(Part 1/2) As the only girl with two brothers, I grew up as a tomboy. I repeated a class in secondary school but ended up being a prefect. I stayed at home for a year after secondary school before gaining admission to university. When I finally did, I was a book worm and did a lot of studying to have a first class degree. I had my life mapped out – finish school, go for National Youth Service, travel abroad for a Master’s degree, get a job and get married. Well, it was working according to plan until I went for NYSC in November 2009 in Bayelsa State. The camp was horrible, raining every day and with very bad water. 

I survived the 3 weeks and went back home for Christmas. At home, I discovered I had some redness in both eyes and reactions all over my body. I assumed the redness was an infection from the bad environment and living conditions at the camp. My dad advised that I buy some eye drops to clear it. I did, but it just wasn’t clearing. Then one eye got worse and became itchy. By the 4th day, it had spread to the other eye. My eyes were sore and very painful. We went to a very popular eye clinic and the doctor gave me some meds and eye drops. I used them for 2 days. 

I woke up on the second day and discovered I had gone completely blind. I yelled and screamed and my mum came rushing in. I said, “Mummy, I can’t see anything“. She burst into tears. My dad came in and couldn’t fight the tears himself. Guess what? The day was Christmas.