olaoluwatomi

I saw a write up on the video below on Nigerian Health Watch ! And I promptly went to watch it. Watching the video brought back so many memories, many of which are personal. Many times people look at the statistics, the Maternal Mortality Rate was 740 per 100,000 when I was in final year in Medical School. But beyond the statistics, what are the stories of the women who go to the labor ward and never return or who come back without a child and some scar on their bodies and in their souls! I went through many of the feelings that the new father in the video went through- being told to go and get blood (thankfully we did not have to buy any), watching helplessly as she was wheeled into theatre, being extremely anxious when she did not come out of theatre as soon as we had hoped, seeing her swollen face and body and symptoms of hypoxia were nerve wracking! Thankfully she survived, read her story here , here and here So much for the MDG's with respect to improving maternal surv...

 AP I hope so! Finally succumbed to the Royal Wedding fever, though I did not lose my beauty sleep to wake up and watch the live proceedings! I watched the parting wave from the balcony though:) Wishing the new couple a very Happy Married Life!

The title of my post is the first line of a really danceable yoruba song! It means my thanksgiving is not enough, I will give thanks daily! The song takes me back down memory lane to thanksgiving services where heavily endowed women would shake their waists and jiggle and wiggle, take one step backwards and four forwards in the characteristic dance steps of the yoruba, while 'giving thanks' to the Holy one who had wrought 'iyanu'(wonders)in their lives. Since I can never mimic those dancesteps, I take to dancing in my head and so today, I see myself dancing down the aisle giving thanks for: 316-320 The Perfect bridge that bridged the great chasm between man and God! An answer to prayer! Great friends! The stone in the blacksmiths furnace that comes out better than it went in! The camera!

Watched this in church this morning and just had to share. Happy Easter everyone! http://youtu.be/-gb7n9B_8m8?hd=1

I am lying down on my bed with my laptop balanced precariously on my laps, trying to stifle the hunger pangs that are refusing to be ignored. I came up with this theory that I do not need to eat supper since I had breakfast and lunch and my bowels need to rest. Its not easy to be a locomotive carrying loads of food from one end to the other daily. Sometimes you just need to rest. And I am giving my innards a holiday this evening. Thankfully there is no food nearby for me to break my resolve. The nearest food chain is McDonald's and the idea of eating any of their surefire 'cholesterol raising' diets makes my taste buds revolt! Its been a while since I wrote a real post on my blog and that is not because I have not had topics to choose from. I have so many topics racing through my head but none has appealed to my inner muse and so the posts do not get written. No inspiration has descended from the hills, no sudden bursts of inspiration propel my fingers to my keyboard. I...

311-315 Thankful for the gift of humour- Someone asked me if I was Indian today? Thankful for the little steps I take that add up to miles travelled. Thankful for the spirit of optimism- I am Nigerian what else can I say but 'e go beta'! Thankful for each moment, each precious second I have been granted to live. Thankful that the world does not begin and end with me, myself and I.

I take rejection as someone blowing a bugle in my ear to wake me up and get going, rather than retreat. - Sylvester Stallone.

Mo koko fe bere aforiji lowo awon omo yoruba fun akikole mi ni yoruba. Mo mope yoruba mi o da rara, paapaa julo mi o fi ami sori awon oro mi. Mo mope nigba min awon oro mi ma mu n yin binu nitoripe mi o ko daadaa. Sugbon mo fe gbiyanju si, o de fun mi ni ayo kekere ti m ba ti ko iwe mi ni yoruba. E dariji mi o! Kini mo fe kole leni. Opolopo oro wa. Sugbon mo fe fi han yin awon foto die laarin eyi ti mo ya nigbati mo n rin kakiri ilu die. Irinajo mi po sugbon mogbagbe lati tun batiri camera mi she, ko je ki n ya foto pupo! E gbadun awon foto die ti mo ya. Irun sisi kekere kan!:) Ko da to bi mo seri! Camera mi o mu ewa ile yi jade rara. Loju titi kan ni Detroit awon 'artists' fi bata se 'art work'! Iyalenu mi nipe won lo bata titun won de kun won pelu painti! Bata yi o jo tutun sha! E sha momi, ounje o n pe kuro loju camera mi. Mo lo si Dearborn lodun to koja, igbati mo de de Detroit lodun yi, mi o gbagbe 'shatila'. Mo mu awon eyan mi de b...

306-310 In giving thanks there are somethings that at first glance do not seem praiseworthy but with the benefit of time and hindsight one becomes truly grateful so today I am giving thanks for: Being moved out of my comfort zone! Seperations! Going slowly and steadily! Harsh words! Silence!

301-305 Thankful for Nigerian Youth who are standing up and demanding to be heard Thankful for joyful reunions with family and friends Thankful for the unknown tomorrow Thankful for the warmth of strangers Thankful for the opportunity to just be me!

For Nigerian Election 2011 (link to a video)  Been wondering what to say about the elections in Nigeria.  Found this video on ktravula's site!  It sums up the koko (not Dbanj please) of the oro in one sentence! 'E jade, ke l' o dibo' Make a change in the polling booths not on your seats. Ese o!