Posted by By GLORIA YOUNG on
It is an L-Shaped room. Not enough light enters from the one small window.
It is an L-Shaped room. Not enough light enters from the one small window. But whatever little light that manages to penetrate illuminates and reflects on the altar to the left as you enter. Meanwhile, the first thing you see is what appears to be the biggest baby cot available in the market with a tiny three-week-old baby lying in the middle. The atmosphere is one of wonderous joy as people, mostly women, are dancing and singing praises in different languages to God - for yet another miracle.
The reason for the jubilation is not far fetched: this baby in particular, a girl had, been in the womb of her mother, 48 year old Mrs. Patricia Odi, for exactly three years and 8 months before she accepted to come out and seek her own destiny.
The serach for fruit of the womb
Mr. and Mrs Odi were married February 10th, 1979 and, like every newlywed, were expectant that the blessings of marriage would soon be made manifest in their home.
Two years went by, then three, four, ten years and still they waited and hoped. Patricia was approached by different well-meaning friends and invited to different churches but she stayed faithful and stuck to her belief; that God is everywhere and if you call on him and believe, sincerely, He'll not pass you by.
Patricia's family the Emecietes of Ezi in Aniocha North local government of Delta State produced the first indigenous Catholic reverend father in West Africa, Father Paul Emeciete, so she was determined not to be one to break the family tradition. She refused to leave the Catholic church to look for solution to her problem.
Patricia tells the story better…
'In April 2002, I missed my menstrual period, I went for a test and it was positive. Before then I had never missed my period and I had cried to God for the fruit of the womb for 23 years since I got married in 1979. I registered for ante-natal at military Hospital, Yaba and looked forward to my delivery. Later, I don't remember exactly when, I was told that my baby wasn't growing well as it should. I was afraid but I continued in my prayers and started going to Ijaw women in Ajegunle for massages.
Odd pregnancy
'I went for massages because there the Ijaw people gave me more hope and strengthened my belief that my baby would be born healthy. Meanwhile, I did not have the kind of pregnancy I expected, I never vomitted, I never had any spitting of saliva. All I had were odd feelings, headaches, weaknesses and a bit of backache.
'My baby did not move in my womb until the pregnancy was about a year old and yet the doctor said there was no fibroid in my womb. But this time I noticed people always staring at me, in the bus, on my street, even in my church but I never stopped praying.
Seeking spiritual help
'Throughout this pregnancy, money was very tight and we could barely make ends meet. My husband was transferred to Enugu but our salaries were not being paid on time so when the doctors told me I had to do operation, I refused because Mother Mary did not deliver Jesus Christ with operation and I did not want to. Yes, I went to different churches but they were all under the Catholic faith. I went to see Father Osigwe at St Mary's Catholic Church, Ifo and I went to St Agnes, Maryland. At the Marian Shrine, there, I collected holy water, blessed salt and anointing oil which I always used".
'A lot of people never believed I was pregnant. They said all kinds of things about me. Some said I had fibroids, some said I had tied a pillow around my stomach just so that I would not be laughed at because I couldn't get pregnant for my husband but some people in my church and office really believed when they saw and felt the baby move in my womb. Everyday, I challenged God to shame them. I told him that I was still waiting for my deliverance and that he should come and do his miracle so that only Him could get the glory. So I continued doing my works of mercy, cleaning the church benches, sweeping and praying.
Labour finally came
'On the 21st of December, 2005, I went to our parish, SS Joachim and Anne, Ijegun-Ikotun to help clean the Church in preparation of our celebration mass for our new assistant parish priest. My body felt funny but I persevered. At the church, I knelt down at the blessed sacrament and called on God again, reminding Him of my predicament. When I finished cleaning, I decided to go home and rest because there was still time before the mass would start. Suddenly, I started feeling pains around my lower back and under my womb. I couldn't sit, I couldn't stand. I was very uncomfortable so I called my sister, Mary, on the phone to come and take me to a hospital. When she came we went to Iyanu Ayo Convalescent Health Centre, Mushin where they told me that I was in labour but I shouldn't sit down.
Delivered, at last
They said I should keep walking around the premises. Later, they called me and checked me but only two fingers could enter. I got to the hospital at 8pm and delivered by 10.30pm without any complications. When I delivered and heard the baby's cry, I heaved a sigh of relief and rested. Since then, my joy has known no bounds and I am grateful to God for sparing my life to see this miracle.
'My baby, Chukwufunaya, Emmanuella Odi is very healthy and I believe it is because of all the rosaries I said throughout my pregnancy. At a time, I stopped drinking plain water and I would not drink water if it wasn't blessed by a priest. At one time, I was told by Father Andrew Ogidan, my assistant parish priest, to say 20 decades of the rosary daily and I did it. other times, my parish priest, Father Ola-Maria Agbolade, said I should always go to the blessed sacrament to pray and make sure I focus my attention and talk to God during the mass and I did.
Now, after over twenty-years of marriage, people in my area call me mama somebody. Ah, there is indeed a God who hears and answers if you call on him. My joy is boundless and my heart has been cleansed of all sorrows".
Now a father
While Mrs. Odi had been talking, her husband Mr. Cyprian Nnamdi Odi was in the bedroom. When he came out he explained that since he heard the good news and saw his gift from God, he has been very happy. God, he said, wanted people to know that he still exists. He can do anything for you if you are steadfast in your prayers. He said that people who have absolute trust and faith should persevere, blessings will come only in God's time.
Playing mummy, at last!
As we watched in awe and wonder as the little bundle of joy of Mr and Mrs Odi of Delta State, Emmanuella squirmed and cried in her cot. Mrs. Odi Jumped up with the agility of a twenty year old bride-mother, picked her up and proceeded to breast feed her.
Meanwhile, no one has been able to explain how the baby could have survived in the womb for such a long time. Doctors interviewed under anonymity said there is no medical explanation for this. Since Mrs Odi did not have a regular permanent doctor to monitor her pregnancy, those hearing the story take it with a pinch of salt.
Mrs. Odi claimed not to have a regular doctor because at first she had doubts about her ability to give birth safely but the Ijaw massage homes strengthened her. The hospital where she delivered saw her for the first time on the day of her delivery.
However, eye witnesses abound. Even, this reporter had seen Mrs. Odi on numerous occasions since 2002 carrying the pregnancy. It is indeed a miracle.
Doctor's reaction
Dr. Babatunde Abiodun who took delivery of the baby corroborated Mrs. Odi's story. He however said that he could not say more on the issue since he did not have the woman's medical history as she turn up at the hospital when she was alread in labour.He said the baby was delivered the same day Mrs. Odi was admitted to the hospital.
On the possibility of one pregnancy dragging on for as long as three years and eight months, Babatunde said it was not medically provable but the 'Sometimes it happens. Anything is possible".
He however noted that the delivery took a little longer than other normal deliveries but was really nothing extraordinary.
On his observations on examination of the newborn, Babatunde said everything was normal physically, adding that 'the baby came out full term".