PERSPECTIVE: How Edo Deputy Governor Breathed Life Into Baby Mercy

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By Austin Otas-Osegbe

‘’Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.’’

The above scriptures aptly describe the mood of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Odaroagbonrie Ogaimen, a revenue officer with Oredo Local Government Council, Benin City, Edo State.

When their baby girl, Mercy Osatohanmwen was born, their joy knew no bounds. However, as the days, weeks and months went by, their bundle of joy  turned out to be a big source of worry and agony as little Mercy was diagnosed by doctors of a medical condition called  hole in the heart disease.

Upon the discovery of this life- threatening ailment, the parents of Mercy wasted no time in seeking help-both medically and financially- to tackle the disease that afflicted their little, Innocent daughter.

After running helter-skelter and weeping all night- long for solutions to what appeared to be a devastating challenge of their life- time, the Ogiamiens experienced a positive encounter when, by divine appointment, they met face-to face with Edo State Deputy Governor,  Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu.

For the records, the divine encounter by the Ogiamiens for the total restoration of their lost joy began on Sunday, 28th May, 2017. It was during a mass celebrated by the priests and parishioners of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Benin City to mark the national children’s day.

After the mass, The Deputy Governor, In his usual characteristics  began to shake hands and exchange pleasantries with the catholic faithful when his attention was drawn to the sickly and fragile baby Mercy who was cuddled by her mother.

There and then, Comrade Shaibu indicated his intention to assist in his own little way to ‘save’ the life of baby Mercy.

Thereafter, a lot of activities followed with series of tests and referrals by medical experts of the Government House Clinic, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and National Hospital, Abuja. At the end, the stage was set for a medical sojourn abroad for a corrective heart surgery for baby Mercy. And the destination was the BLK Hospital, New-Delhi, India. The rest story is now a beautiful testimony.

On arrival from the medical trip abroad, the appreciative parents came with baby Mercy to say thank you to the Deputy Governor.

According to Mr. Anthony Ogiamien, father of baby Mercy, while speaking with newsmen shortly after a thanksgiving service which held at the same St. Joseph Catholic Church on the occasion of the 2018 national children’s day, he said: ‘’My family and I feel so tremendously overwhelmed by this life-changing testimony. As you can see, my daughter is okay and she returned with her mother safely back to Nigeria after the successful surgery in India, where they spent almost two months. It is like a big burden has been lifted off our shoulders. This is unbelievable. I cannot express exactly how excited the whole family feels.’’

Continuing, a highly elated Ogaiamien said; “ it cost over N7m, covering medicals, accommodation, feeding flight tickets for my wife/baby and other incidentals for the successful surgery of my daughter and it was the Deputy Governor that paid the bills. The good Lord will continue to protect and bless him and his family.

In short, God Almighty shall remember him for good and elevate him to the next glorious level in his future endeavors. Gentlemen of the press, I’m so happy because my moment of weeping has been turned to unspeakable joy by the Deputy Governor’’.

Indeed, it was a colorful ceremony to behold as parishioners, family members, friends and well- wishers trooped out in their numbers to rejoice with the Ogiamiens.

The Deputy Governor was represented at the thanksgiving mass by a powerful delegation of principal officers from his office comprising the Deputy Chief of Staff, Barr. Kingsley Ehigiamusor, Permanent Secretary, Barr. Stephen Omorodion and Chief Press Secretary, Comrade Ebomhiana Musa.

 

Austin Otas-Osegbe is Public Relations Officer Office of the Deputy Governor Government House, Benin City

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