The story about an actor that died in a prayer house (from heart and kidney related diseases) shows the phobia of an average person here towards hospitals. Recently, I found myself goading a friend to at least ‘go to the hospital, first’ following her complaints about pains in the stomach.
‘’This thing could be cancer o’’ was an SMS from her one night. That’s obviously someone who favoured ‘’google diagnosis’’ more than going to the hospital! I remember saying to her “let it be whatever it wants to be. And whatever it is, face it, it is not beyond God.’’
By the way, the medical prognosis showed she has an ulcer. A former boss had a growth in the stomach and a surgical removal was advised. If that thing could be prayed away, it would have been thanks to the arsenal of praying pastors at her disposal. She resorted to gulping costly herbal supplements. The peddlers beat their chest that whatever was in her stomach would dissolve within three months of taking those.
Some even claimed that the flat stomach they ‘paraded’ used to be bigger than hers, until they met their ‘miracle’ in those supplements.
Today, the ordeal is behind her. The surgery has come and gone!
Miracle is also when you confront your health issues and emerge with a clean bill of health. When fear cripples a life, rationality flies out of the window. And anxiety becomes a constant companion.
It’s not always the medical condition or the system (with all her inadequacies) that undermines lives here, the disposition of FEAR is a huge factor!
Dear young ladies,
How about going for a breast examination and pap smear in lieu of the photoshoots for your birthday? Or better still, add those to your list of birthday “to do”, if you can afford it.
Breast cancer is no respecter of age. Cervical cancer, once you have become sexually active, you are at risk. Sometimes, let the gift/treat you give yourself be a clean bill of health.
Many people don’t even know their HIV status at this age and would rather not know. Yet, knowing your health status is what gives you the POWER to make better decisions regarding your health and life.
Remember, the real enemy is fear and ignorance. Early detection is key to overcoming most health challenges!
A few years back, I needed to undergo an incision biopsy in my armpit.
When I informed some close friends about it, some reactions were “a growth near the breast? Ha!.’’ You know we have unblended gifting in impacting FEAR (into even healthy minds), here?
Anyway, while awaiting my discharge (a few hours after the surgery), I observed a young doctor arguing with a nurse, as the drugs prescription was handed over to me.
Perturbed, I approached the surgeon to help crosscheck the prescription. And that’s when he let out a shout! The young doctor had prescribed 500mg (instead of 50mg) of the analgesics that the surgeon recommended.
Such an EXPENSIVE mistake is enough to shake one’s faith in the system but it taught me that your health-care journey is a partnership between you and the doctors!
Not what you leave to the doctors alone.
Dear senior doctors, please don’t be too busy to look in even as the young ones are being allowed to cut their teeth in the profession.
Everyone needs to experience a major shake-up once in a while if only to appreciate their health/life more. Something happens to you after going through medical tests/examinations and emerging “all clear.’’
It feels like being offered a clean slate by life. And you don’t ever want to take your health or life for granted, again. Even if your prognosis isn’t “all clear,’’ that’s also a chance to face whatever it is and overcome.
Please, make this the year you take your health seriously!
