I don’t believe in coincidences, I’m of the school of thought that agrees that every action is pre-destined.

On October 25^th 2011, while working late at a vehicle tracking company in Allen, Ikeja Lagos and trying to avoid traffic on my way home I was involved in a bike accident that changed my life. A huge piece of the top skin of my left foot was ripped from the bones holding my three middle toes and I had gotten over 15 stitches that night, all of which still couldn’t hold the bulging skin from falling off.

I’m very proud of my ever bustling persona, since I started ushering jobs with Okey Bakassi’s agency in 2005 I got acquainted with the most prolific zeal talent in me. My endurance levels high enough to stand for hours, ushering comedy events, selling concert tickets, constantly on the go. It gave me a proficient work experience with events planning (Green Room), magazine (Soundcity’s Blast) and video production (Shimmers production, Renders and Illusion) and then vehicle tracking securities (Rheytrak) over the years and up until that fateful night I feared that my life was over. What if it got infected? How will I walk? Well, it did.

In the course of the first month of bed rest I was transferred to our Abuja branch where God performed  rejuvenation of my life’s story.

I found myself surrounded by doctors Aletor and Isi in Asokoro, Abuja, as well as the consultant doctors at Garki Hospital. I had kept a picture diary since the day of the incident which they studied and finally recommended an immediate skin graft surgery which would cost about two hundred and forty thousand naira. I still did not comprehend the graveness of the injury, perhaps because I was still dragging the foot along with crutches, keeping the surface clean at all times with bandage, I was constantly on pain killers, and moreover I was in Abuja to work.

Thankfully a month of daily saline ‘prep’ dressing was well under way, there God showed that in the most complex matters he can use the simplest of things. Exactly one month after, the consultant doctors confirmed that the nerves and muscles had completely regenerated. There was no need for the surgery any longer. On Christmas day 2011, my 26^th birthday I decided to rededicate my life to God. I stopped struggling with the fear of death/chaos and I put ALL my eggs in his basket.

I don’t believe in coincidences, I’m of the school of thought that agrees that every action is pre-meditated.

While I waited for the scar on my foot to heal I was reunited with my baking skills, since I was home more often and constantly reminded via intense cake cravings. My late mother was a caterer and I spent most of my teens helping her in that department. Once again God put everything I needed in place for the business ‘MomaQakes Enterprises’. It was a life changing experience for me to finally put all my work experiences to use, for myself and my wonderfully supportive family. It’s been a wonderful year.

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Emmanuella ‘Banton’ Ikediashi is your favorite girl about town. Y! Hashtag presents some of the most exciting recommendations you can’t afford to miss this summer. Catch me in Y! Magazine and take a walk in my shoes.

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30 Days 30 Voices  is an opportunity for young Nigerians to share their stories and experiences with other young Nigerians, within our borders and beyond, to inspire and motivate them.

 

 

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.