My birthday falls in the same month as many great men such as Barrack Obama, the erstwhile President of United States of America, Ibrahim Badmosi Babangida IBB), former Military President of Nigeria, Namadi Sambo, erstwhile Vice-President of Nigeria, Chief MKO Abiola, the elected President of Nigeria whose election was annulled, great Nigerian footballers such as Kanu Nwankwo, Jay-Jay Okocha, Celestine Babayaro, Vincent Enyeama and the famous film actress, Funke Akindele-Bello. You can see I am in a very good company. I pray to God to make me replicate their good sides in my own way.
“My middle name, Ayodele, in Yoruba, literarily means, “joy has come home.” That shows that I was, at birth, a bundle of joy to my parents. Indeed I was until catastrophe struck. I was about three years three months old when, my mother noticed a glow in one of my eyes.
“It looked unusual to her and I was taken to Dr. Ben who said I had a childhood cancer called retinoblastoma. Sadly, he said, it was in the second eye too. Cancer gradually and painlessly filled up the inside of my eyes and removal of both eyes was recommended. My parents’ bundle of joy had suddenly turned into a bundle of sorrow.
“Removal of their son’s eyes? Unthinkable and unacceptable to my parents! I was taken from one hospital to another in search of a cure instead of the removal of the eyes. Meanwhile, the tumour continued to spread and soon burst the coats of the eye spilling into the adjoining tissues.
“To save the life of their son, my parents accepted to have my eyes removed. But then, there was no money to undertake the operation which was now a matter of life and death. Worse still, there was an additional expense for radiotherapy which was to follow. I can imagine their anguish watching their son’s life ebbing under threat of a slow and agonising death.
“Fortune, however, smiled on them and some people came to our rescue. I am alive to write this story today because of those wonderful people.
“Today, 27th August 2017, I have no doubt that I am still my parents’ bundle of joy and I have two wonderful and lovely younger sisters, Monica and Stella. Together we are a happy family.
“For my primary education, I attended the Pacelli School for the Blind in Lagos and later Federal Government College Ijanikin for my secondary level education. Glory be to God, I am 20 years old today. I am grateful to the almighty God for keeping me alive, to my parents, and especially my “sweet mother” for her love, patience and perseverance.
“She is the best mother on earth. My special thanks also go to all those who have helped me so far in this journey of life – my friends, my motivators and all well-wishers. I pray that the Good Lord will bless them all.”
Augustine Ayodele Akpeji (Austin the boss).
27th August, 2017
Dr. Ben’s note.
In the company of my friend, Yomi Akinsola, I surprised Austin with a visit to him at home on the occasion of his 20th birthday. I was astonished when he described precisely how to get to their house. A sighted person could not have done better. We were received by Austin, his mother, his two sisters, Monica and Stella and his uncle. Austin’s father had travelled and was being expected.
“There is no cake and no drums to celebrate. We are just happy to be here together to share our love for each other,” Austin had said, beaming with a smile. And I must confess they all had genuine smiles on their faces. A happy family. Happiness is not the size or depth of your pocket, but the state of your mind and the love in your heart.
Austin has conquered blindness. He can do nearly anything that sighted people do. He travels from Ijanikin, Lagos to Ibadan on his own and visits me regularly in my office unaccompanied. He wants to read Mass Communications in the University. With four As and three Bs in the last WAEC examinations and a score of 290 in UTME, he is certainly the toast of all our topmost universities.
His sister, Monica, would like to study Pharmacy or Nursing. She did fairly well in theUTME too. Austin needs support for his university education. Not just Austin, the entire family need help to live above poverty level. Would you help Austin? Would you help lift up this family? Please send SMS or WhatsApp message to 0805 400 5447 if you wish to help.
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