here is my heart, take it, its yours cus you saved it; here is my soul, take it, its yours, cus you saved it; here is my life, take it, its yours, cus you saved it. After dying for me on the cross, you still added jara by saving me from this terrible sickness caused by the evil one. How can I repay the Lord, his goodness to me, the cup of salvation I shall raise, I will call on the Lord's name (Psalm 100). The only thing I am asking o Lord, "do with me what a musician does with the harp, what a porter does with the clay and like a pen in the hands of a writer o Lord I am in your hands, use me". When others say the good things you did for them like, I can see, I can walk, I will shout and dance, I CAN EAT! I AM ALIVE! I AM A MIRACLE BOY! I AM STRONG, I CAN NEVER GO HUNGRY AGAIN OR BEG FOR BREAD! And that's why I will serve you till I die and will continue to testify your goodness to me....truly, my name follows me, ifeanyichukwu: there is no impossibility with God (Mark 9:23, Luke 1:37) I believe everyone has their experience to share. Thanks for reading share this with your friends and keep the testimony testified. God bless you, Amen!
Updated May 2, 2017, 5:36 AM
APPRECIATION
I am greatly indebted to Almighty God for saving my life and for his mercy and sustenance through out the period of my illness. Am also grateful to my dad and mum, Capt. Justin & Mrs. Eunice Nwogueze; my aunts, Mrs. Benedicta, Benedete & Francisca Nwogueze, Mrs. Aplonia Ibeagwam & late Mrs. Augustina Izuekere, my uncles; Late chief Gilbert Nwogueze, late Mr. Jerome Nwogeze, Sir.(Chief) S.O Nwogueze K.S.M, Eze Omenyi 1 of Aguluzigbo, my siblings; Mr. J.P Nnamdi(Bulla man, Ichie Nwogu ichie Izuegbu) Rev. Fr. J. Ekenedirichukwu C.S.Sp (Ichie Nwogu ichie ugo nabo), Engr. B. Chukwuebuka(Ichie Nwogu ichie amam), Mr. B. Chibuikem(Ichie Nwogu ichie etigbue asili), Miss. M. Adaobi (one & only), my god dad, Dr. M. Igbonazaobi, the 2 white doctors that carried out my operation, my neighbours, priests and religious; Rev. Frs. Igolo & Paul Obi, Rev. Srs. Chukwuemelie, Fiat and Flora, the charismatic prayer group, nurses, and all my relatives too numerous to mention, I believe you know yourselves for your care, prayers, sleepless nights, tears and patience until I recovered. Even though I didn't recall all these because I was just 2years old, I can still feel it, I remember telling my parents, "mummy, no cry o, I go buy u wrapper and motor car! daddy, no worry I go buy you airplane! Am still wondering, who am I that God still kept and surrounded me with wonderful people? And for those who poisoned my drinking water physically or spiritually and turned it to caustic soda, those who didn't want me to see this day, know that I shall not die, I shall live recount the deeds of the Lord (Psalm 118:17) anyway thank you for because of you I have a story to tell of how wonderful God is, His hand is upon me and he has been watching over me and did not and will not allow you to succeed, may God not kill you but make you live to see to your shame how miraculously I shall progress and actualize all my dreams and mission. Dem go dey look! I go dey go! I am indebted to you all, may God who did not let me down, reward you all with eternal life and protect you all from all your enemies IJN, amen.
Power of Story Telling
Stories have been an integral part of human existence since time immemorial. They are more than mere words or tales; they possess a unique and transformative power that transcends generations, cultures, and languages. This power lies in their ability to captivate, connect, and change us.
1. **Captivation**: Stories have an innate ability to capture our attention. Whether it's a thrilling adventure, a heart-wrenching drama, or a thought-provoking fable, stories draw us in. They create a world in which we become emotionally invested, making us forget our surroundings and immerse ourselves in their narratives. This captivation is a testament to the storytelling's magnetic force.
2. **Connection**: Stories are the threads that weave the fabric of our shared human experience. They bridge gaps between individuals and communities, fostering empathy and understanding. When we hear or read a story, we enter the shoes of its characters, experiencing their joys, sorrows, and struggles. This empathic connection helps break down barriers, promoting unity and compassion.
3. **Change**: Stories possess the power to change us. They can challenge our beliefs, inspire us to take action, and spark personal growth. The narratives of real-life heroes overcoming adversity instill hope and resilience in us. Stories of injustice propel us to fight for a fairer world. They ignite our imagination, enabling us to envision a better future and motivating us to strive for it.
In every corner of the world, stories have shaped cultures, passed down wisdom, and provided solace in times of need. They serve as mirrors reflecting our own lives and windows into the lives of others. Through stories, we explore the human condition, grapple with complex moral dilemmas, and find answers to timeless questions.
As we embrace the digital age, the power of storytelling remains undiminished. It has found new mediums, from books and films to podcasts and social media. In a world that can often feel fragmented and divided, storytelling continues to serve as a unifying force, reminding us of our shared humanity.
In conclusion, the power of storytelling is a testament to its enduring relevance in our lives. It captivates our minds, connects our hearts, and changes our perspectives. It is a reminder that, no matter how advanced our society becomes, the art of storytelling will always hold the key to understanding, empathy, and transformation.
