I wanted to take some time to celebrate my wife today. She is the usual quiet and non-social media type (and yes two opposite married). Today she matched into the Internal Medicine residency program and by the special Grace of God will be an internist in the next three years.
But the journey didn’t start today. It’s being a rollercoaster ride; the ups and downs and she is the perfect description of “when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade with it.” She has mastered that art. In 2016, we had just started dating when she took the decision to go back to med school in Nigeria on completing a degree in Nursing from Ghana. It was a tough choice giving that we had just started our love journey.
I had always told her time is going to pass by quickly. But it was not that simple. At Bingham University where he started med school, she was admitted into the second year class given her background as a nurse and was projected to finish in 5 years, but 5 soon became 6 and 6 became 7. Which is something most Nigerians experience with periodic strikes and other administrative challenges. Three years into med school, I moved to the USA and although we were already doing distant relationship, it felt like the distance had widened. Very tough, but she remained strong and God always showed up.
At some point, we just made the decision we weren’t going to pause life because we were each developing our careers and so we got married in the middle of the COVID-19 outbreak (another story for another day). It was exciting at least to be bonded in the sacrament of Holy Matrimony. And you won’t believe what followed? Yes, she became pregnant with our first daughter. The initial excitement of getting married and finding out we were going to be parents soon faded as I had to return to continue with my doctoral studies.
So here she was studying for her medical degree (anyone who’s been there knows how tough this is) and now she has to deal with a pregnancy which was marred by hyperemesis and my absence through out the pregnancy period. At some point she had to move out of the student hotel into a private residence which was about 4 miles from the university. But that also came with not just the challenges of staying by herself and trying to get to school everyday, but there was (still is) growing insecurity in Plateau State Nigeria where kidnapping was a business and Islamic insurgency was on the increase. I believe I am not able to completely explain how it felt like for her, but she pulled through and we welcomed our first daughter in last quarter of 2021.
Thanks to the many family members, friends, and our beloved nanny who showed up for her (us) during and after the pregnancy. I believe that made a lot difference. But the journey didn’t end there. Moving to the US was tough. She had just finished med school and had no time to do housemanship (internship) or national service and little experience in medical practice. Then again, she was very determined to make things work. In 2024, she registered to write the step 1 of the US board exams and whilst preparing , she took on some volunteering and shadowing duties. In the end, she aced the step 1 and started preparing for step 2 that same year, but as God will have she became pregnant with our second daughter. Once again a very difficult pregnancy and we decided she took a break, stay home and just rest for the duration of the pregnancy. Many things happened in between, but once we welcomed our daughter last year, she was determined to be ready to apply into residency in September 2025. She had just three months to read through every material and helping with the newborn. And it all happened seamlessly. In quick successions, she passed step 2, wrote OET, took on more volunteering and externship roles and prepared her application documents (another story for another day).
#Match2025
NARD Frowns at the Senseless Killings in Benue State and other part of Nigeria.
The continued bloodshed in Benue State that left over 200people dead in Yelwata is alarming and condemnable.
The constant bloodletting is taking its toll on an already thinly stretched and fragile health system in Benue State.
The mounting death toll is a potential for humanitarian crisis and epidemics which will overwhelm the ability of health workers to cope. Unfortunately, it appears that the government does not have the wherewithal to protect life and property.
Protecting and ensuring right to life is a core duty of government at both State and Federal level.
The violence has diminished the strength of health work force in the state as some health workers were unfortunately caught in the middle of the crisis.
The killing of promising young Pharmacist Matthew Lormba is a stark reminder that health workers are now endangered Species of humans in the state and across Nigeria.
The violent attack has increased threats to the safety of doctors with several complaints about the security of our members. The increasing anxiety is impacting negatively their willingness to work in certain areas.
It is deeply concerning as it does not align with the concept of universal health coverage especially for those in underserved communities.
This has further depleted access to Primary health care with absenteeism of health workers due to security concerns.
Burn out and mental health issues are unsettling and worrisome as it is affecting the ability of doctors to provide needed care.
This attack is at the very heart of our food production thus production decline, shortage of food supply and increased food prices put our children at risk of Malnutrition.
We also frown vehemently at bout of Killings and all forms of violence in Kastina, Zamfara and other volatile region of Nigeria in recent past.
Over 10,000 people have been killed across Nigeria in the last two years. It has increased the wave of displacement and out of school children with many losing their means of livelihood.
Government at all levels should therefore wake up and implement workable security measures that will put a stop to escalation of attacks especially in North central and North Eastern region of Nigeria.
There must be an immediate STOP to the Nation wide blood shed to avert a looming disaster.
Government must develop strategies to put a break on Nigeria’s mortality experiences due to growing violence and conflicts.
Our condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones. May God rest their souls.
Dr Osundara Tope
NARD President
Nobody deserves to die in the hands of terrorists but seriously children amongst them broke my heart the more 😞
I literally still feel a sense of shock, pain and grief for the leaders of tomorrow burnt alive and butchered.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
#BenueUnderAttack
Dating someone intelligent is a big flex for me. It might not be academic intelligence but someone you can have a deep conversation with, someone you can tell what's bothering you, and find a solution together
We were kidnapped on our way to Enugu for a convention @Nigerian_Doctor there are requesting for 50 million for 20 of us medical students please help us and we haven't eaten for two days
08163420157- pius that is who we are gathering the money with
Saint Academy, Jos💔
Heavenly Father,
We ask for Your comfort & strength for the families affected by this disaster. Please heal the injured & provide solace to those mourning the loss of loved ones.
Grant wisdom & compassion to the rescuers and medical teams working…
Please, if you're a part of NEMA and Red Cross, your attention is needed! Also, if you can, we need blood at Ola, Jankwano, and Plateau Specialist Hospitals. Help these kids and their teachers!
Please render any form of help you can today. If you're fit to donate blood, please go and donate. If all you can do is hold someone's hand and try to comfort them, please do. All hands should be on deck🙏🏻
Please if you're blood group O negative come to Ola hospital, jos plateau state .
The survivors of the collapsed building of the saint academy secondary school needs it.
Treat as urgent , thank you ..