•Excerpts From Her Brochure, OST Glows @ 50
Olori Sandra Thomas is a popular Skincare specialist. She loves to make other women look good. She is the representative of MAKARI, the International brand in Nigeria. She turned 50 a few months back, and she chose to mark it in a big way a few days ago. on Saturday, 17th July, 2021. It was a 4-in-1 event, namely: Celebration of her 50th birthday in the land of the living, 10 years of establishing/sustaining MAKARI Stores in Nigeria solely, launching of her personal products named after her grandson and the publication of her 1st book to support younger girls in the society. It was a classy event.
At the event, she gave out a brochure which is like her autobiography in which she revealed, all that she went through in life and how she survived a severe attack of Covid-19. Below are excerpts.
I started feeling sick on the Wednesday 9th of December, 2020.
I went to see the doctor, and when he took my blood samples, he said he wanted to admit me. But I told him I had already booked a ticket to Abuja with my friend for Friday. I assured him that there would be a distribution of masks, awareness, and of course, we had Owambe.
Dr Sylveter took my stool sample, gave me some drug to run through the journey, and told me that if I came back and still felt unwell, we would do further tests.
My flight to Abuja on the 11th was the first flight. As soon as we landed in ABUJA, I lost my sense of smell, sense of taste, developed a high fever, and had a heavy chest!
I went into the guest house feeling so sick, and all I wanted to do was drink chilled FANTA. I had motion sickness, no stamina to walk, loss of appetite, sour and dried chapped lips, cough and many more. I was so UNWELL!
I drank chilled, like frozened fanta from Friday 11th to the 14th of December, when I returned back to Lagos.
On Tuesday the 15th, I went back to the hospital. As soon as I stepped into the clinic, all the questions asked about my status led to signs that I was positive and I remember telling the nurse I felt dizzy and just needed to it down.
The doctor asked me to come to the 3rd Floor. I tell you that journey was the longest ever. Once I was in the doctor’s office he asked for a syringe to take my blood sample . I told him that I noticed my blood was black, and he said’ No with the fakest smile.
I passed out… ….
I came back, but can’t remember when I opened my eyes to see myself chained to drips, from my leg to my hands with oxygen pumping at the highest pressure, all tests started, all holes on my body punctured with needles, everywhere they find a vein goes in a cannula, my hands, my legs, my stomach at a time my hands were not able to again so other areas had to be explored for veins! I HAD TURNED PALE. …..
The Doctor came in and told my husband that all the signs pointed towards the second wave of Corona Virus. I waited 24 hours for my tests to come back.
The results came back POSITIVE.
The moment of truth… Doctor said Mrs. T you have corona’ The doctor turned to my husband to leave emphatically, ‘You cannot see her again with any family members. You also need to self-isolate because you have been in close contact, she’s at a critical stage, we will do our job, you pray for her. I looked at my husband and cried, my husband was sent for test immediately, all the children …. my heart beat changed, oxygen assembly started and I was clamped to the chambers, I told God na devil plan for 50th be this? God you are still God, in everything it’s you I see o, hubby held my hands and said ‘I will not leave you, you’re my wife and we are in this together, we are family, family don’t leave one another in times of trouble’ when death flash through your eyes you will appreciate love! All I saw in his face was love, no blame, no pettiness, he held my hands and said, ‘we are in this together, and left! I had to brace up ..4th day on oxygen I didn’t know what tomorrow holds but I know God is alive, My Vicar called to pray for me and I believe, God has blessed it and I claimed it. Devil you are a liar, I will be the mother of my children till old age in Jesus name Amen.
If you say you have coro and you are doing lemon concoction, what you have is sore throat! You are just seeing ferry-ferry, when you see covid-19 esp that 2nd wave you will not even know where knife is talk of pot.
God bless all FRONTLINERS, millions can never repay them esp My Dr, Dr Sylvester and his team, That man will calm any dying nerves down: – )
The door closed and the struggle started ….
One of the doctors became like a psychologist and tried to make me get familiar with what he termed a ’Tsunami Wave.’ He told me the wave would go very high, come back down, and move back again. He said it was just God that could help, but they knew that God would handle this for them!
Each time I received those giants antibiotics in my drips, I was emotionally traumatised and mentally weakened. I just cannot explain it, and I couldn’t eat for almost 6 days.
But on Christmas Eve, I was happy to be alive. I didn’t sleep, I just wanted to wish Jesus happy birthday.
December 25th is always my favourite day of the year. I decided I would not sleep or doze off without celebrating. By the 25th at SAM, it was time for my 1st jab/shots. My oxygen level was not picking up again.
The doctors were worried and another counselling started on how I should just forget any other thing and thank God!
On the 28th, I woke up to the different ugly news from all over the world. From the UK, USA, SOUTH AFRICA. And in our own Nigeria, Ubong King, the famous motivational speaker & Idongesit Nkanga, had passed due to corona!
I relapsed again.
The Doctor came in and decided I had to stop watching the news and start watching Cartoon Network instead.
The journey back to life cannot be described. I saw my GRAVE, but God gave me another chance. I will never take this for granted!
On the 30th of December while still on oxygen, I filled my re-test form again. I wasn’t even sure who filled the first one out for me!
While we waited for the result to come back, my doctor decided to let me go home to avoid depression, suicide, mental and nervous breakdown. He felt that my healing would be faster with family members around.
The difference between a Covid-19 patient and a psychiatrist patient is the CHAINS.
On the 31st of December by 4pm, the doctor called my husband to tell him they were discharging me. I had not even seen this man since the 14th of Dec. 🙂
My husband called me and said, ‘This is a surprise.
Please don’t tell anybody, I want to surprise them all!
6PM. As my lifeline for life was taken out of my hand, my body strapped to a wheelchair, saying goodbye to RM 33 and leaving behind my OXYGEN.
I can only thank Dr Sylvester and his team. These Doctors handled me like their LABRAT. It felt like they were saying, ‘This is for us. We will save you!”
DR SYLVESTER, DR FADEYI, DR MICHAEL ROTIMI, DR OKAFOR, DR ANI (MY PSYCHOLOGIST), &; DR SAM, TO ALL MY 19 NURSES, MY CLEANERS TO MRS BANKOLE (MAMA WA nurtured me back to life. I would not be able to eat, but she would force it down like she knew me from way back).
MamaWa came when I was about to leave and said, ‘Mumsy, do you remember one day you were erupting like a volcano? You were breathing so heavily, I had to run into your room thinking another patient was here with you. And when I asked to call the doctor, you didn’t answer me.” I told Mama Wa that I didn’t even know what she was talking about.
When I was rolled to the car park at the AVEMARIA HOSPITAL, even the security guards were happy for me. I looked into the sun and cried. It could have been the other way around, but GOD KEPT ME!
When I got home, my daughter asked if I cried when I saw home, but I said, ‘NOPE.’ I just thanked God that my best picture was not brought down for a condolence register and my obituary not posted by my GATE.
O the 31st of Dee 2020, lying in my bed. My legs soooo thin. My husband was praying for me … crying, I couldn’t cry for myself. I was in so much pain. I couldn’t even explain it. My boys were taking to turns to check on me, like this woman ‘you’re not gonna die on us’.
January 1st, 2021
Dr gave us the good news: my test came back NEGATIVE. I was ready to mentally concentrate on my recovery.
The road to recovery is the most difficult. I was scared my legs were gone, and I would ask myself, ‘ Will I be able to walk again?’
RECOVERY
Recovery process is a very slow one and it could be psychologically damaging, especially without good family support. FAMILY IS EVERYTHING!
I was an invalid. I relied on my family for food and other supplies. My companion would be water, honey, crackers and Bournvita.
You need something to keep you busy or else you just may go coocoo. Remember, your family can not even sit with you, so you have to be alone. PRAY, SLEEP, EAT, TAKE YOUR DRUGS and pray for TOTAL HEALING!
MY doctor told me recovery would be + / – 5 MONTHS.
The temporary memory loss and getting on the edge easily, not able to even hold a pen to write properly could be quite depressing. I couldn’t even read my own handwriting! It just looked like chicken scratches. I remember sending an order to my workers on our business WhatsApp line to deliver the orders that same day. One of the staff had to reply and remind me that day was Sunday. Chaiiiii!
While on my recovery bed, I planned my 50th 100%. I JUST WANT NOTHING BUT THE BEST TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY JEHOVAH OVERDO! It was going to be another way, but I had to do it the way that will ADORE MY GOD!
If you are here today to celebrate with me, you were picked for a purpose and a reason. JUST CELEBRATE WITH ME &: THANK GOD I’M ALIVE! I hope you enjoy my EVENT!
#OSTat50
#OSTglowsat50
I met my husband 23 years ago, but he keeps saying he knew me earlier. I actually met him through a mutual friend after I had just graduated from Secretarial College. I needed a job in an oil firm so he was introduced as my main ‘connect.’ He ended up connecting all the dots, as he never got me any job.
OMOBA ADESEYE ALABA you have been one patient and loving man. No matter how much I upset you, you will say ‘I will kuku not leave you.’ When the fight is hot, my husband will ask if Mummy wants to shop. 🙂 That always makes me happy! You have been nothing but an AMAZING DADDY to our four lovely children!
It’s always your family first, even before you!
On my sick bed on Dec. 16th, you held my hand and said, ‘We are in this together.’ You were scared and I saw it because we were not sure anymore!
Adeori Okinmi. Okin kii se egbe eyekeye o. You are a man! I’m the only one with this bragging right.
OMOBA mi, I will never raise any man above you. Where is the man sef?
YOU ARE A KING WORTHY OF YOUR CROWN. YOUR WIFE FOREVER.
OST
…… After the birth of AFOLABI, my husband and I decided there was no way I could work a 9-5 job as a Sec/PA and still care for our son. So he asked me to think about what to do, but there was no thinking. I had already made up my mind to start Dubai Gold jewellery business. He gave me the money and phew, my son and I left! MY HUSBAND GAVE MY MY FIRST BUSINESS CAPITAL!
I ran the business for many years, but bad debt just wouldn’t let the business be great! So I moved to Italian leathers, which I sourced directly from Naples (Napoli), Milan, Mantova and travelled to some smaller cities in Italy!
Leather business was good; minimal debts and easier for people to buy than jewellery. I ran the business, coupled with some laces and fabrics until we left Nigeria on a cross-posting in 2005 to Houston, Texas, USA.
While in the US, all I wanted to do was care for my husband, children, and shop till I drop. I had fun until we left the US.
Next stop was going to be Cape Town, South Africa. It became a boring country for me, and I suddenly remembered I had never had a job! The quest to work set in and I started researching. That is how Makari was birthed on my 40th birthday in February 2011!
God gave me a vision of ‘You hate debt!’ so this is for you, and I just obeyed!
My policy in business is simple: DO OT ASK FOR CREDIT. I hate it! If you cannot afford it, you may try later! NO CREDIT TODAY, DON’T COME TOMORROW PLEASE!
– OST
READ ALSO: WHY I SPENT SO MUCH MONEY TO BURY MY MUM – IGBO BILLIONAIRE, OBI CUBANA
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