The family of High Chief Olu Benson Lulu-Briggs is now having gigs and celebration for the survival of the family patriarch who few months back went into health challenges in faraway London. First he went into coma for 4-days and recovered after having 4 separate prostrate surgeries in a London hospital from January to April, 2017.
The wife Dr(Mrs) Seinye Lulu-Briggs was by his bedside throughout her husband’s medical treatment. And on April 14th, 2017 when he returned to Nigeria alive after undergoing prostrate surgeries 4-times it was celebration galore at his Udi Street by Forces Avenue Country Home Port Harcourt. A day before his arrival the walls of the mansion was decorated with Photographs bearing Mrs Seinye Lulu-Briggs and her esteemed husband in celebration mood.
Not done yet the 87th birthday of High Chief O.B Lulu-Briggs was already scheduled to be held on Monday 22nd of May, 2017. And on Sunday 21st of May it was fireworks at Midnight during the night of Adoration held at Chapel of God Church Forces Avenue few meters away from their mansion where Pastor Mrs Seinye Lulu-Briggs holds sway as the Founder and resident woman of God.
The Port Harcourt celebrity woman stunned her audience with the testimony of the travails of her husband High Chief O.B Lulu-Briggs which makes good narratives and kept the audience hair rising as the testimony states “In November 2016, High Chief O.B Lulu-Briggs was showing symptoms of prostrate issues. His family was eager for him to the UK(United Kingdom) for a check-up but he planned to stay and finish some business matters. The day they landed, however, Opuda took a turn for the worse and they had to go directly to the hospital; he was bleeding profusely and the whole group was worried. Once in hospital, he went through four procedures and came out in good form. The medical professionals were surprised at his strength and recovery. After a month he was discharged to much rejoicing and celebration. Such was the joy that once he returned home; everyone went for an impromptu excursion to Hyde Park to commemorate the beautiful day.
However, things took a more serious direction. His wife, Mrs Seinye Lulu-Briggs, noticed that he was constantly weak and having severe trouble breathing. His gasps for breathe could be heard from all rooms in the house. He was having trouble sleeping and suffering night sweats. The doctor all assured his wife that he was fine. Chief is old; they said, it is normal for him to be weak after medical treatment. But Seinye was not satisfied. Slowly but surely, Alabo was becoming ill again.
Against doctors’ advice, Seinye insisted on an appointment and arranged for Opuda to see an ENT (Ear, Nose and throat) specialist. Her thought was that there was something blocking his airway. Based on that, the doctors carried out a procedure that brought out what seemed like years of buildup that was stuck I his throat. For the first time in that long, High Chief took an unobstructed breath. Again, there was rejoicing as he was discharged and they all returned home.
The next day, the breathing problems started again, this time worse than before. At a point, Chief was too weak to raise his hands. Fed up with doctors not taking her concerns seriously, Seinye called an ambulance and went back to the hospital with our father and the family. He was admitted into the intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the doctors took her aside with bad news. ‘Gather the children and family’ they said, because his chances for survival are low. Opuda entered into a coma and his family came together, praying, talking and playing hymns by his bedside. For four long days, his eyes remained closed doubtful.
Thoughts such as, “What are we going to tell people?” battled with thoughts such as, “Nothing will happen; we will all go back with him.” Hope was in scarce supply as everyone questioned whether the High Chief would survive. In answer to an unspoken prayer, friends and family on both sides surrounded and supported them, and brought life back to the household. Though worried and weary, Seinye held on to God as her hope. Now hope is a confident expectation of good, and as it built, the good began to manifest. Slowly, Opuda started responding.
First, he was able to open his eyes briefly. Then he was able to move his head to look at those around him. He was able to squeeze hands that held his. One day he was able to breathe for one hour without the ventilator. The three hours, then four hours and so on…and then he went 24-hours without the life support machine.Every day his eyes opened and he managed a small smile was counted a miracle by his family. Finally, two months later, after hours of therapy and rehabilitation, High Chief was discharged from the hospital on 13th March, 2017. The ICU (Intensive Care Unit) consultant that admitted him came and apologized to Seinye, admitting that he never expected such an outcome.
As soon as Opuda came home, he wanted to return to Nigeria. He wanted to be home among his people. Alas, he had to wait for doctors to approve his travel. Then he had to wait for supplies and prescriptions to arrive. It seemed the waiting was unending; yet as his impatience grew, the family saw it as a sign of his continued restoration. On 14th of April, 2017 four months and sixteen days since he departed, High Chief O.B Lulu-Briggs set his feet back on his home ground.
This is a testament to the faithfulness of God in our lives. In several cases, God directed Seinye to keep fighting when everyone ignored her concerns. He guided the family into prayer and meditation and gave them strength to push through. He provided comfort and support just when everyone seemed beyond their limit. And finally, amazingly, he returned our father back to his family and friends.”
Even though the thanksgiving and 87 years birthday ceremonies were low keyed the family never speared anything in showing the world how happy they are in his quick recovery from the prostrate and throat surgeries that he went through in faraway London.
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