Inside the intensive Care Unit of Wake Medical Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, seven thousand miles from her country home, Ebere Ukwu sleeps, eyes open; kept alive by the hospital’s life support machine.
Her fate is hanging between faith and modern medicine. Her life didn’t have to come to this painful circle. She was an ambitious dreamer that wanted to explore her young world and excel. The ICU room wasn’t supposed to be her final destination. But early spring of 2013, her exciting life of adventure suddenly collapsed during a visit to the Emergency Room for minor aches, pain and high body temperature.
Her charming life began at the completion of university education in 1991. After her Youth Service, Ebere got hired as a staff of the United Bank for Africa. Few years later, she shifted her loyalty from UBA to other banks, finally settled at Unity Bank where she rose to become the branch manager of the Tin Can Island/Apapa branch.
Mr. Ezuma Ukwu, Ebere’s elder brother described her as a charming enthusiastic sister. “She was a giver of everything to make life easy for her friends and family. Ebere’s soul was a pot of gold: she dipped into it and touched so many lives with her candour and kindness: a character embedded in her religion.”
Ms. Ebere’s admiration for all things American pop culture was manifested in her young lifestyle and swagger. Her desire and love of Yankee life moved her to apply for a visa to the United States. She was granted a two-year visa. She waited for the right time to make that visit. It came during the financial institutions’ meltdown in Nigeria. She resigned her position at the bank and relocated to the United States.
Ebere arrived USA during the cold winter month of January 2013 in pursuit of life, liberty, happiness and opportunities. She anchored her new residence at her sister in-law’s place in Atlanta, Georgia. Atlanta was not friendly to her dreams of relocation and quick employment privileges. Ebere soon left Atlanta for Maryland, at the invitation of an extended family friend, to try few available menial jobs targeted towards new immigrants wishing to settle into a different social structure and culture. Ebere accepted an offer as a part time nanny.
She was frustrated by the lack of appeal and job satisfaction. This wasn’t the job she expected from the land of dreams. Two weeks after her first job, she quit. Ebere is diabetic. During one of her daily chores as a nanny, she split her big right toe. The small gash was infected, thus, it resisted casual self medication. But Ebere kept nursing the minor wound.
Ebere reconnected with Tunde, her sister’s ex boyfriend who lives in Raleigh, North Carolina. She pleaded for Tunde’s assistance with employment and a new life direction. Tunde invited her to visit Raleigh and search for better employment opportunities she desired.
Ebere arrived Raleigh with severe temperature and fever. Two days after her arrival and still running high temperature, her host encouraged her to get immediate medical treatment at the ER of Wake Medical Center. She went to the hospital and was urgently admitted.
Doctors initially suspected she had been infected with Poliomyelitis but X-ray revealed otherwise.
Ebere’s sad condition has energised some Nigerians in Raleigh, they have adopted her. These families and friends allege she was conscious and interactive when she was admitted to the hospital and before treatments were administered to her. The X-ray from the hospital indicated that poliomyelitis was negative. However, the hospital allegedly began series of antibiotics treatment when she was admitted. She was relieved until a new medication was added. The new medication caused her severe reaction: affected her breathing pattern. She was scared of telling the hospital that the new medication was affecting her breathing: so she confided in Tunde. Tunde encouraged her to tell her care givers and request a change in medication. She courageously complained and her medication was changed.
Her unhealed right toe injury became a concern for doctors treating her. The doctors decided that the best treatment for the toe was amputation. The nurses informed Ebere that her toe would be amputated to prevent further infection. Ebere struggled with the decision to allow amputation; culture shock , as modern medicine was about to alter her body. She reluctantly agreed and surgery was performed.
Few days after the surgery, Ebere was blasted by massive cardiac arrest. Nurses found her on the floor of her room, unresponsive and in comatose. They attempted to resuscitate her, but she slipped deeper into coma. The hospital called her immediate “family” and friends, told them that she would never come out from comatose. She is brain dead. Doctors advised the family to consider turning off the life support machine. Her new family continue to hope for a medical miracle. Cost of keeping Ebere alive the past year has risen past $1m. Ebere lives through ventilation. She’s been vegetative since March 2013.
She survived various bouts of infections, developed a deep sacral ulcer, has a wound vac that runs on her twenty four hours, Foley catheter and colostomy insertions. She also had abdominal surgery procedures to correct anatomy of her intestine with a G tube insertion to assist her digestive system.
Her condition continues to get worse as she sleeps. Her skin is peeling off her body and she has developed bed sores. The hospital stopped treating any new health problems. It concluded her case is hopeless. It has requested the family to remove Ebere from its facility and return her to Nigeria. Ebere would not survive an intense 12 hour flight to Nigeria. Nigeria may not have a 24hr life support health care system that could keep her alive until miracle happens or family decides to let her go. None of her immediate family lives in the United States. Her family in Nigeria is not able to afford a plane ticket to the United States to decide her continued dependence on life support.
Ebere’s voice and caretaker in this unfortunate circumstance is Dr. Ify Violet Hill, a Nigerian resident in Raleigh: “I don’t know her. But I have adopted her as my sister. I am here for her. Me, my husband and the Nigerian community. Her story is pathetic. She came here to chase a best dream, now she lies in the hospital brain dead. We don’t know what happened to Ebere.”
Dr. Hill has launched a fund drive to raise travel money and other expenses for Ebere’s family in Nigeria to visit their sister.
“She needs her immediate family here. They should come and see her in these final moments. She needs to hear their voices encouraging her to fight on, telling her they love her or wishing her eternal peace as she makes final exit. We need financial support to help this family see their dying loved one. Please help us with donations to fly few family members to visit her at the hospital. Ebere deserves to feel her family in her hospital room, even for the last time. Her brother was here last year but because of finance, he is not able to return.”
The Nigerian community have become her only family, offering hopes, prayers, vigils and at times engage the hospital in negotiations for Ebere’s care: a care for a fellow stranger who came to the city in search of a great life only to collapse and become brain dead at the hallways of the hospital..punch
*OMG!!
Wow! This one na otumokpo! In as much as I don't believe in voodoo, this is so not ordinary biko. Haayyy!
ReplyDeleteI tot of it 2 dis is nt ordinary.Able God pls do it again.
DeleteStella,i was diagnosed wit diabetics at 31yrs wen I had my second baby last year. Life has not been easy for me since.i keep asking God why me at dis young age of 31.i inject myself wit insulin 3times a day and prick
Deletemyself more dan 4times a day to check my blood sugar level and it's always high.i practically go hungry dese days cos anytin I eat spikes it.Am so depressed and tired of life.I dnt eat normal food like others .I read abt Green world and their cure for diabetics.plsss I need advice from pple dat knw anything abt diabetics and alternative medicine.Plsss I need advice fast.Tnk u everybody.
Depressed mum.
Call me on 08106450245. I have an uncle living with diabetes for 19years and looks healthy. My mom too has had it for 3yrs and going. I'll explain their lifestyle to you. Their medication and eating habits. It's an horrible ailment but you'll make it through.
DeletePls n pls adopt a positive attitude towards life because I don't like the way u re sounding at all. Your kids re very young still.
DeleteI have an uncle that is on the moringa therapy for 3yrs now n doesn't even take his drugs again.who knows,it can also work for you.
Pluck the leaves n dry inside ur house. Wen its very dry u squeeze it till its powdery. Sprinkle little quantity on all your meals. U can also boil d leaves n drink d water. Pray it works for u.
Tnk u so much 4 d advice.I wil try d moringa leaf.POSTER
DeleteKeep faith,God is still in the business of doing wonder.believe in his word,by his stripes we re healed" honestly I have tried him b4 so I encourage u to hold unto him 4 his promise............pretty T
DeleteWhat I will advice is this.Go to any diabetis center or hospital, seek knowledge on management and life style.Because some leaves work for someone does not mean it will work for you.You might react to something else from those leaves which can aggravate your situation.Diabetis can be managed. Just seek help at the right places. Also let your children get tested as well, it might be hereditary and the earlier the better.
DeleteOMG! I'm speechless!
ReplyDeletePepper ose oku!
So so sad..hmm..
ReplyDeleteYou see countries that work? Spending $1mn worth of health care on an illegal immigrant and they've not even yanked her off life support despite the fact that she's been in a vegetative state for more than a year.
ReplyDeleteHer brother should look for the ticket fare and travel to the US so she can be taken off life support and laid to rest. One year is too long for the whole family not to be able to come up with the fare, she needs to go and rest. Otherwise the family should give that authority to the Doctor who adopted her.
All that glitters is not gold. If she was still in banking, maybe she would have made ED by now but God knows best.
Goldscent u talk very stupid and arrogant most times.... Do u know their financial state that u think one year is too long? Always vomiting rubbish as if everyone must be on your level....
DeleteShe's suffering too much, her life Story is not just fair, someone that finished University 23yrs ago, rose to the post of Branch manager, what kind of Juju made her quit her Job for an uncertain future? I didn't see any mention of her being ever Married. *smh* let her rest pls.
DeleteYou don't know if she was advised to resign by the. Management...
DeleteIt is not america that caused her problem it is undiagnosed diabetes disease. She had a cut that refused to heal.That is a sign of along diabetes carrier. She went into shock due to high level of sugar.Since she did not know she had it she must have been eating everything and anything.
DeleteHMm.... Jehova! Let ur willl be done on this one o!
ReplyDeleteLord help her
ReplyDeleteMr Bamidele
Amen
DeleteElsie
Why leave your job? She had a wonderful job for that matter! What is in the US?that will warrant you to leave a whole bank manager post! I don't gerrit! Its better to make the money as a bank manager, and then take holiday trips to USA, Europe which ever country or continent you wish to visit.
ReplyDeletePeople stick to your job in naija if you got a good
one there is nothing special in oversee!make your money and visit those countries you want to! Obodo oyibo can render one useless! Especially if you are not born there! People who survive here in Europe get to work 5 times harder as the indigens!
Pepper ose oku! He that has ears, let him hear!
True talk pepper,I no a guy who was living large in nig,he sold all is properties jst cos he wanted to travel out, after 9months he was deported and came to start 4rm level 0, for d past 5yrs he has b walking up and down wit notting,he was scorted in friend place jst to av roof on is head. imagine bank manager doing nanny wit all her qualifications. I pray 4 miracle 4rm above into her life.I wish I can help
DeletePepper, are U blaming her? She is going through enough already. Where is ur conscience? Mtshewwww!
DeletePepper, are U blaming her? She is going through enough already. Where is ur conscience? Mtshewwww!
DeleteOh God! I'm speechless! Stella Is there a bank account so one can help?
ReplyDeleteSad. Sad. Sad.
ReplyDeleteBut such is life. You win some health battles, you lose some.
Family of Ebere, please release her. Let her go peacefully. She has fought hard but it is in her best interest to be off the life support for life like this is PURE HELL.
I am sorry Ebere.
Dr Lagbaja.
Best comment!
DeleteAnd dey shld probably creminate the body n send the ash home.
Its so sad, but dey av done dia best.
Life is worse for some ppl.
Truetalk, I had an uncle like this. The cost was weighing the whole family down, his own was for 21months . Even when they wanted to bring him back to nigeria, we had to pay for 8 seats in d plane, bc he was bedridden, and flew alongside a doctor and ma dad. All that was just for him to get to Nigeria alive, we just had to let him go. Sometimes you just av to let go.
DeletePinkshell the oversabi ignoramus.The word is cremate not "creminate".What kind of deadbeat phone are you using that couldn't prompt you that word is alien to english language.
DeleteBLOG ANALYSER: very sad. I believe God can still bring her back to life.
ReplyDeleteJeez! Really Pathetic, it's only God that can help her now. Oh! God pls help this lady. Her family should try & reach her, she needs them now more than ever.
ReplyDeleteIt is well with her,so sad
ReplyDeleteSad.
ReplyDeletePrayers still work wonders though.
lost for words.oh God.i pray something can b raised for d family to go over to c her
ReplyDeleteChai!
ReplyDeleteIf only she had remained here in Nigeria.
I can't imagine being a nanny after being a manager.
Madam, we don't know what happened, but we commit your case to God.
Ndi be gi gaa tinye anya na mmiri ka ha malu ife melu nu.
Chai!
ReplyDeleteIf only she had remained here in Nigeria.
I can't imagine being a nanny after being a manager.
Madam, we don't know what happened, but we commit your case to God.
Ndi be gi gaa tinye anya na mmiri ka ha malu ife melu nu.
Omg! Stella, please can you give information on how to contact and assist!!! Am so speechless!
ReplyDeleteI don't know wot to say. Dis is so touching. Kai if only she hadn't gone to d US doin menial jobs. LORD pls help her.
ReplyDeleteHow sad, sounds like she had a diabetic sore that got infected and she didn't seek medical help on time. Seems only God can handle her matter now.
ReplyDeleteClick my name for all your celebration cakes n cupcakes, cheers
Kai! Speechless!!!
ReplyDeletePeople should appreciate this our country Nigeria...its not all rosy out there bikonu...I wish everyone could have an opportunity of travelling beyond our shores to understand this...its boring out there...just holidays and back...cant live abroad...
ReplyDeleteOk but WTF is the diagnosis?? That doctor gave a long ass story without saying what she was diagnosed with! Is it bacterial infection such as Clostridum perfringens or Diabetes Mellitus? Did the infection seep into her system from the wound? More details needed...i am very intrigued by this horrible story.
ReplyDeleteSad. Sad sad
ReplyDeleteSad sad sad
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of life is this?
ReplyDeletepepper ose oku and anon 5:27pm i agree with u..people should try and appreciate their country and also find out very well the true state of people leaving abroad b4 embarking on such journey... maybe visit a few times and be observant
ReplyDeleteNawa o. God pls heal her o. Am confused, I dnt knw what to say again.
ReplyDeleteI think she should be taken off life support, she has suffered too much, I can't imagine the pain she must be going through
ReplyDeleteSo touching,,,in as much as this may sound inhuman, I suggest the family should let her go, let her go in peace, skin peeling and all that makes her suffer the more. Pls free her. God I thank you for my life, my family, friends and well wishers. May your healing hand spread on those who need it right now. It is well
ReplyDeleteGod will heal her so sad, wish i could donate much but no matter small would like to send to her.
ReplyDeleteSpeechless! Out God is still a miracle working God....this is spiritual!
ReplyDeleteSo Sorry Ebere...who knows what our destinies hold for us? I am saddened by ur case.and i pray dat God intervenes.
ReplyDeleteOMG! Am so close to tears. Heavenly father, please save ur daughter. Breathe life into her. Nothing is impossible for U to do. Please God. Pleaseee.
ReplyDeleteThank God for my life n thank God for grace
ReplyDeleteI believe in divine health. Prayer can do wonders. Be healed in Jesus name. Amen.
ReplyDeleteMay God heal her in Jesus name. EVE E UME
ReplyDeleteNkemejika .
ReplyDeleteGOD intervene.
It's pitiable.
Speechless! So sad, it's only God that can heal her at this point.
ReplyDeleteHmm,always ask God for guidance before taking any step.....satan is out to destroy and all he needs is for u to fall into his trap!all dat glitters is not gold oh....come to think of it,ppl who rush to America does money grow on trees???? sorry Aunty Ebi God will heal u.
ReplyDeleteVoluntary euthanasia may be the solution
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteSorry for her.
But her life story is very idiotic.
Bank manager to Nanny in USA
Why didn't she visit first to understand the society she would be relocating to?
She would fails to plan; plans to fail.
Shut up Blog Lord.
DeleteYou are now anonymous, each time you want to say something negative, you suddenly become anonymous. I know all of you commenting with different accounts, I will continue to expose you guys.
Do you know the number of people the bank lays off every year. Probably she was asked to resign and instead of begging, she left Nigeria. Pls stop jumping into conclusion. I have worked in the bank before and now I run my own businesses. Always have a plan B if you work in a bank. You leave empty after backing out all your loans.
DeleteChai!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sad story
I'm deeply touched
Lord help her.
You Ignoramuses talking about leaving or sticking to a country should just shut up already biko. If to say she dey Nigeria and she had that same diabetes shey d situation for no dey worse? See, living abroad is not for everybody o. Its the favour of God. How much of health insurance do you have in Nigeria? and who told you that people are not enjoying real good money outside Nigeria? You dont even know what made her decide to change time zone first, una dey conclude. abeg we no dey look for backward pple too for abroad o. Mtcheeew. Narrow minded mumus. God will heal you jarey sisimi...
ReplyDeleteDiabetes is the devil! Who is to say she would have not had an injury in naija? This one diabetes runs in my family. I'm screwed!
ReplyDeleteYes for all does saying appreciate Nigeria blah blah blah it's ur bizwax what if she stopped having job satisfaction?and everyone knows how bank jobs can be...pls that's not the issue here you should more concerned with ways you can help instead of talking trash it could have been anyone. Feel so sad for her. It is well. FLAMEs
ReplyDeleteMy God!!So sad for words..Lord,pls heal her..
ReplyDeleteI'm Practically in tears right now, a manager resigning n relocating abroad, only to end up having a nanny job. Oh how I wipe 4 Ebere!!! What a grave mistake, if only d poor soul knew that her American dream will be her end.( well, she is not dead yet, God can still do something). If only........If just only she didn't relocate, probably ds wouldn't have been her lot. someone who was here in Nigerian, already @d top of her game n then this??? I truely wipe 4 her. I do not know Ebere personally, but my sweet heart goes out to her, though I'm speechless n do not know d right thing to say right now, but I know that my Almighty deliverer (GOD) is with her. If @d end of ds she doesn't make it, (which is so glaring) I wish her soul eternal rest. Oh how I weep for her. For those that have good jobs here in Nigeria, but love d life abroad, pls n pls u can go there on holidays or whenever it is convenient for you, but I do not think that ii is advisable to leave a vibrant job for d unknown. All that glitters ain't gold u know...... money ain't plucked from trees abroad, u ve to work out ur ass 5times harder than what u would have done In Nigeria. Oh how I weep 4 Ebere, my evening is already disrupted by ds news. Ebere if ur body says that ds is d end of d road 4 u, then it is. But I still believe in miracles, if God wills, u will rise up again n walk, if not GOOD NIGHT Ebere.
ReplyDeleteShut up you idiot ! Long, uninteresting and boring write up, laced with malice, hatred and mockery ! Your attempt at Poetry, is hopeless ! Why do I have this funny feeling you know Ebere personally, and do not wish her well ? She-devil, do not rejoice yet, DEATH IS INEVITABLE FOR ALL HUMANS !
DeleteHmnnnnnn! it is well with her!
ReplyDeleteYou guys talking about why she relocated and all that bullshit!! Shut your mouth!!! Nigeria is terrible just shut up..... She was a new immigrant at that time so it is normal to start from the scratch. Nigeria is nothing to write home about.I am in Canada and I have a good job and enough peace of mind to last me forever... Keep lookin for ways to badmouth pipo living overseas just because you don't have the opportunity. There are millions of Nigeria over here that were managers even CEO's who resigned to find better lives for them selves.. When I first got here I started as a customer service rep n I tell you I make more money than the so called managers in Nigeria... Please shut up abeg
ReplyDeleteSo sad but this is no time to blame any one, I reckon they family that adopted her should take off the life support with her family's consent. If u have a good job in NaiJa please go abroad for holidays it's much better than resign for something that is not certain. I know someone too who reigned and came to London all she does is a cleaning job with two children. Who does that?
ReplyDeleteThis is a sad story. This lady is sufferinggggg. God that gave life to dry bones pls let Ebere arise to your glory. Fight her battles Lord plssssss.
ReplyDeleteYes not every1 that leaves Nigeria succeeds in the diaspora but @ least she took her destiny in her hands. As some people commented, I also bliv that some dark powers are behind this. Shame will overtake them, amen!
@Diva, pls shut ur nasty mouth too, who are u to come on here n start telling people to shut up? Who is ur kid or kid sibling here? U must be really sick n probably u re on something really cheap. Make ur point like a sensible person, instead of ranting shut up. If u reside in Canada nko??? Big deal??? Pls stfu abeg. But u have families back home here in Nigeria? Condemning n saying thrash like a naughty little girl.
ReplyDeleteOnly God know what the must have injected into her system... my MIL came visiting and developed cough, took her to urgent care where they decided to conduct some test first. Next thing we knew they were calling 911, that they saw something abnormal in her scan result.
ReplyDeletethis is such a pathetic situation. my thoughts and prayers goes to her and her family. God, you are the mighty healer, it is not over until it is over. Let your Will oh God be done.
ReplyDeleteHeavy scammers,so many potholes in d story.nobody relocates without makin plans ist.nobody gets to bank manager level and doesn't invest.if she had HIV and decided to relocate,its understandable bt make una no think say we be fools.wat wld his pple coming to USA do for her?scammers alert.com.life support for one year indeed wen she is nt a citizen,even wit d obama health care bill,abeg mak una park well.if her ailment is dis bad,they shld let her rest,ebere try stand up,dem don take d picture finish....yeye dey smell.
ReplyDeleteStella why did you not post my comment for his bitch. I need to slap her stupidity.
DeletePlease God, intervene and send your healing power to your daughter Ebere, please send your angels Raphael Gabriel Michael Uriel to send your powerful protection and healing to deliver her from every sickness.
ReplyDeleteHave mercy on her and cleanse her from all her wrongdoings.
Above all, we are all your children, let your loving will be done in her life
I pray the God of Peace, the Great Physician visit you this hour. May His healing power rest upon you. His word tells us whatever we bind in earth shall be bind in heaven; whatever we lose in earth shall be lose in heaven. This hour, may your sickness and diseases be bond. May your healing coming in the name of Jesus.
ReplyDeletePepper and effiom u guys should be shot in the mouth especially effiom who is the worst scammer of all time. Deranged fools.
ReplyDeleteMay the will of god be done in her Life IJMN.
ReplyDeleteMay God's will be done in your life...that's all i can think to say right now.
ReplyDeleteMay God's will be done in your life...that's all i can think to say right now.
ReplyDeleteThis is so sad...
ReplyDeleteFather heal her in Jesus Name.
ReplyDeleteI pray that God will intervene for her and give her new life and new direction.
ReplyDeleteMaking the right decisions is everything.