I Prayed to Die in My Sleep: A 23-Year-Old’s Fight for Life
Amarachi John, a 23-year-old trader from Abia State, has endured an unimaginable ordeal after a tragic accident that led to the loss of both her legs. Despite the physical and emotional pain, she is determined to rebuild her life, drawing strength from social media support, especially from her TikTok community.
Amarachi’s life took a dramatic turn on February 13, 2024, when she was involved in a horrific accident. Sitting in the front seat of a tricycle, she and her fellow passengers were struck by a speeding car driven by the rector of Mercy Seminary School in Bende. Immediately following the crash, Amarachi was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Umuahia. Unfortunately, the medical care she received was subpar, with her legs being hastily wrapped in cartons and bandages.
The following day, doctors informed her that both her legs had sustained irreversible damage and would need to be amputated to save her life. The news left Amarachi terrified as she grappled with the harsh reality of her situation. Despite her fears, she chose to prioritize survival over the loss of her limbs.
Initially, Amarachi’s family resisted the idea of amputation, but after a second opinion from another hospital, they were told that it was already too late to save her legs. The decision to amputate was made even more urgent by a grave diagnosis of fractures in her thigh bones. The cost of the surgery, which included amputation and treatment for the fractures, was estimated at N2.5 million. Amarachi’s family and friends managed to raise N1.5 million, enabling her to undergo the procedure.
Waking up after the surgery, Amarachi was devastated to discover her legs were gone. “I cried uncontrollably,” she recalls. “I would sleep, hoping that when I woke up, my legs would somehow be there again. But it never happened.” The emotional pain was overwhelming. She even prayed to die in her sleep, feeling angry and frustrated upon waking each day. In a moment of deep isolation, Amarachi distanced herself from friends, unable to bear seeing them walk freely while she struggled with her new reality.
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However, amidst her darkest days, Amarachi found solace and strength through social media. Spending most of her time on TikTok, she initially sought out comedic videos but soon discovered a woman who had faced similar challenges. The woman’s inspiring words “My condition is who I am. It has come to stay, and there’s nothing I can do about it. So I’ve chosen to be happy” became a turning point for Amarachi. It gave her the strength to embrace her condition and share her own story. The support and encouragement from her growing TikTok community helped Amarachi find healing and begin the journey of rebuilding her life.
The church played a significant role in Amarachi’s early recovery. After learning about her accident, a friend of Amarachi’s reached out to the reverend father at the seminary. In mid March, two priests visited her in the hospital, promising to cover the remaining balance for her surgeries. Amarachi also explained her need for prosthetic legs, and the priests assured her they would help. Reverend Agharandu John in particular made the N1 million payment for the surgery balance.
After Amarachi was discharged, she remained hopeful that the church would follow through on its promise to provide prosthetic legs. However, when she contacted Reverend Agharandu John about the prosthetics, communication broke down. Eventually, she learned that the priest had been transferred, and the new leadership seemed unaware of her case. “I was told the church had done all it could,” Amarachi says, expressing her deep disappointment.
Despite these setbacks, Amarachi remains resolute. She has undergone six surgeries so far, with one more left to go. Unfortunately, her recovery has been complicated by an infection in her leg, which has delayed the final procedure. The cost of the surgery is N1.3 million, and Amarachi’s prosthetic legs are estimated to cost N7 million.
In addition to her physical struggles, Amarachi faces emotional challenges as well. Despite the support she receives from her TikTok community, she also experiences online bullying and discrimination. “When I shared my experience with the reverend father, I received hateful comments,” she says. “Sometimes, I feel deeply ashamed of myself.”
To avoid unwanted attention, Amarachi tries to leave her house early in the morning and return after dark. She uses a wheelchair provided by a kind hospital visitor to move around. Nevertheless, she refuses to let these challenges define her.
Amarachi is determined to regain her independence and provide for her seven year old daughter, who was born before the accident. “I refuse to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair,” she says. “With prosthetic legs, I’ll be able to walk again and live independently. I’m only 23, and I still have a long journey ahead.”
Amarachi is now appealing to people for help, hoping that with the support of kind hearted individuals, she can regain the ability to walk and continue building a future for herself and her daughter. Her journey of resilience and hope continues as she looks ahead to brighter days, powered by her strength and the support of a community that refuses to let her walk alone.
Content Credit: Ohidah Oluwaferanmi
Image Credit: Punchnewspaper.com
