Remembering Kofoworola: One year after the sun set at dawn
Wednesday 12th November 2014 was a gloomy day in the family of Olaofe. It was a day the first child of the nuclear family,Kofoworola Olaofe who had been battling with Scolosis gave up the ghost. First of her mum’s five, Kofoworola’s birth was as normal as any childs. She never showed any sign of abnormality until 10 when her mum discovered a swelling around her spine. On notice, she was taken to the State Specialist Hospital Ado- Ekiti where she was diagnosed of Scolosis,a disorder that leads to the curvature of the backbone.
After
several futile attempts of treatment, she was referred to the University
College Hospital,Ibadan in 1998 where though she was treated;she didn’t get any
improvement to her condition.
Chophoe
as they fondly call and spell her name revealed in an interview before her
death that she was asked to visit the hospital every three months for
observation and treated like a ‘specimen for the College Students to learn.’
‘The
consultants would use a biro to point at many parts of my body while
expalaining what they thought they could see. They had no feelings for me and
at a point; I told my mum I didn’t want to continue that shameful treatment.’
She narrated.
Kofoworola
as a Scoliosis patient suffered discrimination and mockery. She had difficulty
in doing a lot of things without assistance.
She was constantly in pains which resulted in sleeplessness, hence, her
health deteriorated.
She
continued to live with the ailment for 16 years and when the situation became
unbearable, the family sought for treatment outside the country.
On
the 12th of November 2014, Kofoworola was billed for a surgery at
FOCOS Orthopaedic Hospital, Accra,Ghana. A day the family members look forward
to as the last day of pain for their kind.
The
surgery was successful much to their delight. Bach home, they continued to pray
for her quick recovery and rehabilitation. Hours later,Chophoe could no longer cope;
she died around 7pm,hours after the surgery at the age of 26.
Today,
12th November 2015, a yearafter, the family members consisting of
the dad, mum and four siblings still believe Kofoworola is alive and with them.
Revealing
her ordeal in handling the situation during her first daughter’s lifetime and
demise, Chophoe’s mum Mrs Nike Olaofe said it wasn’t a ‘palatable situation.’
‘The
girl suffered a lot before she died. At first, it look like she was going to
survive it but it all deteriorated along the line. Sleeping was very difficult
for her, she could not lie by the side or by the back, she sleeps lying on her
stomach. She couldn’t eat much food because all day long,she would be on her
knees. She cannot sit and breathing was very difficult for her too.’ She
recounted tearfully.
‘It’s
not an easy thing because I’ve not even gotten over the loss. I can’t bring
myself to believing that I won’t see her again, I do remember her every minute.
I thought the surgery will be the last bus stop for the ailment not knowing
that it was the last day I will see her alive. It was a tale of shattered
dream.’
Despite
her health challenges, Kofoworola was not bent in her life’s dream. She got
admitted to study Zoologyat Obafemi Awolowo University,Ile-Ife in 2007 and
graduated in 2011.
She
lived in the school close to her two sisters Monisola Olaofe who was admitted
the same year with her and Joy Olaofe who got admitted in 2009.
Describing
her as ‘small mum’ Joy still believes she’ll meet her sister one day.
‘Hearing
about Kofoworola's death was a shock to me as well as a test of faith. I battled
believing my sister was no more and each day I looked forward to seeing her
tell me it was some kind of pranks she was playing. It took so long a time to
come in terms with the fact that she's no more.’
‘
I learnt a lot from her. I learnt to be focused and as well believe in myself,
my dreams and ability to excel even if things seem difficult. She displayed all
these and I took after her.’
‘Frankly
speaking, living without Chophoe has not being easy for me or any of my
siblings because she was like our parents- we told her everything we can't
disclose to our parents. She gets the latest news about us and passes it on to
our parents where need be. She was more
like a small mum than a big sis.’ Joy said.
The
young lady didn’t die without leaving her footprints in the sound of time. She
published her autobiography in June 2014. She also established an NGO; the
Scoliosis Awareness Association (SCAA). The major aim of the NGO is set at
enlightening the public about scoliosis, ways of detecting and preventing.
She
never wanted anybody to experience what she went through. She delivered
speeches in places like the Hospitals, gatherings fellowships and featured in
television programmes of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Ekiti
Television(EKTV).
Dr.Kehinde
Ayoola, a lecturer at the Department of English, Obafemi Awolowo University(OAU)
who was the coordinator of SCAA described Kofoworola ‘as one of the very few
with the good heart’ whose death was a big loss not only to the her family but
the nation at large.
‘She
was like a daughter to me. She is very strong and courageous. The best thing
about her is that she didn’t want that kind of thing to happen to another
person and that is why she set up the NGO’
‘She
was the spirit of the NGO and we didn’t know she will have such a short life.
She talk to me about it and lent my support but there was little we could do
after her demise. We can’t run without her.’he stated.
The
Zoologist was well known and recognized in her community. As a result of the
impact she made in the society, she received an award of community icon of year
in 2011 presented by Real Naija in Ondo State.
Recalling
her life experience and achievement, Monisola Olaofe, her immediate sister was full
of praisesfor her sibling.
‘She
was more than just a sister to me, she was the first friend and the youngest
‘mother’ I knew. I really wished we had come as twins. She was so loving and
caring and she made her siblings her priority. Chophoe, is still the only
person I know that possesses all the good traits in life. She was dedicated,
humble, compassionate, honest, trustworthy, loyal, sacrificial, kind, with a
good sense of humour, beautiful both inward and outward and simple. She was
indeed a fighter and a warrior, her strength gave me strength and her words
were encouraging.’
‘I
still love you the same as if you were here with me, laughing during the good
times and crying during the bad ones. I miss our slangs, our jokes, your smile,
your invention ‘the versatile five’ and the way you call my name ‘Nella’. I
miss the way you organize parties, the way you played music making the whole
place lively, the way you teased everybody and made them happy, the way you
defended the kids when mum wanted to smack them, I can’t stop telling my
friends about you. You were indeed an angel on earth. I always wish you were
still here with me enjoying life but I understand why God would want such a
beautiful angel by his side from now until eternity.’ She said.
Speaking
on the level of health care her child received before death, Mrs Olaofe
bemoaned the Nigerian situation claiming that Kofo would have been saved had
there been enough equipment to treat her.
‘Our
hospitals here are not competent to handle the situation. At the initial
stage,I took her to the hospital when the thing has not been pronounced. She
visited UCH frequently but all they do is to examine her and treat her as a
kind of specimen, they couldn’t proffer solution.I asked them the cause of the
Scolosis,they said they don’t know, I ask what we can do about it,they said
they don’t have equipment and materials to use. Had it been they had it, the
situation would have been corrected at the initial stage.’ She noted.
Dr.
Ayoola also share his thought ‘At the time the problem started, there wasn’t
enough awareness about the condition. And when she was taken to
hospital,apparently,the medical people were not fully fortified to handle it.
Till today,in many of our hospitals they don’t take people’s matterseriously
and the equipmentis not there. They would come out straight to say that they
cant handle it, maybe the girl would have been saved elsewhere’
On
her own part, Joy olaofe will continue the awareness campaign that her sister
had begun.
‘I
will love to tell parents and everyone concerned that early detection is the
best way to fight scolosis. Always examine yourself and kids. Show some love to
the physically-challenged, encourage them and assist them to live a normal
life. The scolosis awareness campaign which Kofo has started must continue.’
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