Synopsis "Osondu: Running The Gauntlet to Stay Alive"
My aggressive multiple myeloma cancer was discovered while I was in Africa looking at sustainable agriculture and renewable energy, just three months after returning from the United States with a perfect bill of health. On the morning of my evacuation to Johns Hopkins for treatment, I fell in a Nigerian hospital, fractured my spine at a tumor, and was paralyzed. This book tells my story from my first cancer symptoms, my evacuation from Nigeria via London, a fractured spine and paralysis, subsequent development of seven potentially fatal complications, treatment with cutting edge immunotherapy and stem cell transplant, and then remission and recovery. The story presents all the interesting dynamics during my deadly illnesses, family cohesion and conflict, my daughter's wedding, caregivers, religion, science, and exemplary medical institutions. It was a dark time, but I was determined to walk my only daughter down the aisle and resolute my mother would never see my grave. In these, I found strength and was healed by an incredible team of American immigrant professionals. The best specialists thought I'd never walk again, but within four months, I was back on my feet and determined to restart work on African development. My Hopkins neurosurgeon, Dr. Daniel Sciubba, said I am blessed. My parish pastor, Father Joe Rogers, said I am a walking miracle. After reading this dramatic and inspiring odyssey, you may agree with both of them. Everybody was a godsend, and divine intervention seemed everywhere. I ran the gauntlet to stay alive. I ran OSONDU. "Osọndu agwụ ike. One never tires of the race for life." ---------------------------------------------------- BOOK EXCERPT: **Miracle of the Toes ** On March 28, my therapist, Enjeen Woolford, walked into my room with the distinctive air of happiness that followed her. She touched my right foot, and my toes flexed. The rest was magic. "Hey, your toes are moving!" "No way, I don't believe you. That's only because you moved them." "Well, let's do it again. Watch this." She went back to my right foot and touched my toes. "Now, go ahead, and wiggle your toes." To my great surprise, I found I could wiggle my right toes. I was so shocked I don't even remember feeling happy. The news spread quickly. Enjeen was my Mary Magdalene. She discovered and was the first witness to my miracle. Soon, Dr. Sciubba, the Johns Hopkins lead neurosurgeon, visited me. "I heard you're moving your toes. That's a great development. Going from no to a little movement is a much greater achievement than going from a little to bigger movement." I already knew that from math. Anything divided by zero is infinite. Then Dr. Sciubba said something I didn't know. "You're very lucky. During surgery, we could get the transcranial signals down your spine and out your arms but none through your legs. If I was a betting man, I would have bet everything I owned that you would never walk again. But now that you're wiggling your toes. . . I will bet everything I have that you'll walk again and soon."
