The death of Chisom Chukwuneke, a brilliant student who had 7 A1s in the 2019 WAEC examination, came as a shock to Nigerians. Her father has now paid a touching tribute.
In his tribute, Felix Chukwuneke explained that his daughter’s illness started as just a leg pain that “snowballed to a devastating episode”.
Sharing numerous photos of his daughter, including playful photos of them together, the bereaved father wrote:
He said she was in so much pain and because of the poor health facilities in Nigeria, he took her to South Africa. He disclosed that she “battled for more than a year” in South Africa before she died.
ANGELIC EXIT OF A GENIUS
Just like a dream.
But the realities are crystal now
Just a pain on the leg.
That snowballed to a devastating episode,
The battle started earnestly
I hear you call daddy my leg is paining me.
I watch as you lie abed with pains
As restless and worried as I can be,
I promised to do everything humanly possible
With glaring poor health care in Nigeria
off we went to South Africa.
We were happy at your initial recovery.
Not knowing the war was just to begin
We fought it together for more than a year in SA,
You were an embodiment of intelligence of inestimable value
Above all an indefatigable personality
Courageous in the face of glaring uncertainty.
You were strong and philosophical
My strength and motivation even in sickness
You wanted your dad freed while you go on to rest,
In the bosom of our Lord
Where there is no more pain
You spoke in parables about a special gift 10 days earlier,
and left a day to my birthday.
Never did I know your special birthday gift,
You promised was your Glorious exit.
You exhibited your virtuoso and dazzling intellects,
to the bewilderment of the doctors at Wits Donald Gordon Hospital Parktown Johannesburg South Africa
Today your name is written in Gold over there.
Like a shining light in the tunnel,
having a dream for an African Child,
with less privilege and opportunity like you,
to access good health care.
This your dream I must ensure
Forever the strong one’s been you.
Physically no more but everywhere with us
We are with you, you are with us
Farewell to His glory Enyinnia
Daddy’s Girl
always in our hearts,
you will remain.
