A close shave – My Testimony

My Testimony

I had an experience recently that I would like to share with you all. Some people might describe what happened as a freak accident or an unfortunate misadventure, but for me, it goes much deeper than that.

Here’s my testimony…

I travelled to Abuja to visit my father, who had been unwell. My plan was to spend the first week of my trip entirely with him, and that’s exactly what I did. Apart from attending a function at my sister’s school and paying my last respects to my friend’s late mother at a thanksgiving service, I remained by his side throughout that first week.

The Monday after I arrived, I had a completely different agenda in mind. I planned to reconnect with friends, attend a few social engagements, and even make a short trip to Lagos before returning to Abuja and eventually heading home.

Little did I know that my trip was about to take a very different turn from everything I had planned. What happened next would leave me deeply grateful to God and remind me once again that our lives are truly in His hands.

Monday, June 19, 2023

Monday, June 19, 2023, is a day I will never forget.

My sister, Toyosi, had also arrived in Abuja to spend some time with Dad, and I invited her to join me on my morning walk. After my usual morning call with my family, we set out at about 7:30 a.m. The weather was pleasant, and as usual, the roads were quiet. I had been taking these walks every day since I arrived.

We were about 4 kilometres into what was meant to be a 10-kilometre walk. We were chatting, laughing, listening to music, and simply enjoying each other’s company when I suddenly felt the urge to look back. Walking is one of my favourite activities, and over the years I have developed the habit of occasionally checking my surroundings as a safety measure.

As I turned around, I noticed a black Prado jeep slowly driving towards us. It was clearly off its path. My first thought was that it was my brother driving out and trying to be funny. However, I quickly realised it wasn’t him.

Even then, I was convinced that the driver could see us. I was looking directly at the vehicle, staring straight into the tinted windscreen. Surely, anyone behind the wheel would notice two women walking along the road.

By the time it finally dawned on me that the driver was not going to stop, it was too late. There was no time to run. No time to warn Toyosi to move out of the way.

The vehicle ploughed straight into us.

The Aftermath

I felt the impact hit my chest before I was thrown to the ground screaming. I crouched over in pain, relieved that the worst was over.

But it wasn’t.

Suddenly, I felt tyres climbing over my body. The pain that engulfed me is impossible to describe. In that moment, my mind could not make sense of what was happening. My immediate thought was that the driver had deliberately come after us to kill us.

The vehicle dragged me along the road for what felt like hours, though in reality it could only have been a matter of seconds.

Then, suddenly, everything stopped.

I somehow managed to roll myself from underneath the vehicle and onto the road. Moments later, I could hear voices all around me—people shouting, rushing towards me, and trying to lift me up.

I lay completely still. The pain was excruciating. I was struggling to breathe and could not move any part of my body. At that moment, I genuinely thought I was not going to make it.

My thoughts immediately turned to Toyosi. Was she okay? I couldn’t see her.

Then I thought about my boys. How would they cope if I didn’t survive?

So many thoughts raced through my mind in those few moments.

But mercy said, No.

“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you;
    the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;
⁸ or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you;^[a]
    and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
⁹ Who among all these does not know
    that the hand of the Lord has done this?
¹⁰ In his hand is the life of every living thing
    and the breath of all mankind.

Job 12:7-10

There was ANOTHER’ on the road

The few seconds following the accident could have ended in tragedy for my family, but God stepped in.

Apparently, it was not just the two of us on that road that morning. Just as there was a fourth man in the fire with the three Hebrew boys, there was Another on that road with Toyosi and me.

Toyosi’s injuries were mainly to her head. The impact of the collision must have thrown her off the road, leaving her with a concussion and bruising to her face. Thank God for preserving her life and bringing her back to consciousness. Looking back, I don’t think anyone even noticed where she had landed. She had been flung to the side of the road, away from the crowd.

I, on the other hand, was lying on the road with torn clothes, visible injuries, and bleeding, making me impossible to miss.

When Toyosi eventually regained consciousness, she saw some people placing me into a car. Disoriented and with no clear idea of what had happened, she somehow found the strength to get up and run home to alert our family.

That decision proved crucial.

God’s Hand in the Details

Our family was able to intercept the car before it disappeared out of reach. Had they not done so, they may never have known where I had been taken. Although I was conscious and could hear the conversations around me, I was unable to speak. I was struggling to breathe, and every ounce of strength I had was focused on taking my next breath as I felt myself slipping away. I heard people discussing taking me to a general hospital, but I could not object, explain my condition, or make my wishes known.

I lay helpless in the back seat, trapped inside my own body.

By God’s grace, my family caught up with us, took charge of the situation, and ensured that I was taken to Cedarcrest Hospital instead.

Even now, when I think about those moments, I see God’s hand at work in every detail. What seemed like coincidence was actually divine intervention. Mercy had already gone ahead of us.

Hospital Holiday

I titled this part “Hospital Holiday” because the remainder of what should have been my last two weeks in Nigeria was spent in the hospital. However, there was absolutely nothing holiday-like about it! 😊

The first six days were spent in the ICU, battling intense pain and discomfort.

I had bruises on almost every part of my body, as well as a fractured chest. No position was comfortable. I spent most of my time lying flat on the bed, helpless, wondering when the pain would ease, yet deeply grateful to be alive.

I couldn’t even use my hands. Both had sustained burns and were heavily bandaged. The pain was so intense that moving them was almost impossible, leaving me dependent on others for even the simplest tasks.

The extent of my injuries was difficult to comprehend at first. My husband eventually flew into Abuja because he needed to see my condition for himself. At the time, I could barely speak, so he had been relying on updates from my siblings to understand the extent of my injuries.

I had encouraged him to stay back with the boys, thinking that was the best place for him to be. But he needed to see me with his own eyes and reassure himself that I was truly alive and recovering. His arrival was a pleasant surprise and brought me great comfort during a very difficult season.

Dragged, But Not Defeated

Members of my father’s staff visited the accident scene and shared something that left him speechless. They told him that pieces of my skin, which had been torn away as I was dragged along the road, remained at the site for several days before they were finally cleaned away.

That was how I sustained the wounds on my hands and other parts of my body. In medical terms, these injuries are often classified as burns because the damage to the skin is similar to that caused by fire burns. It was a sobering reminder of the severity of the accident and how much worse the outcome could have been.

Yet, despite it all, God preserved my life.

My doctors prescribed very strong pain medication, but to be honest, the drugs did very little for me. The pain remained my constant companion. What made those difficult days bearable was the incredible care I received from the medical team.

God Sent Helpers

The ICU staff were exceptional. Nurse Esther, Nurse Modesta, Blessing, Bona, and many others cared for me with such kindness and professionalism. The doctors were equally wonderful. There was the ever-cheerful Dr. Kate, who fondly called me “the special one” because of the endless stream of family and friends checking on me, and the ever-smiling Dr. Ajagbe. The physiotherapy team, especially Onyia, were also incredibly supportive.

Together, they made a very difficult season much more bearable. Eventually, I was moved to a private ward, and Toyosi moved in with me. We jokingly referred to it as our “room and parlour.” 😊

Although I had a few unpleasant experiences with some of the ward nurses, I was under the care of Dr. Ogbue, who was both professional and compassionate. Many of the other nurses were also very kind, and Nurse Caleb deserves a special mention for always checking in on me. I must also acknowledge the care I received from Dr. Akinrinmade and Dr. Adenuga.

Looking back, I can honestly say that Cedarcrest is a good hospital, and I remain grateful for the care I received there.

Friday, June 30, 2023

On Friday, June 30, I finally took off the hospital robe. I was discharged—or perhaps I should say Toyosi and I were discharged! 😁

Was I happy to leave? Absolutely!

Although I was still dealing with significant discomfort, it felt wonderful to leave the hospital walls behind and head home. Moze came to pick us up, and as soon as we got into the car, I started making calls. I called my husband, my siblings, and together we spent the journey home doing what we had every reason to do—praising God.

My recovery journey, however, was far from over.

I still had to return to the hospital every two days for wound dressing, where I came under the care of Nurse Obichi, Cynthia, Pepe, and the wonderful team in the wound care department. They were truly amazing.

Nurse Obichi, despite being heavily pregnant, would stand for long periods dressing my wounds without a single complaint. Their care, patience, and encouragement made those visits much easier to endure.

Well… the people made it easier.

The pain certainly did not! 😊

I dreaded every appointment because of the discomfort involved—and because of Dr. Ogbue’s surgical blade, which seemed to have a personal mission to keep me humble. 😊

My Testimony

This is my story. This is my testimony.

Today, I am back home with my family, and from time to time, I find myself wondering, “What if?”

What if Toyosi had not regained consciousness when she did? What if my family had not intercepted the car? What if the injuries had been worse? What if help had arrived too late?

What if?

There are so many “what ifs” that could have changed the outcome of that day. But whenever those thoughts come, I am reminded of one truth: there was Another on that road with us.

Just as God was with the three Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace, He was with Toyosi and me on that road in Abuja. His hand preserved us, protected us, and carried us through every stage of the journey—from the accident itself, to the ICU, through recovery, and finally back home.

Scars of Victory

Today, Toyosi and I are well.

Yes, we carry scars from that accident, but I choose to see them differently. I call them scars of victory. They are reminders of God’s faithfulness, His mercy, and His power to save. When I look at those scars, I do not see tragedy. I see evidence of survival. I see proof that God was not finished with us. I see a testimony written on our bodies and in our hearts.

The Lord gave us victory that day, and I cannot thank Him enough.

I am grateful for the gift of life.

I am grateful for family.

I am grateful for friends who prayed, called, visited, and stood by us.

I am grateful for the doctors, nurses, and medical staff who cared for us.

Above all, I am grateful to God, whose mercy spoke louder than fear, pain, and uncertainty.

The Bible says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story.” This is mine. I share it not because of what happened to me, but because of what God did for me.

If you are reading this, please join me in thanking God. Praise Him with me and for me. Celebrate His goodness, His protection, and His faithfulness.

Because on June 19, 2023, what could have been a tragedy became a testimony.

To God be all the glory.

Thank you for reading.

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Psalm 34:8

Aunty Lulu

If you would like to hear the full story, you can watch me share my testimony on the Seriously Doughnuts Podcast here.

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