Five years after surviving an accident that claimed the lives of everyone in a vehicle, Eniola Amusan, who is learning to rebuild her life with a spinal cord injury, speaks withTEMITOPE ADETUNJIabout the accident, its impact on her life and her hope of walking againWhat do you currently do?I don’t have a job right now. I’m currently looking for one.Can you take us back to the day of the accident? What happened while you were returning from NYSC camp?In 2021, I fell sick at the NYSC camp. I had already spent two weeks there out of the three-week orientation programme. That day, we had marched, and I started feeling unwell. They gave me an injection, and I had a reaction to it. There weren’t enough beds for everyone to rest, so eventually, they told us to just go home.I left the camp, and on my way back, I had an accident. I can’t remember many details about what happened. I just remember that I had an accident and later found myself at the scene. I was the only survivor, but I was badly injured.Where was the NYSC camp?Akwa Ibom. I was travelling to Ibadan.At what point did you realise you had been involved in an accident?It was about five days after the accident. I was already at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. They told me what had happened, and I was shocked.I remember opening my eyes and seeing my dad. I asked him what happened, and he told me I had been involved in an accident. I didn’t really understand what was going on. I couldn’t see properly with one of my eyes, and I noticed I couldn’t feel my body from below my breasts. I thought it was temporary and that I would eventually recover.Later, I heard doctors talking about someone who had been involved in an accident and whose leg had been amputated. They were also checking the other leg to determine whether it needed to be amputated too.I thought they were talking about me, so I started shouting, “Where’s my leg?” My dad took a picture of my leg and showed me that it was still there. I was relieved, but I still didn’t understand how serious my condition really was. I didn’t know I had a spinal cord injury.When did you first realise you had sustained a spinal cord injury?It was about two weeks after I got to the hospital. A doctor told me that I had damaged my brain, lungs and spinal cord. I had undergone surgery because my lungs were almost collapsing, but they said the most serious injury was to my spinal cord. The doctor said my chances of walking again were very slim, although I might regain some functions with the right treatment.I couldn’t understand it. I kept thinking, “How can I just have an accident and then you tell me my spinal cord is damaged and my chances of walking again are slim?” At first, I was calm, but when I started processing what he had said, I became very scared. The nurses tried to encourage me by telling me about patients whose conditions had improved despite similar prognoses, so I became hopeful and believed I would walk again.I thought that, at most, six months after the accident, I would be fine. But eventually, I was discharged and things didn’t improve. I started physiotherapy, but I wasn’t ready to accept that I might be in a wheelchair for a long time. I cried every day because everything was new to me. It felt like a dream, and I hoped that when I slept and woke up, I would return to my old life. I carried that feeling for years before finally accepting my reality.How did the injury change the plans you had for yourself?It changed everything. I was a fresh graduate. My convocation was on a Sunday; I went to camp the following Wednesday, and about three weeks later, the accident happened. I thought life was about to start fully. An uncle had promised to sponsor my master’s abroad if I graduated with a second-class upper, which I did, but the money meant for my education went towards my treatment instead.I had also saved money to buy an industrial sewing machine and start a fashion business. I had learnt fashion design before gaining admission to the university. Suddenly, all of that changed. I went from a lively, vibrant girl full of dreams to someone who can’t survive without other people around her. I can’t turn myself back to who I used to be; I can’t control when I urinate or defecate, I lost sensation, and I developed pressure sores.I wanted to pursue a master’s degree and become a professor. I’m a certified teacher, and I studied Economics and Education. I had to shift my focus from those dreams to simply trying to get better.How did your parents react when they were told you might not walk again?It was very difficult, especially for my mother. Even now, neither they nor I have accepted that possibility. My parents and siblings have done so much for me and stayed with me because I can’t be alone. Sometimes, looking at them makes me sad because I see their struggle.Did you ever struggle with survivor’s guilt?For the first two years, yes. I felt sorry for the people who lost their lives and wondered why I survived when I would end up living like this. But over time, I learnt that surviving was a second chance. God gave me another opportunity to live a good life, and I intend to use it well.What are some realities of living with the injury that people may not fully understand?No matter how much you explain it, people can’t fully grasp it. Watching your own skin deteriorate from a pressure sore, becoming infected and smelling, is a lot to deal with. I’ve learnt that things like simply turning over in bed, which most people take for granted, are daily struggles for some of us. Independence is a precious gift that people should cherish.Who or what has been your greatest source of support?Related NewsMedical students now plan japa before graduation — NMANorthern states record 185,502 rise in child malnutrition casesUsing leftover antibiotics may prolong illness — PharmacistsMy family and God. I owe my life to them. My mother, especially, has never left my side, and I’m so grateful.Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. What do you currently do?I don’t have a job right now. I’m currently looking for one.Can you take us back to the day of the accident? What happened while you were returning from NYSC camp?In 2021, I fell sick at the NYSC camp. I had already spent two weeks there out of the three-week orientation programme. That day, we had marched, and I started feeling unwell. They gave me an injection, and I had a reaction to it. There weren’t enough beds for everyone to rest, so eventually, they told us to just go home.I left the camp, and on my way back, I had an accident. I can’t remember many details about what happened. I just remember that I had an accident and later found myself at the scene. I was the only survivor, but I was badly injured.Where was the NYSC camp?Akwa Ibom. I was travelling to Ibadan.At what point did you realise you had been involved in an accident?It was about five days after the accident. I was already at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. They told me what had happened, and I was shocked.I remember opening my eyes and seeing my dad. I asked him what happened, and he told me I had been involved in an accident. I didn’t really understand what was going on. I couldn’t see properly with one of my eyes, and I noticed I couldn’t feel my body from below my breasts. I thought it was temporary and that I would eventually recover.Later, I heard doctors talking about someone who had been involved in an accident and whose leg had been amputated. They were also checking the other leg to determine whether it needed to be amputated too.I thought they were talking about me, so I started shouting, “Where’s my leg?” My dad took a picture of my leg and showed me that it was still there. I was relieved, but I still didn’t understand how serious my condition really was. I didn’t know I had a spinal cord injury.When did you first realise you had sustained a spinal cord injury?It was about two weeks after I got to the hospital. A doctor told me that I had damaged my brain, lungs and spinal cord. I had undergone surgery because my lungs were almost collapsing, but they said the most serious injury was to my spinal cord. The doctor said my chances of walking again were very slim, although I might regain some functions with the right treatment.I couldn’t understand it. I kept thinking, “How can I just have an accident and then you tell me my spinal cord is damaged and my chances of walking again are slim?” At first, I was calm, but when I started processing what he had said, I became very scared. The nurses tried to encourage me by telling me about patients whose conditions had improved despite similar prognoses, so I became hopeful and believed I would walk again.I thought that, at most, six months after the accident, I would be fine. But eventually, I was discharged and things didn’t improve. I started physiotherapy, but I wasn’t ready to accept that I might be in a wheelchair for a long time. I cried every day because everything was new to me. It felt like a dream, and I hoped that when I slept and woke up, I would return to my old life. I carried that feeling for years before finally accepting my reality.How did the injury change the plans you had for yourself?It changed everything. I was a fresh graduate. My convocation was on a Sunday; I went to camp the following Wednesday, and about three weeks later, the accident happened. I thought life was about to start fully. An uncle had promised to sponsor my master’s abroad if I graduated with a second-class upper, which I did, but the money meant for my education went towards my treatment instead.I had also saved money to buy an industrial sewing machine and start a fashion business. I had learnt fashion design before gaining admission to the university. Suddenly, all of that changed. I went from a lively, vibrant girl full of dreams to someone who can’t survive without other people around her. I can’t turn myself back to who I used to be; I can’t control when I urinate or defecate, I lost sensation, and I developed pressure sores.I wanted to pursue a master’s degree and become a professor. I’m a certified teacher, and I studied Economics and Education. I had to shift my focus from those dreams to simply trying to get better.How did your parents react when they were told you might not walk again?It was very difficult, especially for my mother. Even now, neither they nor I have accepted that possibility. My parents and siblings have done so much for me and stayed with me because I can’t be alone. Sometimes, looking at them makes me sad because I see their struggle.Did you ever struggle with survivor’s guilt?For the first two years, yes. I felt sorry for the people who lost their lives and wondered why I survived when I would end up living like this. But over time, I learnt that surviving was a second chance. God gave me another opportunity to live a good life, and I intend to use it well.What are some realities of living with the injury that people may not fully understand?No matter how much you explain it, people can’t fully grasp it. Watching your own skin deteriorate from a pressure sore, becoming infected and smelling, is a lot to deal with. I’ve learnt that things like simply turning over in bed, which most people take for granted, are daily struggles for some of us. Independence is a precious gift that people should cherish.Who or what has been your greatest source of support?Related NewsMedical students now plan japa before graduation — NMANorthern states record 185,502 rise in child malnutrition casesUsing leftover antibiotics may prolong illness — PharmacistsMy family and God. I owe my life to them. My mother, especially, has never left my side, and I’m so grateful.Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. What do you currently do?I don’t have a job right now. I’m currently looking for one.Can you take us back to the day of the accident? What happened while you were returning from NYSC camp?In 2021, I fell sick at the NYSC camp. I had already spent two weeks there out of the three-week orientation programme. That day, we had marched, and I started feeling unwell. They gave me an injection, and I had a reaction to it. There weren’t enough beds for everyone to rest, so eventually, they told us to just go home.I left the camp, and on my way back, I had an accident. I can’t remember many details about what happened. I just remember that I had an accident and later found myself at the scene. I was the only survivor, but I was badly injured.Where was the NYSC camp?Akwa Ibom. I was travelling to Ibadan.At what point did you realise you had been involved in an accident?It was about five days after the accident. I was already at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. They told me what had happened, and I was shocked.I remember opening my eyes and seeing my dad. I asked him what happened, and he told me I had been involved in an accident. I didn’t really understand what was going on. I couldn’t see properly with one of my eyes, and I noticed I couldn’t feel my body from below my breasts. I thought it was temporary and that I would eventually recover.Later, I heard doctors talking about someone who had been involved in an accident and whose leg had been amputated. They were also checking the other leg to determine whether it needed to be amputated too.I thought they were talking about me, so I started shouting, “Where’s my leg?” My dad took a picture of my leg and showed me that it was still there. I was relieved, but I still didn’t understand how serious my condition really was. I didn’t know I had a spinal cord injury.When did you first realise you had sustained a spinal cord injury?It was about two weeks after I got to the hospital. A doctor told me that I had damaged my brain, lungs and spinal cord. I had undergone surgery because my lungs were almost collapsing, but they said the most serious injury was to my spinal cord. The doctor said my chances of walking again were very slim, although I might regain some functions with the right treatment.I couldn’t understand it. I kept thinking, “How can I just have an accident and then you tell me my spinal cord is damaged and my chances of walking again are slim?” At first, I was calm, but when I started processing what he had said, I became very scared. The nurses tried to encourage me by telling me about patients whose conditions had improved despite similar prognoses, so I became hopeful and believed I would walk again.I thought that, at most, six months after the accident, I would be fine. But eventually, I was discharged and things didn’t improve. I started physiotherapy, but I wasn’t ready to accept that I might be in a wheelchair for a long time. I cried every day because everything was new to me. It felt like a dream, and I hoped that when I slept and woke up, I would return to my old life. I carried that feeling for years before finally accepting my reality.How did the injury change the plans you had for yourself?It changed everything. I was a fresh graduate. My convocation was on a Sunday; I went to camp the following Wednesday, and about three weeks later, the accident happened. I thought life was about to start fully. An uncle had promised to sponsor my master’s abroad if I graduated with a second-class upper, which I did, but the money meant for my education went towards my treatment instead.I had also saved money to buy an industrial sewing machine and start a fashion business. I had learnt fashion design before gaining admission to the university. Suddenly, all of that changed. I went from a lively, vibrant girl full of dreams to someone who can’t survive without other people around her. I can’t turn myself back to who I used to be; I can’t control when I urinate or defecate, I lost sensation, and I developed pressure sores.I wanted to pursue a master’s degree and become a professor. I’m a certified teacher, and I studied Economics and Education. I had to shift my focus from those dreams to simply trying to get better.How did your parents react when they were told you might not walk again?It was very difficult, especially for my mother. Even now, neither they nor I have accepted that possibility. My parents and siblings have done so much for me and stayed with me because I can’t be alone. Sometimes, looking at them makes me sad because I see their struggle.Did you ever struggle with survivor’s guilt?For the first two years, yes. I felt sorry for the people who lost their lives and wondered why I survived when I would end up living like this. But over time, I learnt that surviving was a second chance. God gave me another opportunity to live a good life, and I intend to use it well.What are some realities of living with the injury that people may not fully understand?No matter how much you explain it, people can’t fully grasp it. Watching your own skin deteriorate from a pressure sore, becoming infected and smelling, is a lot to deal with. I’ve learnt that things like simply turning over in bed, which most people take for granted, are daily struggles for some of us. Independence is a precious gift that people should cherish.Who or what has been your greatest source of support?Related NewsMedical students now plan japa before graduation — NMANorthern states record 185,502 rise in child malnutrition casesUsing leftover antibiotics may prolong illness — PharmacistsMy family and God. I owe my life to them. My mother, especially, has never left my side, and I’m so grateful.Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. I don’t have a job right now. I’m currently looking for one.Can you take us back to the day of the accident? What happened while you were returning from NYSC camp?In 2021, I fell sick at the NYSC camp. I had already spent two weeks there out of the three-week orientation programme. That day, we had marched, and I started feeling unwell. They gave me an injection, and I had a reaction to it. There weren’t enough beds for everyone to rest, so eventually, they told us to just go home.I left the camp, and on my way back, I had an accident. I can’t remember many details about what happened. I just remember that I had an accident and later found myself at the scene. I was the only survivor, but I was badly injured.Where was the NYSC camp?Akwa Ibom. I was travelling to Ibadan.At what point did you realise you had been involved in an accident?It was about five days after the accident. I was already at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. They told me what had happened, and I was shocked.I remember opening my eyes and seeing my dad. I asked him what happened, and he told me I had been involved in an accident. I didn’t really understand what was going on. I couldn’t see properly with one of my eyes, and I noticed I couldn’t feel my body from below my breasts. I thought it was temporary and that I would eventually recover.Later, I heard doctors talking about someone who had been involved in an accident and whose leg had been amputated. They were also checking the other leg to determine whether it needed to be amputated too.I thought they were talking about me, so I started shouting, “Where’s my leg?” My dad took a picture of my leg and showed me that it was still there. I was relieved, but I still didn’t understand how serious my condition really was. I didn’t know I had a spinal cord injury.When did you first realise you had sustained a spinal cord injury?It was about two weeks after I got to the hospital. A doctor told me that I had damaged my brain, lungs and spinal cord. I had undergone surgery because my lungs were almost collapsing, but they said the most serious injury was to my spinal cord. The doctor said my chances of walking again were very slim, although I might regain some functions with the right treatment.I couldn’t understand it. I kept thinking, “How can I just have an accident and then you tell me my spinal cord is damaged and my chances of walking again are slim?” At first, I was calm, but when I started processing what he had said, I became very scared. The nurses tried to encourage me by telling me about patients whose conditions had improved despite similar prognoses, so I became hopeful and believed I would walk again.I thought that, at most, six months after the accident, I would be fine. But eventually, I was discharged and things didn’t improve. I started physiotherapy, but I wasn’t ready to accept that I might be in a wheelchair for a long time. I cried every day because everything was new to me. It felt like a dream, and I hoped that when I slept and woke up, I would return to my old life. I carried that feeling for years before finally accepting my reality.How did the injury change the plans you had for yourself?It changed everything. I was a fresh graduate. My convocation was on a Sunday; I went to camp the following Wednesday, and about three weeks later, the accident happened. I thought life was about to start fully. An uncle had promised to sponsor my master’s abroad if I graduated with a second-class upper, which I did, but the money meant for my education went towards my treatment instead.I had also saved money to buy an industrial sewing machine and start a fashion business. I had learnt fashion design before gaining admission to the university. Suddenly, all of that changed. I went from a lively, vibrant girl full of dreams to someone who can’t survive without other people around her. I can’t turn myself back to who I used to be; I can’t control when I urinate or defecate, I lost sensation, and I developed pressure sores.I wanted to pursue a master’s degree and become a professor. I’m a certified teacher, and I studied Economics and Education. I had to shift my focus from those dreams to simply trying to get better.How did your parents react when they were told you might not walk again?It was very difficult, especially for my mother. Even now, neither they nor I have accepted that possibility. My parents and siblings have done so much for me and stayed with me because I can’t be alone. Sometimes, looking at them makes me sad because I see their struggle.Did you ever struggle with survivor’s guilt?For the first two years, yes. I felt sorry for the people who lost their lives and wondered why I survived when I would end up living like this. But over time, I learnt that surviving was a second chance. God gave me another opportunity to live a good life, and I intend to use it well.What are some realities of living with the injury that people may not fully understand?No matter how much you explain it, people can’t fully grasp it. Watching your own skin deteriorate from a pressure sore, becoming infected and smelling, is a lot to deal with. I’ve learnt that things like simply turning over in bed, which most people take for granted, are daily struggles for some of us. Independence is a precious gift that people should cherish.Who or what has been your greatest source of support?Related NewsMedical students now plan japa before graduation — NMANorthern states record 185,502 rise in child malnutrition casesUsing leftover antibiotics may prolong illness — PharmacistsMy family and God. I owe my life to them. My mother, especially, has never left my side, and I’m so grateful.Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. Can you take us back to the day of the accident? What happened while you were returning from NYSC camp?In 2021, I fell sick at the NYSC camp. I had already spent two weeks there out of the three-week orientation programme. That day, we had marched, and I started feeling unwell. They gave me an injection, and I had a reaction to it. There weren’t enough beds for everyone to rest, so eventually, they told us to just go home.I left the camp, and on my way back, I had an accident. I can’t remember many details about what happened. I just remember that I had an accident and later found myself at the scene. I was the only survivor, but I was badly injured.Where was the NYSC camp?Akwa Ibom. I was travelling to Ibadan.At what point did you realise you had been involved in an accident?It was about five days after the accident. I was already at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. They told me what had happened, and I was shocked.I remember opening my eyes and seeing my dad. I asked him what happened, and he told me I had been involved in an accident. I didn’t really understand what was going on. I couldn’t see properly with one of my eyes, and I noticed I couldn’t feel my body from below my breasts. I thought it was temporary and that I would eventually recover.Later, I heard doctors talking about someone who had been involved in an accident and whose leg had been amputated. They were also checking the other leg to determine whether it needed to be amputated too.I thought they were talking about me, so I started shouting, “Where’s my leg?” My dad took a picture of my leg and showed me that it was still there. I was relieved, but I still didn’t understand how serious my condition really was. I didn’t know I had a spinal cord injury.When did you first realise you had sustained a spinal cord injury?It was about two weeks after I got to the hospital. A doctor told me that I had damaged my brain, lungs and spinal cord. I had undergone surgery because my lungs were almost collapsing, but they said the most serious injury was to my spinal cord. The doctor said my chances of walking again were very slim, although I might regain some functions with the right treatment.I couldn’t understand it. I kept thinking, “How can I just have an accident and then you tell me my spinal cord is damaged and my chances of walking again are slim?” At first, I was calm, but when I started processing what he had said, I became very scared. The nurses tried to encourage me by telling me about patients whose conditions had improved despite similar prognoses, so I became hopeful and believed I would walk again.I thought that, at most, six months after the accident, I would be fine. But eventually, I was discharged and things didn’t improve. I started physiotherapy, but I wasn’t ready to accept that I might be in a wheelchair for a long time. I cried every day because everything was new to me. It felt like a dream, and I hoped that when I slept and woke up, I would return to my old life. I carried that feeling for years before finally accepting my reality.How did the injury change the plans you had for yourself?It changed everything. I was a fresh graduate. My convocation was on a Sunday; I went to camp the following Wednesday, and about three weeks later, the accident happened. I thought life was about to start fully. An uncle had promised to sponsor my master’s abroad if I graduated with a second-class upper, which I did, but the money meant for my education went towards my treatment instead.I had also saved money to buy an industrial sewing machine and start a fashion business. I had learnt fashion design before gaining admission to the university. Suddenly, all of that changed. I went from a lively, vibrant girl full of dreams to someone who can’t survive without other people around her. I can’t turn myself back to who I used to be; I can’t control when I urinate or defecate, I lost sensation, and I developed pressure sores.I wanted to pursue a master’s degree and become a professor. I’m a certified teacher, and I studied Economics and Education. I had to shift my focus from those dreams to simply trying to get better.How did your parents react when they were told you might not walk again?It was very difficult, especially for my mother. Even now, neither they nor I have accepted that possibility. My parents and siblings have done so much for me and stayed with me because I can’t be alone. Sometimes, looking at them makes me sad because I see their struggle.Did you ever struggle with survivor’s guilt?For the first two years, yes. I felt sorry for the people who lost their lives and wondered why I survived when I would end up living like this. But over time, I learnt that surviving was a second chance. God gave me another opportunity to live a good life, and I intend to use it well.What are some realities of living with the injury that people may not fully understand?No matter how much you explain it, people can’t fully grasp it. Watching your own skin deteriorate from a pressure sore, becoming infected and smelling, is a lot to deal with. I’ve learnt that things like simply turning over in bed, which most people take for granted, are daily struggles for some of us. Independence is a precious gift that people should cherish.Who or what has been your greatest source of support?Related NewsMedical students now plan japa before graduation — NMANorthern states record 185,502 rise in child malnutrition casesUsing leftover antibiotics may prolong illness — PharmacistsMy family and God. I owe my life to them. My mother, especially, has never left my side, and I’m so grateful.Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. In 2021, I fell sick at the NYSC camp. I had already spent two weeks there out of the three-week orientation programme. That day, we had marched, and I started feeling unwell. They gave me an injection, and I had a reaction to it. There weren’t enough beds for everyone to rest, so eventually, they told us to just go home.I left the camp, and on my way back, I had an accident. I can’t remember many details about what happened. I just remember that I had an accident and later found myself at the scene. I was the only survivor, but I was badly injured.Where was the NYSC camp?Akwa Ibom. I was travelling to Ibadan.At what point did you realise you had been involved in an accident?It was about five days after the accident. I was already at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. They told me what had happened, and I was shocked.I remember opening my eyes and seeing my dad. I asked him what happened, and he told me I had been involved in an accident. I didn’t really understand what was going on. I couldn’t see properly with one of my eyes, and I noticed I couldn’t feel my body from below my breasts. I thought it was temporary and that I would eventually recover.Later, I heard doctors talking about someone who had been involved in an accident and whose leg had been amputated. They were also checking the other leg to determine whether it needed to be amputated too.I thought they were talking about me, so I started shouting, “Where’s my leg?” My dad took a picture of my leg and showed me that it was still there. I was relieved, but I still didn’t understand how serious my condition really was. I didn’t know I had a spinal cord injury.When did you first realise you had sustained a spinal cord injury?It was about two weeks after I got to the hospital. A doctor told me that I had damaged my brain, lungs and spinal cord. I had undergone surgery because my lungs were almost collapsing, but they said the most serious injury was to my spinal cord. The doctor said my chances of walking again were very slim, although I might regain some functions with the right treatment.I couldn’t understand it. I kept thinking, “How can I just have an accident and then you tell me my spinal cord is damaged and my chances of walking again are slim?” At first, I was calm, but when I started processing what he had said, I became very scared. The nurses tried to encourage me by telling me about patients whose conditions had improved despite similar prognoses, so I became hopeful and believed I would walk again.I thought that, at most, six months after the accident, I would be fine. But eventually, I was discharged and things didn’t improve. I started physiotherapy, but I wasn’t ready to accept that I might be in a wheelchair for a long time. I cried every day because everything was new to me. It felt like a dream, and I hoped that when I slept and woke up, I would return to my old life. I carried that feeling for years before finally accepting my reality.How did the injury change the plans you had for yourself?It changed everything. I was a fresh graduate. My convocation was on a Sunday; I went to camp the following Wednesday, and about three weeks later, the accident happened. I thought life was about to start fully. An uncle had promised to sponsor my master’s abroad if I graduated with a second-class upper, which I did, but the money meant for my education went towards my treatment instead.I had also saved money to buy an industrial sewing machine and start a fashion business. I had learnt fashion design before gaining admission to the university. Suddenly, all of that changed. I went from a lively, vibrant girl full of dreams to someone who can’t survive without other people around her. I can’t turn myself back to who I used to be; I can’t control when I urinate or defecate, I lost sensation, and I developed pressure sores.I wanted to pursue a master’s degree and become a professor. I’m a certified teacher, and I studied Economics and Education. I had to shift my focus from those dreams to simply trying to get better.How did your parents react when they were told you might not walk again?It was very difficult, especially for my mother. Even now, neither they nor I have accepted that possibility. My parents and siblings have done so much for me and stayed with me because I can’t be alone. Sometimes, looking at them makes me sad because I see their struggle.Did you ever struggle with survivor’s guilt?For the first two years, yes. I felt sorry for the people who lost their lives and wondered why I survived when I would end up living like this. But over time, I learnt that surviving was a second chance. God gave me another opportunity to live a good life, and I intend to use it well.What are some realities of living with the injury that people may not fully understand?No matter how much you explain it, people can’t fully grasp it. Watching your own skin deteriorate from a pressure sore, becoming infected and smelling, is a lot to deal with. I’ve learnt that things like simply turning over in bed, which most people take for granted, are daily struggles for some of us. Independence is a precious gift that people should cherish.Who or what has been your greatest source of support?Related NewsMedical students now plan japa before graduation — NMANorthern states record 185,502 rise in child malnutrition casesUsing leftover antibiotics may prolong illness — PharmacistsMy family and God. I owe my life to them. My mother, especially, has never left my side, and I’m so grateful.Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. I left the camp, and on my way back, I had an accident. I can’t remember many details about what happened. I just remember that I had an accident and later found myself at the scene. I was the only survivor, but I was badly injured.Where was the NYSC camp?Akwa Ibom. I was travelling to Ibadan.At what point did you realise you had been involved in an accident?It was about five days after the accident. I was already at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. They told me what had happened, and I was shocked.I remember opening my eyes and seeing my dad. I asked him what happened, and he told me I had been involved in an accident. I didn’t really understand what was going on. I couldn’t see properly with one of my eyes, and I noticed I couldn’t feel my body from below my breasts. I thought it was temporary and that I would eventually recover.Later, I heard doctors talking about someone who had been involved in an accident and whose leg had been amputated. They were also checking the other leg to determine whether it needed to be amputated too.I thought they were talking about me, so I started shouting, “Where’s my leg?” My dad took a picture of my leg and showed me that it was still there. I was relieved, but I still didn’t understand how serious my condition really was. I didn’t know I had a spinal cord injury.When did you first realise you had sustained a spinal cord injury?It was about two weeks after I got to the hospital. A doctor told me that I had damaged my brain, lungs and spinal cord. I had undergone surgery because my lungs were almost collapsing, but they said the most serious injury was to my spinal cord. The doctor said my chances of walking again were very slim, although I might regain some functions with the right treatment.I couldn’t understand it. I kept thinking, “How can I just have an accident and then you tell me my spinal cord is damaged and my chances of walking again are slim?” At first, I was calm, but when I started processing what he had said, I became very scared. The nurses tried to encourage me by telling me about patients whose conditions had improved despite similar prognoses, so I became hopeful and believed I would walk again.I thought that, at most, six months after the accident, I would be fine. But eventually, I was discharged and things didn’t improve. I started physiotherapy, but I wasn’t ready to accept that I might be in a wheelchair for a long time. I cried every day because everything was new to me. It felt like a dream, and I hoped that when I slept and woke up, I would return to my old life. I carried that feeling for years before finally accepting my reality.How did the injury change the plans you had for yourself?It changed everything. I was a fresh graduate. My convocation was on a Sunday; I went to camp the following Wednesday, and about three weeks later, the accident happened. I thought life was about to start fully. An uncle had promised to sponsor my master’s abroad if I graduated with a second-class upper, which I did, but the money meant for my education went towards my treatment instead.I had also saved money to buy an industrial sewing machine and start a fashion business. I had learnt fashion design before gaining admission to the university. Suddenly, all of that changed. I went from a lively, vibrant girl full of dreams to someone who can’t survive without other people around her. I can’t turn myself back to who I used to be; I can’t control when I urinate or defecate, I lost sensation, and I developed pressure sores.I wanted to pursue a master’s degree and become a professor. I’m a certified teacher, and I studied Economics and Education. I had to shift my focus from those dreams to simply trying to get better.How did your parents react when they were told you might not walk again?It was very difficult, especially for my mother. Even now, neither they nor I have accepted that possibility. My parents and siblings have done so much for me and stayed with me because I can’t be alone. Sometimes, looking at them makes me sad because I see their struggle.Did you ever struggle with survivor’s guilt?For the first two years, yes. I felt sorry for the people who lost their lives and wondered why I survived when I would end up living like this. But over time, I learnt that surviving was a second chance. God gave me another opportunity to live a good life, and I intend to use it well.What are some realities of living with the injury that people may not fully understand?No matter how much you explain it, people can’t fully grasp it. Watching your own skin deteriorate from a pressure sore, becoming infected and smelling, is a lot to deal with. I’ve learnt that things like simply turning over in bed, which most people take for granted, are daily struggles for some of us. Independence is a precious gift that people should cherish.Who or what has been your greatest source of support?Related NewsMedical students now plan japa before graduation — NMANorthern states record 185,502 rise in child malnutrition casesUsing leftover antibiotics may prolong illness — PharmacistsMy family and God. I owe my life to them. My mother, especially, has never left my side, and I’m so grateful.Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. Where was the NYSC camp?Akwa Ibom. I was travelling to Ibadan.At what point did you realise you had been involved in an accident?It was about five days after the accident. I was already at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. They told me what had happened, and I was shocked.I remember opening my eyes and seeing my dad. I asked him what happened, and he told me I had been involved in an accident. I didn’t really understand what was going on. I couldn’t see properly with one of my eyes, and I noticed I couldn’t feel my body from below my breasts. I thought it was temporary and that I would eventually recover.Later, I heard doctors talking about someone who had been involved in an accident and whose leg had been amputated. They were also checking the other leg to determine whether it needed to be amputated too.I thought they were talking about me, so I started shouting, “Where’s my leg?” My dad took a picture of my leg and showed me that it was still there. I was relieved, but I still didn’t understand how serious my condition really was. I didn’t know I had a spinal cord injury.When did you first realise you had sustained a spinal cord injury?It was about two weeks after I got to the hospital. A doctor told me that I had damaged my brain, lungs and spinal cord. I had undergone surgery because my lungs were almost collapsing, but they said the most serious injury was to my spinal cord. The doctor said my chances of walking again were very slim, although I might regain some functions with the right treatment.I couldn’t understand it. I kept thinking, “How can I just have an accident and then you tell me my spinal cord is damaged and my chances of walking again are slim?” At first, I was calm, but when I started processing what he had said, I became very scared. The nurses tried to encourage me by telling me about patients whose conditions had improved despite similar prognoses, so I became hopeful and believed I would walk again.I thought that, at most, six months after the accident, I would be fine. But eventually, I was discharged and things didn’t improve. I started physiotherapy, but I wasn’t ready to accept that I might be in a wheelchair for a long time. I cried every day because everything was new to me. It felt like a dream, and I hoped that when I slept and woke up, I would return to my old life. I carried that feeling for years before finally accepting my reality.How did the injury change the plans you had for yourself?It changed everything. I was a fresh graduate. My convocation was on a Sunday; I went to camp the following Wednesday, and about three weeks later, the accident happened. I thought life was about to start fully. An uncle had promised to sponsor my master’s abroad if I graduated with a second-class upper, which I did, but the money meant for my education went towards my treatment instead.I had also saved money to buy an industrial sewing machine and start a fashion business. I had learnt fashion design before gaining admission to the university. Suddenly, all of that changed. I went from a lively, vibrant girl full of dreams to someone who can’t survive without other people around her. I can’t turn myself back to who I used to be; I can’t control when I urinate or defecate, I lost sensation, and I developed pressure sores.I wanted to pursue a master’s degree and become a professor. I’m a certified teacher, and I studied Economics and Education. I had to shift my focus from those dreams to simply trying to get better.How did your parents react when they were told you might not walk again?It was very difficult, especially for my mother. Even now, neither they nor I have accepted that possibility. My parents and siblings have done so much for me and stayed with me because I can’t be alone. Sometimes, looking at them makes me sad because I see their struggle.Did you ever struggle with survivor’s guilt?For the first two years, yes. I felt sorry for the people who lost their lives and wondered why I survived when I would end up living like this. But over time, I learnt that surviving was a second chance. God gave me another opportunity to live a good life, and I intend to use it well.What are some realities of living with the injury that people may not fully understand?No matter how much you explain it, people can’t fully grasp it. Watching your own skin deteriorate from a pressure sore, becoming infected and smelling, is a lot to deal with. I’ve learnt that things like simply turning over in bed, which most people take for granted, are daily struggles for some of us. Independence is a precious gift that people should cherish.Who or what has been your greatest source of support?Related NewsMedical students now plan japa before graduation — NMANorthern states record 185,502 rise in child malnutrition casesUsing leftover antibiotics may prolong illness — PharmacistsMy family and God. I owe my life to them. My mother, especially, has never left my side, and I’m so grateful.Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. Akwa Ibom. I was travelling to Ibadan.At what point did you realise you had been involved in an accident?It was about five days after the accident. I was already at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. They told me what had happened, and I was shocked.I remember opening my eyes and seeing my dad. I asked him what happened, and he told me I had been involved in an accident. I didn’t really understand what was going on. I couldn’t see properly with one of my eyes, and I noticed I couldn’t feel my body from below my breasts. I thought it was temporary and that I would eventually recover.Later, I heard doctors talking about someone who had been involved in an accident and whose leg had been amputated. They were also checking the other leg to determine whether it needed to be amputated too.I thought they were talking about me, so I started shouting, “Where’s my leg?” My dad took a picture of my leg and showed me that it was still there. I was relieved, but I still didn’t understand how serious my condition really was. I didn’t know I had a spinal cord injury.When did you first realise you had sustained a spinal cord injury?It was about two weeks after I got to the hospital. A doctor told me that I had damaged my brain, lungs and spinal cord. I had undergone surgery because my lungs were almost collapsing, but they said the most serious injury was to my spinal cord. The doctor said my chances of walking again were very slim, although I might regain some functions with the right treatment.I couldn’t understand it. I kept thinking, “How can I just have an accident and then you tell me my spinal cord is damaged and my chances of walking again are slim?” At first, I was calm, but when I started processing what he had said, I became very scared. The nurses tried to encourage me by telling me about patients whose conditions had improved despite similar prognoses, so I became hopeful and believed I would walk again.I thought that, at most, six months after the accident, I would be fine. But eventually, I was discharged and things didn’t improve. I started physiotherapy, but I wasn’t ready to accept that I might be in a wheelchair for a long time. I cried every day because everything was new to me. It felt like a dream, and I hoped that when I slept and woke up, I would return to my old life. I carried that feeling for years before finally accepting my reality.How did the injury change the plans you had for yourself?It changed everything. I was a fresh graduate. My convocation was on a Sunday; I went to camp the following Wednesday, and about three weeks later, the accident happened. I thought life was about to start fully. An uncle had promised to sponsor my master’s abroad if I graduated with a second-class upper, which I did, but the money meant for my education went towards my treatment instead.I had also saved money to buy an industrial sewing machine and start a fashion business. I had learnt fashion design before gaining admission to the university. Suddenly, all of that changed. I went from a lively, vibrant girl full of dreams to someone who can’t survive without other people around her. I can’t turn myself back to who I used to be; I can’t control when I urinate or defecate, I lost sensation, and I developed pressure sores.I wanted to pursue a master’s degree and become a professor. I’m a certified teacher, and I studied Economics and Education. I had to shift my focus from those dreams to simply trying to get better.How did your parents react when they were told you might not walk again?It was very difficult, especially for my mother. Even now, neither they nor I have accepted that possibility. My parents and siblings have done so much for me and stayed with me because I can’t be alone. Sometimes, looking at them makes me sad because I see their struggle.Did you ever struggle with survivor’s guilt?For the first two years, yes. I felt sorry for the people who lost their lives and wondered why I survived when I would end up living like this. But over time, I learnt that surviving was a second chance. God gave me another opportunity to live a good life, and I intend to use it well.What are some realities of living with the injury that people may not fully understand?No matter how much you explain it, people can’t fully grasp it. Watching your own skin deteriorate from a pressure sore, becoming infected and smelling, is a lot to deal with. I’ve learnt that things like simply turning over in bed, which most people take for granted, are daily struggles for some of us. Independence is a precious gift that people should cherish.Who or what has been your greatest source of support?Related NewsMedical students now plan japa before graduation — NMANorthern states record 185,502 rise in child malnutrition casesUsing leftover antibiotics may prolong illness — PharmacistsMy family and God. I owe my life to them. My mother, especially, has never left my side, and I’m so grateful.Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. At what point did you realise you had been involved in an accident?It was about five days after the accident. I was already at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. They told me what had happened, and I was shocked.I remember opening my eyes and seeing my dad. I asked him what happened, and he told me I had been involved in an accident. I didn’t really understand what was going on. I couldn’t see properly with one of my eyes, and I noticed I couldn’t feel my body from below my breasts. I thought it was temporary and that I would eventually recover.Later, I heard doctors talking about someone who had been involved in an accident and whose leg had been amputated. They were also checking the other leg to determine whether it needed to be amputated too.I thought they were talking about me, so I started shouting, “Where’s my leg?” My dad took a picture of my leg and showed me that it was still there. I was relieved, but I still didn’t understand how serious my condition really was. I didn’t know I had a spinal cord injury.When did you first realise you had sustained a spinal cord injury?It was about two weeks after I got to the hospital. A doctor told me that I had damaged my brain, lungs and spinal cord. I had undergone surgery because my lungs were almost collapsing, but they said the most serious injury was to my spinal cord. The doctor said my chances of walking again were very slim, although I might regain some functions with the right treatment.I couldn’t understand it. I kept thinking, “How can I just have an accident and then you tell me my spinal cord is damaged and my chances of walking again are slim?” At first, I was calm, but when I started processing what he had said, I became very scared. The nurses tried to encourage me by telling me about patients whose conditions had improved despite similar prognoses, so I became hopeful and believed I would walk again.I thought that, at most, six months after the accident, I would be fine. But eventually, I was discharged and things didn’t improve. I started physiotherapy, but I wasn’t ready to accept that I might be in a wheelchair for a long time. I cried every day because everything was new to me. It felt like a dream, and I hoped that when I slept and woke up, I would return to my old life. I carried that feeling for years before finally accepting my reality.How did the injury change the plans you had for yourself?It changed everything. I was a fresh graduate. My convocation was on a Sunday; I went to camp the following Wednesday, and about three weeks later, the accident happened. I thought life was about to start fully. An uncle had promised to sponsor my master’s abroad if I graduated with a second-class upper, which I did, but the money meant for my education went towards my treatment instead.I had also saved money to buy an industrial sewing machine and start a fashion business. I had learnt fashion design before gaining admission to the university. Suddenly, all of that changed. I went from a lively, vibrant girl full of dreams to someone who can’t survive without other people around her. I can’t turn myself back to who I used to be; I can’t control when I urinate or defecate, I lost sensation, and I developed pressure sores.I wanted to pursue a master’s degree and become a professor. I’m a certified teacher, and I studied Economics and Education. I had to shift my focus from those dreams to simply trying to get better.How did your parents react when they were told you might not walk again?It was very difficult, especially for my mother. Even now, neither they nor I have accepted that possibility. My parents and siblings have done so much for me and stayed with me because I can’t be alone. Sometimes, looking at them makes me sad because I see their struggle.Did you ever struggle with survivor’s guilt?For the first two years, yes. I felt sorry for the people who lost their lives and wondered why I survived when I would end up living like this. But over time, I learnt that surviving was a second chance. God gave me another opportunity to live a good life, and I intend to use it well.What are some realities of living with the injury that people may not fully understand?No matter how much you explain it, people can’t fully grasp it. Watching your own skin deteriorate from a pressure sore, becoming infected and smelling, is a lot to deal with. I’ve learnt that things like simply turning over in bed, which most people take for granted, are daily struggles for some of us. Independence is a precious gift that people should cherish.Who or what has been your greatest source of support?Related NewsMedical students now plan japa before graduation — NMANorthern states record 185,502 rise in child malnutrition casesUsing leftover antibiotics may prolong illness — PharmacistsMy family and God. I owe my life to them. My mother, especially, has never left my side, and I’m so grateful.Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. It was about five days after the accident. I was already at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. They told me what had happened, and I was shocked.I remember opening my eyes and seeing my dad. I asked him what happened, and he told me I had been involved in an accident. I didn’t really understand what was going on. I couldn’t see properly with one of my eyes, and I noticed I couldn’t feel my body from below my breasts. I thought it was temporary and that I would eventually recover.Later, I heard doctors talking about someone who had been involved in an accident and whose leg had been amputated. They were also checking the other leg to determine whether it needed to be amputated too.I thought they were talking about me, so I started shouting, “Where’s my leg?” My dad took a picture of my leg and showed me that it was still there. I was relieved, but I still didn’t understand how serious my condition really was. I didn’t know I had a spinal cord injury.When did you first realise you had sustained a spinal cord injury?It was about two weeks after I got to the hospital. A doctor told me that I had damaged my brain, lungs and spinal cord. I had undergone surgery because my lungs were almost collapsing, but they said the most serious injury was to my spinal cord. The doctor said my chances of walking again were very slim, although I might regain some functions with the right treatment.I couldn’t understand it. I kept thinking, “How can I just have an accident and then you tell me my spinal cord is damaged and my chances of walking again are slim?” At first, I was calm, but when I started processing what he had said, I became very scared. The nurses tried to encourage me by telling me about patients whose conditions had improved despite similar prognoses, so I became hopeful and believed I would walk again.I thought that, at most, six months after the accident, I would be fine. But eventually, I was discharged and things didn’t improve. I started physiotherapy, but I wasn’t ready to accept that I might be in a wheelchair for a long time. I cried every day because everything was new to me. It felt like a dream, and I hoped that when I slept and woke up, I would return to my old life. I carried that feeling for years before finally accepting my reality.How did the injury change the plans you had for yourself?It changed everything. I was a fresh graduate. My convocation was on a Sunday; I went to camp the following Wednesday, and about three weeks later, the accident happened. I thought life was about to start fully. An uncle had promised to sponsor my master’s abroad if I graduated with a second-class upper, which I did, but the money meant for my education went towards my treatment instead.I had also saved money to buy an industrial sewing machine and start a fashion business. I had learnt fashion design before gaining admission to the university. Suddenly, all of that changed. I went from a lively, vibrant girl full of dreams to someone who can’t survive without other people around her. I can’t turn myself back to who I used to be; I can’t control when I urinate or defecate, I lost sensation, and I developed pressure sores.I wanted to pursue a master’s degree and become a professor. I’m a certified teacher, and I studied Economics and Education. I had to shift my focus from those dreams to simply trying to get better.How did your parents react when they were told you might not walk again?It was very difficult, especially for my mother. Even now, neither they nor I have accepted that possibility. My parents and siblings have done so much for me and stayed with me because I can’t be alone. Sometimes, looking at them makes me sad because I see their struggle.Did you ever struggle with survivor’s guilt?For the first two years, yes. I felt sorry for the people who lost their lives and wondered why I survived when I would end up living like this. But over time, I learnt that surviving was a second chance. God gave me another opportunity to live a good life, and I intend to use it well.What are some realities of living with the injury that people may not fully understand?No matter how much you explain it, people can’t fully grasp it. Watching your own skin deteriorate from a pressure sore, becoming infected and smelling, is a lot to deal with. I’ve learnt that things like simply turning over in bed, which most people take for granted, are daily struggles for some of us. Independence is a precious gift that people should cherish.Who or what has been your greatest source of support?Related NewsMedical students now plan japa before graduation — NMANorthern states record 185,502 rise in child malnutrition casesUsing leftover antibiotics may prolong illness — PharmacistsMy family and God. I owe my life to them. My mother, especially, has never left my side, and I’m so grateful.Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. I remember opening my eyes and seeing my dad. I asked him what happened, and he told me I had been involved in an accident. I didn’t really understand what was going on. I couldn’t see properly with one of my eyes, and I noticed I couldn’t feel my body from below my breasts. I thought it was temporary and that I would eventually recover.Later, I heard doctors talking about someone who had been involved in an accident and whose leg had been amputated. They were also checking the other leg to determine whether it needed to be amputated too.I thought they were talking about me, so I started shouting, “Where’s my leg?” My dad took a picture of my leg and showed me that it was still there. I was relieved, but I still didn’t understand how serious my condition really was. I didn’t know I had a spinal cord injury.When did you first realise you had sustained a spinal cord injury?It was about two weeks after I got to the hospital. A doctor told me that I had damaged my brain, lungs and spinal cord. I had undergone surgery because my lungs were almost collapsing, but they said the most serious injury was to my spinal cord. The doctor said my chances of walking again were very slim, although I might regain some functions with the right treatment.I couldn’t understand it. I kept thinking, “How can I just have an accident and then you tell me my spinal cord is damaged and my chances of walking again are slim?” At first, I was calm, but when I started processing what he had said, I became very scared. The nurses tried to encourage me by telling me about patients whose conditions had improved despite similar prognoses, so I became hopeful and believed I would walk again.I thought that, at most, six months after the accident, I would be fine. But eventually, I was discharged and things didn’t improve. I started physiotherapy, but I wasn’t ready to accept that I might be in a wheelchair for a long time. I cried every day because everything was new to me. It felt like a dream, and I hoped that when I slept and woke up, I would return to my old life. I carried that feeling for years before finally accepting my reality.How did the injury change the plans you had for yourself?It changed everything. I was a fresh graduate. My convocation was on a Sunday; I went to camp the following Wednesday, and about three weeks later, the accident happened. I thought life was about to start fully. An uncle had promised to sponsor my master’s abroad if I graduated with a second-class upper, which I did, but the money meant for my education went towards my treatment instead.I had also saved money to buy an industrial sewing machine and start a fashion business. I had learnt fashion design before gaining admission to the university. Suddenly, all of that changed. I went from a lively, vibrant girl full of dreams to someone who can’t survive without other people around her. I can’t turn myself back to who I used to be; I can’t control when I urinate or defecate, I lost sensation, and I developed pressure sores.I wanted to pursue a master’s degree and become a professor. I’m a certified teacher, and I studied Economics and Education. I had to shift my focus from those dreams to simply trying to get better.How did your parents react when they were told you might not walk again?It was very difficult, especially for my mother. Even now, neither they nor I have accepted that possibility. My parents and siblings have done so much for me and stayed with me because I can’t be alone. Sometimes, looking at them makes me sad because I see their struggle.Did you ever struggle with survivor’s guilt?For the first two years, yes. I felt sorry for the people who lost their lives and wondered why I survived when I would end up living like this. But over time, I learnt that surviving was a second chance. God gave me another opportunity to live a good life, and I intend to use it well.What are some realities of living with the injury that people may not fully understand?No matter how much you explain it, people can’t fully grasp it. Watching your own skin deteriorate from a pressure sore, becoming infected and smelling, is a lot to deal with. I’ve learnt that things like simply turning over in bed, which most people take for granted, are daily struggles for some of us. Independence is a precious gift that people should cherish.Who or what has been your greatest source of support?Related NewsMedical students now plan japa before graduation — NMANorthern states record 185,502 rise in child malnutrition casesUsing leftover antibiotics may prolong illness — PharmacistsMy family and God. I owe my life to them. My mother, especially, has never left my side, and I’m so grateful.Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. Later, I heard doctors talking about someone who had been involved in an accident and whose leg had been amputated. They were also checking the other leg to determine whether it needed to be amputated too.I thought they were talking about me, so I started shouting, “Where’s my leg?” My dad took a picture of my leg and showed me that it was still there. I was relieved, but I still didn’t understand how serious my condition really was. I didn’t know I had a spinal cord injury.When did you first realise you had sustained a spinal cord injury?It was about two weeks after I got to the hospital. A doctor told me that I had damaged my brain, lungs and spinal cord. I had undergone surgery because my lungs were almost collapsing, but they said the most serious injury was to my spinal cord. The doctor said my chances of walking again were very slim, although I might regain some functions with the right treatment.I couldn’t understand it. I kept thinking, “How can I just have an accident and then you tell me my spinal cord is damaged and my chances of walking again are slim?” At first, I was calm, but when I started processing what he had said, I became very scared. The nurses tried to encourage me by telling me about patients whose conditions had improved despite similar prognoses, so I became hopeful and believed I would walk again.I thought that, at most, six months after the accident, I would be fine. But eventually, I was discharged and things didn’t improve. I started physiotherapy, but I wasn’t ready to accept that I might be in a wheelchair for a long time. I cried every day because everything was new to me. It felt like a dream, and I hoped that when I slept and woke up, I would return to my old life. I carried that feeling for years before finally accepting my reality.How did the injury change the plans you had for yourself?It changed everything. I was a fresh graduate. My convocation was on a Sunday; I went to camp the following Wednesday, and about three weeks later, the accident happened. I thought life was about to start fully. An uncle had promised to sponsor my master’s abroad if I graduated with a second-class upper, which I did, but the money meant for my education went towards my treatment instead.I had also saved money to buy an industrial sewing machine and start a fashion business. I had learnt fashion design before gaining admission to the university. Suddenly, all of that changed. I went from a lively, vibrant girl full of dreams to someone who can’t survive without other people around her. I can’t turn myself back to who I used to be; I can’t control when I urinate or defecate, I lost sensation, and I developed pressure sores.I wanted to pursue a master’s degree and become a professor. I’m a certified teacher, and I studied Economics and Education. I had to shift my focus from those dreams to simply trying to get better.How did your parents react when they were told you might not walk again?It was very difficult, especially for my mother. Even now, neither they nor I have accepted that possibility. My parents and siblings have done so much for me and stayed with me because I can’t be alone. Sometimes, looking at them makes me sad because I see their struggle.Did you ever struggle with survivor’s guilt?For the first two years, yes. I felt sorry for the people who lost their lives and wondered why I survived when I would end up living like this. But over time, I learnt that surviving was a second chance. God gave me another opportunity to live a good life, and I intend to use it well.What are some realities of living with the injury that people may not fully understand?No matter how much you explain it, people can’t fully grasp it. Watching your own skin deteriorate from a pressure sore, becoming infected and smelling, is a lot to deal with. I’ve learnt that things like simply turning over in bed, which most people take for granted, are daily struggles for some of us. Independence is a precious gift that people should cherish.Who or what has been your greatest source of support?Related NewsMedical students now plan japa before graduation — NMANorthern states record 185,502 rise in child malnutrition casesUsing leftover antibiotics may prolong illness — PharmacistsMy family and God. I owe my life to them. My mother, especially, has never left my side, and I’m so grateful.Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. I thought they were talking about me, so I started shouting, “Where’s my leg?” My dad took a picture of my leg and showed me that it was still there. I was relieved, but I still didn’t understand how serious my condition really was. I didn’t know I had a spinal cord injury.When did you first realise you had sustained a spinal cord injury?It was about two weeks after I got to the hospital. A doctor told me that I had damaged my brain, lungs and spinal cord. I had undergone surgery because my lungs were almost collapsing, but they said the most serious injury was to my spinal cord. The doctor said my chances of walking again were very slim, although I might regain some functions with the right treatment.I couldn’t understand it. I kept thinking, “How can I just have an accident and then you tell me my spinal cord is damaged and my chances of walking again are slim?” At first, I was calm, but when I started processing what he had said, I became very scared. The nurses tried to encourage me by telling me about patients whose conditions had improved despite similar prognoses, so I became hopeful and believed I would walk again.I thought that, at most, six months after the accident, I would be fine. But eventually, I was discharged and things didn’t improve. I started physiotherapy, but I wasn’t ready to accept that I might be in a wheelchair for a long time. I cried every day because everything was new to me. It felt like a dream, and I hoped that when I slept and woke up, I would return to my old life. I carried that feeling for years before finally accepting my reality.How did the injury change the plans you had for yourself?It changed everything. I was a fresh graduate. My convocation was on a Sunday; I went to camp the following Wednesday, and about three weeks later, the accident happened. I thought life was about to start fully. An uncle had promised to sponsor my master’s abroad if I graduated with a second-class upper, which I did, but the money meant for my education went towards my treatment instead.I had also saved money to buy an industrial sewing machine and start a fashion business. I had learnt fashion design before gaining admission to the university. Suddenly, all of that changed. I went from a lively, vibrant girl full of dreams to someone who can’t survive without other people around her. I can’t turn myself back to who I used to be; I can’t control when I urinate or defecate, I lost sensation, and I developed pressure sores.I wanted to pursue a master’s degree and become a professor. I’m a certified teacher, and I studied Economics and Education. I had to shift my focus from those dreams to simply trying to get better.How did your parents react when they were told you might not walk again?It was very difficult, especially for my mother. Even now, neither they nor I have accepted that possibility. My parents and siblings have done so much for me and stayed with me because I can’t be alone. Sometimes, looking at them makes me sad because I see their struggle.Did you ever struggle with survivor’s guilt?For the first two years, yes. I felt sorry for the people who lost their lives and wondered why I survived when I would end up living like this. But over time, I learnt that surviving was a second chance. God gave me another opportunity to live a good life, and I intend to use it well.What are some realities of living with the injury that people may not fully understand?No matter how much you explain it, people can’t fully grasp it. Watching your own skin deteriorate from a pressure sore, becoming infected and smelling, is a lot to deal with. I’ve learnt that things like simply turning over in bed, which most people take for granted, are daily struggles for some of us. Independence is a precious gift that people should cherish.Who or what has been your greatest source of support?Related NewsMedical students now plan japa before graduation — NMANorthern states record 185,502 rise in child malnutrition casesUsing leftover antibiotics may prolong illness — PharmacistsMy family and God. I owe my life to them. My mother, especially, has never left my side, and I’m so grateful.Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. When did you first realise you had sustained a spinal cord injury?It was about two weeks after I got to the hospital. A doctor told me that I had damaged my brain, lungs and spinal cord. I had undergone surgery because my lungs were almost collapsing, but they said the most serious injury was to my spinal cord. The doctor said my chances of walking again were very slim, although I might regain some functions with the right treatment.I couldn’t understand it. I kept thinking, “How can I just have an accident and then you tell me my spinal cord is damaged and my chances of walking again are slim?” At first, I was calm, but when I started processing what he had said, I became very scared. The nurses tried to encourage me by telling me about patients whose conditions had improved despite similar prognoses, so I became hopeful and believed I would walk again.I thought that, at most, six months after the accident, I would be fine. But eventually, I was discharged and things didn’t improve. I started physiotherapy, but I wasn’t ready to accept that I might be in a wheelchair for a long time. I cried every day because everything was new to me. It felt like a dream, and I hoped that when I slept and woke up, I would return to my old life. I carried that feeling for years before finally accepting my reality.How did the injury change the plans you had for yourself?It changed everything. I was a fresh graduate. My convocation was on a Sunday; I went to camp the following Wednesday, and about three weeks later, the accident happened. I thought life was about to start fully. An uncle had promised to sponsor my master’s abroad if I graduated with a second-class upper, which I did, but the money meant for my education went towards my treatment instead.I had also saved money to buy an industrial sewing machine and start a fashion business. I had learnt fashion design before gaining admission to the university. Suddenly, all of that changed. I went from a lively, vibrant girl full of dreams to someone who can’t survive without other people around her. I can’t turn myself back to who I used to be; I can’t control when I urinate or defecate, I lost sensation, and I developed pressure sores.I wanted to pursue a master’s degree and become a professor. I’m a certified teacher, and I studied Economics and Education. I had to shift my focus from those dreams to simply trying to get better.How did your parents react when they were told you might not walk again?It was very difficult, especially for my mother. Even now, neither they nor I have accepted that possibility. My parents and siblings have done so much for me and stayed with me because I can’t be alone. Sometimes, looking at them makes me sad because I see their struggle.Did you ever struggle with survivor’s guilt?For the first two years, yes. I felt sorry for the people who lost their lives and wondered why I survived when I would end up living like this. But over time, I learnt that surviving was a second chance. God gave me another opportunity to live a good life, and I intend to use it well.What are some realities of living with the injury that people may not fully understand?No matter how much you explain it, people can’t fully grasp it. Watching your own skin deteriorate from a pressure sore, becoming infected and smelling, is a lot to deal with. I’ve learnt that things like simply turning over in bed, which most people take for granted, are daily struggles for some of us. Independence is a precious gift that people should cherish.Who or what has been your greatest source of support?Related NewsMedical students now plan japa before graduation — NMANorthern states record 185,502 rise in child malnutrition casesUsing leftover antibiotics may prolong illness — PharmacistsMy family and God. I owe my life to them. My mother, especially, has never left my side, and I’m so grateful.Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. It was about two weeks after I got to the hospital. A doctor told me that I had damaged my brain, lungs and spinal cord. I had undergone surgery because my lungs were almost collapsing, but they said the most serious injury was to my spinal cord. The doctor said my chances of walking again were very slim, although I might regain some functions with the right treatment.I couldn’t understand it. I kept thinking, “How can I just have an accident and then you tell me my spinal cord is damaged and my chances of walking again are slim?” At first, I was calm, but when I started processing what he had said, I became very scared. The nurses tried to encourage me by telling me about patients whose conditions had improved despite similar prognoses, so I became hopeful and believed I would walk again.I thought that, at most, six months after the accident, I would be fine. But eventually, I was discharged and things didn’t improve. I started physiotherapy, but I wasn’t ready to accept that I might be in a wheelchair for a long time. I cried every day because everything was new to me. It felt like a dream, and I hoped that when I slept and woke up, I would return to my old life. I carried that feeling for years before finally accepting my reality.How did the injury change the plans you had for yourself?It changed everything. I was a fresh graduate. My convocation was on a Sunday; I went to camp the following Wednesday, and about three weeks later, the accident happened. I thought life was about to start fully. An uncle had promised to sponsor my master’s abroad if I graduated with a second-class upper, which I did, but the money meant for my education went towards my treatment instead.I had also saved money to buy an industrial sewing machine and start a fashion business. I had learnt fashion design before gaining admission to the university. Suddenly, all of that changed. I went from a lively, vibrant girl full of dreams to someone who can’t survive without other people around her. I can’t turn myself back to who I used to be; I can’t control when I urinate or defecate, I lost sensation, and I developed pressure sores.I wanted to pursue a master’s degree and become a professor. I’m a certified teacher, and I studied Economics and Education. I had to shift my focus from those dreams to simply trying to get better.How did your parents react when they were told you might not walk again?It was very difficult, especially for my mother. Even now, neither they nor I have accepted that possibility. My parents and siblings have done so much for me and stayed with me because I can’t be alone. Sometimes, looking at them makes me sad because I see their struggle.Did you ever struggle with survivor’s guilt?For the first two years, yes. I felt sorry for the people who lost their lives and wondered why I survived when I would end up living like this. But over time, I learnt that surviving was a second chance. God gave me another opportunity to live a good life, and I intend to use it well.What are some realities of living with the injury that people may not fully understand?No matter how much you explain it, people can’t fully grasp it. Watching your own skin deteriorate from a pressure sore, becoming infected and smelling, is a lot to deal with. I’ve learnt that things like simply turning over in bed, which most people take for granted, are daily struggles for some of us. Independence is a precious gift that people should cherish.Who or what has been your greatest source of support?Related NewsMedical students now plan japa before graduation — NMANorthern states record 185,502 rise in child malnutrition casesUsing leftover antibiotics may prolong illness — PharmacistsMy family and God. I owe my life to them. My mother, especially, has never left my side, and I’m so grateful.Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. I couldn’t understand it. I kept thinking, “How can I just have an accident and then you tell me my spinal cord is damaged and my chances of walking again are slim?” At first, I was calm, but when I started processing what he had said, I became very scared. The nurses tried to encourage me by telling me about patients whose conditions had improved despite similar prognoses, so I became hopeful and believed I would walk again.I thought that, at most, six months after the accident, I would be fine. But eventually, I was discharged and things didn’t improve. I started physiotherapy, but I wasn’t ready to accept that I might be in a wheelchair for a long time. I cried every day because everything was new to me. It felt like a dream, and I hoped that when I slept and woke up, I would return to my old life. I carried that feeling for years before finally accepting my reality.How did the injury change the plans you had for yourself?It changed everything. I was a fresh graduate. My convocation was on a Sunday; I went to camp the following Wednesday, and about three weeks later, the accident happened. I thought life was about to start fully. An uncle had promised to sponsor my master’s abroad if I graduated with a second-class upper, which I did, but the money meant for my education went towards my treatment instead.I had also saved money to buy an industrial sewing machine and start a fashion business. I had learnt fashion design before gaining admission to the university. Suddenly, all of that changed. I went from a lively, vibrant girl full of dreams to someone who can’t survive without other people around her. I can’t turn myself back to who I used to be; I can’t control when I urinate or defecate, I lost sensation, and I developed pressure sores.I wanted to pursue a master’s degree and become a professor. I’m a certified teacher, and I studied Economics and Education. I had to shift my focus from those dreams to simply trying to get better.How did your parents react when they were told you might not walk again?It was very difficult, especially for my mother. Even now, neither they nor I have accepted that possibility. My parents and siblings have done so much for me and stayed with me because I can’t be alone. Sometimes, looking at them makes me sad because I see their struggle.Did you ever struggle with survivor’s guilt?For the first two years, yes. I felt sorry for the people who lost their lives and wondered why I survived when I would end up living like this. But over time, I learnt that surviving was a second chance. God gave me another opportunity to live a good life, and I intend to use it well.What are some realities of living with the injury that people may not fully understand?No matter how much you explain it, people can’t fully grasp it. Watching your own skin deteriorate from a pressure sore, becoming infected and smelling, is a lot to deal with. I’ve learnt that things like simply turning over in bed, which most people take for granted, are daily struggles for some of us. Independence is a precious gift that people should cherish.Who or what has been your greatest source of support?Related NewsMedical students now plan japa before graduation — NMANorthern states record 185,502 rise in child malnutrition casesUsing leftover antibiotics may prolong illness — PharmacistsMy family and God. I owe my life to them. My mother, especially, has never left my side, and I’m so grateful.Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. I thought that, at most, six months after the accident, I would be fine. But eventually, I was discharged and things didn’t improve. I started physiotherapy, but I wasn’t ready to accept that I might be in a wheelchair for a long time. I cried every day because everything was new to me. It felt like a dream, and I hoped that when I slept and woke up, I would return to my old life. I carried that feeling for years before finally accepting my reality.How did the injury change the plans you had for yourself?It changed everything. I was a fresh graduate. My convocation was on a Sunday; I went to camp the following Wednesday, and about three weeks later, the accident happened. I thought life was about to start fully. An uncle had promised to sponsor my master’s abroad if I graduated with a second-class upper, which I did, but the money meant for my education went towards my treatment instead.I had also saved money to buy an industrial sewing machine and start a fashion business. I had learnt fashion design before gaining admission to the university. Suddenly, all of that changed. I went from a lively, vibrant girl full of dreams to someone who can’t survive without other people around her. I can’t turn myself back to who I used to be; I can’t control when I urinate or defecate, I lost sensation, and I developed pressure sores.I wanted to pursue a master’s degree and become a professor. I’m a certified teacher, and I studied Economics and Education. I had to shift my focus from those dreams to simply trying to get better.How did your parents react when they were told you might not walk again?It was very difficult, especially for my mother. Even now, neither they nor I have accepted that possibility. My parents and siblings have done so much for me and stayed with me because I can’t be alone. Sometimes, looking at them makes me sad because I see their struggle.Did you ever struggle with survivor’s guilt?For the first two years, yes. I felt sorry for the people who lost their lives and wondered why I survived when I would end up living like this. But over time, I learnt that surviving was a second chance. God gave me another opportunity to live a good life, and I intend to use it well.What are some realities of living with the injury that people may not fully understand?No matter how much you explain it, people can’t fully grasp it. Watching your own skin deteriorate from a pressure sore, becoming infected and smelling, is a lot to deal with. I’ve learnt that things like simply turning over in bed, which most people take for granted, are daily struggles for some of us. Independence is a precious gift that people should cherish.Who or what has been your greatest source of support?Related NewsMedical students now plan japa before graduation — NMANorthern states record 185,502 rise in child malnutrition casesUsing leftover antibiotics may prolong illness — PharmacistsMy family and God. I owe my life to them. My mother, especially, has never left my side, and I’m so grateful.Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. How did the injury change the plans you had for yourself?It changed everything. I was a fresh graduate. My convocation was on a Sunday; I went to camp the following Wednesday, and about three weeks later, the accident happened. I thought life was about to start fully. An uncle had promised to sponsor my master’s abroad if I graduated with a second-class upper, which I did, but the money meant for my education went towards my treatment instead.I had also saved money to buy an industrial sewing machine and start a fashion business. I had learnt fashion design before gaining admission to the university. Suddenly, all of that changed. I went from a lively, vibrant girl full of dreams to someone who can’t survive without other people around her. I can’t turn myself back to who I used to be; I can’t control when I urinate or defecate, I lost sensation, and I developed pressure sores.I wanted to pursue a master’s degree and become a professor. I’m a certified teacher, and I studied Economics and Education. I had to shift my focus from those dreams to simply trying to get better.How did your parents react when they were told you might not walk again?It was very difficult, especially for my mother. Even now, neither they nor I have accepted that possibility. My parents and siblings have done so much for me and stayed with me because I can’t be alone. Sometimes, looking at them makes me sad because I see their struggle.Did you ever struggle with survivor’s guilt?For the first two years, yes. I felt sorry for the people who lost their lives and wondered why I survived when I would end up living like this. But over time, I learnt that surviving was a second chance. God gave me another opportunity to live a good life, and I intend to use it well.What are some realities of living with the injury that people may not fully understand?No matter how much you explain it, people can’t fully grasp it. Watching your own skin deteriorate from a pressure sore, becoming infected and smelling, is a lot to deal with. I’ve learnt that things like simply turning over in bed, which most people take for granted, are daily struggles for some of us. Independence is a precious gift that people should cherish.Who or what has been your greatest source of support?Related NewsMedical students now plan japa before graduation — NMANorthern states record 185,502 rise in child malnutrition casesUsing leftover antibiotics may prolong illness — PharmacistsMy family and God. I owe my life to them. My mother, especially, has never left my side, and I’m so grateful.Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. It changed everything. I was a fresh graduate. My convocation was on a Sunday; I went to camp the following Wednesday, and about three weeks later, the accident happened. I thought life was about to start fully. An uncle had promised to sponsor my master’s abroad if I graduated with a second-class upper, which I did, but the money meant for my education went towards my treatment instead.I had also saved money to buy an industrial sewing machine and start a fashion business. I had learnt fashion design before gaining admission to the university. Suddenly, all of that changed. I went from a lively, vibrant girl full of dreams to someone who can’t survive without other people around her. I can’t turn myself back to who I used to be; I can’t control when I urinate or defecate, I lost sensation, and I developed pressure sores.I wanted to pursue a master’s degree and become a professor. I’m a certified teacher, and I studied Economics and Education. I had to shift my focus from those dreams to simply trying to get better.How did your parents react when they were told you might not walk again?It was very difficult, especially for my mother. Even now, neither they nor I have accepted that possibility. My parents and siblings have done so much for me and stayed with me because I can’t be alone. Sometimes, looking at them makes me sad because I see their struggle.Did you ever struggle with survivor’s guilt?For the first two years, yes. I felt sorry for the people who lost their lives and wondered why I survived when I would end up living like this. But over time, I learnt that surviving was a second chance. God gave me another opportunity to live a good life, and I intend to use it well.What are some realities of living with the injury that people may not fully understand?No matter how much you explain it, people can’t fully grasp it. Watching your own skin deteriorate from a pressure sore, becoming infected and smelling, is a lot to deal with. I’ve learnt that things like simply turning over in bed, which most people take for granted, are daily struggles for some of us. Independence is a precious gift that people should cherish.Who or what has been your greatest source of support?Related NewsMedical students now plan japa before graduation — NMANorthern states record 185,502 rise in child malnutrition casesUsing leftover antibiotics may prolong illness — PharmacistsMy family and God. I owe my life to them. My mother, especially, has never left my side, and I’m so grateful.Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. I had also saved money to buy an industrial sewing machine and start a fashion business. I had learnt fashion design before gaining admission to the university. Suddenly, all of that changed. I went from a lively, vibrant girl full of dreams to someone who can’t survive without other people around her. I can’t turn myself back to who I used to be; I can’t control when I urinate or defecate, I lost sensation, and I developed pressure sores.I wanted to pursue a master’s degree and become a professor. I’m a certified teacher, and I studied Economics and Education. I had to shift my focus from those dreams to simply trying to get better.How did your parents react when they were told you might not walk again?It was very difficult, especially for my mother. Even now, neither they nor I have accepted that possibility. My parents and siblings have done so much for me and stayed with me because I can’t be alone. Sometimes, looking at them makes me sad because I see their struggle.Did you ever struggle with survivor’s guilt?For the first two years, yes. I felt sorry for the people who lost their lives and wondered why I survived when I would end up living like this. But over time, I learnt that surviving was a second chance. God gave me another opportunity to live a good life, and I intend to use it well.What are some realities of living with the injury that people may not fully understand?No matter how much you explain it, people can’t fully grasp it. Watching your own skin deteriorate from a pressure sore, becoming infected and smelling, is a lot to deal with. I’ve learnt that things like simply turning over in bed, which most people take for granted, are daily struggles for some of us. Independence is a precious gift that people should cherish.Who or what has been your greatest source of support?Related NewsMedical students now plan japa before graduation — NMANorthern states record 185,502 rise in child malnutrition casesUsing leftover antibiotics may prolong illness — PharmacistsMy family and God. I owe my life to them. My mother, especially, has never left my side, and I’m so grateful.Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. I wanted to pursue a master’s degree and become a professor. I’m a certified teacher, and I studied Economics and Education. I had to shift my focus from those dreams to simply trying to get better.How did your parents react when they were told you might not walk again?It was very difficult, especially for my mother. Even now, neither they nor I have accepted that possibility. My parents and siblings have done so much for me and stayed with me because I can’t be alone. Sometimes, looking at them makes me sad because I see their struggle.Did you ever struggle with survivor’s guilt?For the first two years, yes. I felt sorry for the people who lost their lives and wondered why I survived when I would end up living like this. But over time, I learnt that surviving was a second chance. God gave me another opportunity to live a good life, and I intend to use it well.What are some realities of living with the injury that people may not fully understand?No matter how much you explain it, people can’t fully grasp it. Watching your own skin deteriorate from a pressure sore, becoming infected and smelling, is a lot to deal with. I’ve learnt that things like simply turning over in bed, which most people take for granted, are daily struggles for some of us. Independence is a precious gift that people should cherish.Who or what has been your greatest source of support?Related NewsMedical students now plan japa before graduation — NMANorthern states record 185,502 rise in child malnutrition casesUsing leftover antibiotics may prolong illness — PharmacistsMy family and God. I owe my life to them. My mother, especially, has never left my side, and I’m so grateful.Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. How did your parents react when they were told you might not walk again?It was very difficult, especially for my mother. Even now, neither they nor I have accepted that possibility. My parents and siblings have done so much for me and stayed with me because I can’t be alone. Sometimes, looking at them makes me sad because I see their struggle.Did you ever struggle with survivor’s guilt?For the first two years, yes. I felt sorry for the people who lost their lives and wondered why I survived when I would end up living like this. But over time, I learnt that surviving was a second chance. God gave me another opportunity to live a good life, and I intend to use it well.What are some realities of living with the injury that people may not fully understand?No matter how much you explain it, people can’t fully grasp it. Watching your own skin deteriorate from a pressure sore, becoming infected and smelling, is a lot to deal with. I’ve learnt that things like simply turning over in bed, which most people take for granted, are daily struggles for some of us. Independence is a precious gift that people should cherish.Who or what has been your greatest source of support?Related NewsMedical students now plan japa before graduation — NMANorthern states record 185,502 rise in child malnutrition casesUsing leftover antibiotics may prolong illness — PharmacistsMy family and God. I owe my life to them. My mother, especially, has never left my side, and I’m so grateful.Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. It was very difficult, especially for my mother. Even now, neither they nor I have accepted that possibility. My parents and siblings have done so much for me and stayed with me because I can’t be alone. Sometimes, looking at them makes me sad because I see their struggle.Did you ever struggle with survivor’s guilt?For the first two years, yes. I felt sorry for the people who lost their lives and wondered why I survived when I would end up living like this. But over time, I learnt that surviving was a second chance. God gave me another opportunity to live a good life, and I intend to use it well.What are some realities of living with the injury that people may not fully understand?No matter how much you explain it, people can’t fully grasp it. Watching your own skin deteriorate from a pressure sore, becoming infected and smelling, is a lot to deal with. I’ve learnt that things like simply turning over in bed, which most people take for granted, are daily struggles for some of us. Independence is a precious gift that people should cherish.Who or what has been your greatest source of support?Related NewsMedical students now plan japa before graduation — NMANorthern states record 185,502 rise in child malnutrition casesUsing leftover antibiotics may prolong illness — PharmacistsMy family and God. I owe my life to them. My mother, especially, has never left my side, and I’m so grateful.Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. Did you ever struggle with survivor’s guilt?For the first two years, yes. I felt sorry for the people who lost their lives and wondered why I survived when I would end up living like this. But over time, I learnt that surviving was a second chance. God gave me another opportunity to live a good life, and I intend to use it well.What are some realities of living with the injury that people may not fully understand?No matter how much you explain it, people can’t fully grasp it. Watching your own skin deteriorate from a pressure sore, becoming infected and smelling, is a lot to deal with. I’ve learnt that things like simply turning over in bed, which most people take for granted, are daily struggles for some of us. Independence is a precious gift that people should cherish.Who or what has been your greatest source of support?Related NewsMedical students now plan japa before graduation — NMANorthern states record 185,502 rise in child malnutrition casesUsing leftover antibiotics may prolong illness — PharmacistsMy family and God. I owe my life to them. My mother, especially, has never left my side, and I’m so grateful.Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. For the first two years, yes. I felt sorry for the people who lost their lives and wondered why I survived when I would end up living like this. But over time, I learnt that surviving was a second chance. God gave me another opportunity to live a good life, and I intend to use it well.What are some realities of living with the injury that people may not fully understand?No matter how much you explain it, people can’t fully grasp it. Watching your own skin deteriorate from a pressure sore, becoming infected and smelling, is a lot to deal with. I’ve learnt that things like simply turning over in bed, which most people take for granted, are daily struggles for some of us. Independence is a precious gift that people should cherish.Who or what has been your greatest source of support?Related NewsMedical students now plan japa before graduation — NMANorthern states record 185,502 rise in child malnutrition casesUsing leftover antibiotics may prolong illness — PharmacistsMy family and God. I owe my life to them. My mother, especially, has never left my side, and I’m so grateful.Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. What are some realities of living with the injury that people may not fully understand?No matter how much you explain it, people can’t fully grasp it. Watching your own skin deteriorate from a pressure sore, becoming infected and smelling, is a lot to deal with. I’ve learnt that things like simply turning over in bed, which most people take for granted, are daily struggles for some of us. Independence is a precious gift that people should cherish.Who or what has been your greatest source of support?Related NewsMedical students now plan japa before graduation — NMANorthern states record 185,502 rise in child malnutrition casesUsing leftover antibiotics may prolong illness — PharmacistsMy family and God. I owe my life to them. My mother, especially, has never left my side, and I’m so grateful.Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. No matter how much you explain it, people can’t fully grasp it. Watching your own skin deteriorate from a pressure sore, becoming infected and smelling, is a lot to deal with. I’ve learnt that things like simply turning over in bed, which most people take for granted, are daily struggles for some of us. Independence is a precious gift that people should cherish.Who or what has been your greatest source of support?Related NewsMedical students now plan japa before graduation — NMANorthern states record 185,502 rise in child malnutrition casesUsing leftover antibiotics may prolong illness — PharmacistsMy family and God. I owe my life to them. My mother, especially, has never left my side, and I’m so grateful.Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. Who or what has been your greatest source of support?Related NewsMedical students now plan japa before graduation — NMANorthern states record 185,502 rise in child malnutrition casesUsing leftover antibiotics may prolong illness — PharmacistsMy family and God. I owe my life to them. My mother, especially, has never left my side, and I’m so grateful.Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. My family and God. I owe my life to them. My mother, especially, has never left my side, and I’m so grateful.Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. Were there moments when you felt your life had come to a standstill?Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. Often, especially when I watched my mates do the things we had planned to do together without me. A child who was just starting school around the time of my accident has now graduated, and you realise how much time has passed.What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. What helped you move forward?What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. What’s kept me going is God and learning to stop overthinking tomorrow. If I dwell on how I’ll survive tomorrow, I overwhelm myself. So, I focus on surviving today. When I wake up alive tomorrow, I start planning again. That mindset has carried me through the years.Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. Have you experienced stigma or discrimination because of your disability?So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. So many times; ride-hailing drivers sometimes raise the fare when they see my wheelchair, saying it takes up boot space. I’ve also faced discrimination when renting an apartment. Twice, landlords refused to rent to me when they learnt the tenant would be a wheelchair user. I wondered whether that meant I didn’t deserve a good home. It broke my heart.Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. Even in relationships, people see the wheelchair and immediately make assumptions, which makes moving on even harder. In hospital, a consultant told me I was going to die soon and told my parents they had wasted their money sending me to private school. I also heard people tell my mother she hadn’t prayed well enough. That hurt deeply. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think a mother hadn’t prayed for her own child.People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. People can be careless with their words. Over the years, I’ve learnt to cope. I let myself cry rather than bottle things up, keep my distance from people I know have sharp tongues, and defend myself if they persist.Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. Were you in a relationship before the accident?Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. Yes. We dated for about five years. He stayed for about two years after the accident, and at first, he was very supportive. There was even a time I took him to the hospital with me for physiotherapy. But at some point, I noticed a change in his attitude. He could decide not to speak to me for two weeks and wouldn’t answer my calls.I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. I complained several times, but nothing changed. Eventually, he stopped calling and communicating with me altogether. When we later spoke, he told me he was tired. I just let it go. I believe that if I eventually get married, God will bring the right husband for me.How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. How difficult was it to let go after five years together?Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. Very difficult. I wondered how many people would even look my way in my condition. We went to the same school, and people knew us as a couple, so watching him move on hurt. But I’ve had so much to manage — my bedsore, medication, diapers and my own care — that I don’t have much room left to dwell on it. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but then I tell myself it is well.How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. How old were you when the accident happened?I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. I’d rather not share my exact age, but I was in my early 20s.Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. Looking back at the woman you were before the accident and who you are today, what has changed the most?I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. I’ve learnt patience the hard way. A bedsore will test you. I’ve had one for about four years; it starts closing and then reopens. I’ve also learnt that anything can happen to anybody, injury or not. Since the accident, I’ve lost people who had no known illness. So, you just have to keep going and live your life.Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. Are there still things you’re hoping to achieve despite everything?A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. A lot. I want to finish my master’s, get a good job, get married, have children and live a normal life. I still believe I’m going to walk again.I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. I’m currently trying to raise N30m for surgery in India. I sent my MRI scans, and the surgeons who reviewed them recommended the surgery. They were clear that it isn’t guaranteed to make me walk, but it could help me regain some functions and possibly walk again. The N30m would cover the surgery, travel and physiotherapy.How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. How much have you raised so far?I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. I have raised N5.2m. That’s what I’m focused on now because I believe my life is still going to be good.What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. What do you want people to understand about surviving a life-changing accident and learning to live again?It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. It’s a second chance — another opportunity to come back and live. Use it well. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so do things right while you can. If you’ve been putting off a business you already have the money for, do it. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. If you survive something that could have taken your life, see it as a second chance to correct your wrongs and pursue what makes you happy.Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. Looking at your journey from surviving the crash to today, what does survival mean to you now?A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. A second chance. Something that took the lives of everyone else in that accident spared me. That’s a huge gift, and I try to make it worthwhile.I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given. I started posting myself online this year because I was tired of staying indoors. There was a year when I barely left my room. I spent months at a time in bed, barely able to sit up. Now, I’m trying to live again and make the most of the chance I’ve been given.