Donation protected
A few years ago, a member of ISI Alumni was involved in a fire accident, and sustained major burns to her body. I have always kept up with her recovery, and was surprised to see that she had not had surgery on the burn areas and the window of successful skin grafts was closing.
I asked what the delay was, and it was a financial one, as the treatment is circa USD $7000. I suggested we go online and raise the money so she can continue her treatment. Below is her touching story. Please donate what you can to help this young lady regain her confidence and self esteem.
"My name is Toyin Balogun. I am from oyo state. A public servant and a believer of Christ. I am daughter, a sister to the most amazing and supportive family ever.
I was involved in a gas explosion accident on the 21st of March, 2016, at a rented apartment where everything including the 2 security doors, POP, burglary proof window, the wardrobe, the walls were destroyed. I was admitted in the hospital for a month at National Hospital at the Burn Centre Intensive care unit. I sustained 35% burns on my face, upper and lower limbs (that is my arms, legs, thighs). I was later transferred to UCH for healing and recovery journey.
While at the hospital, we were told, 90% people even with less percentage of burns even after spending millions to save the patient; don't survive gas explosion; so we should be prayerful. However during my stay at the Hospital, with God's help through the doctors and through intercession from the church, family and colleagues, I knew God has will surely heal me. And true to their words, I saw many victims of the fire accident that were brought in the same time as mine; pass away. That was the real fear.
I have to say that it has made me much more closer to God in the aspect that the devil came for my life but God saved and healed me. The funny thing was that I had a premonition of the accident. I just didn’t know it was going to be so Life changing. My doctor once asked me what has changed after the accident and I told her “Everything”. My perspective and priority shifted after the accident. The world seems smaller. I was given another chance to live. The experience has definitely changed my choice of clothing and my diet.
So far, the love God has for me has been what gives me courage to go on. Believe me when I said there are times when I had suicidal thoughs even months after the accident. I will be like, I can’t continue living like this with all these body pains, itching and the scars. I was permanently on pain killers and antihistamines everyday for almost a year. Then God healed me of the pain I used to feel, when my pastor prayed for me. I didn’t feel the pain any more. The hospital used to tell me that with time, the pain will reduce. Either that or I should learn to live with the pain if I love my kidney. I told myself I cannot continue to live like that. I have had doctors even preach to me that they are just doing their Jobs as doctor but God is the ultimate healer. All these worked for me. My family, church, friends, and colleagues encouraged me but God was the one that kept me going.
I am from Ogbomoso, Oyo State and my dad is a politician. He is basically tried to hide the fact that I had fire accident from his politician friends and was distraught when I went on facebook to testify about God saving me. In his words, he said, "He is highly embarrassed" and so I apologised for embarrassing him but I did it for my peace of mind because not only did I loose my beautiful skin after the accident. I also lost my 2yr plus relationship that i thought was alter bound after the accident and that did a number on my self esteem and I was depressed so I needed closure of some sort. I still have little itches and still on recovery path. But I thank God that they are steady recovery, however slow. This accident has taught me the act of patience. The word, “Time heals all wound” has basically been my key point. So I am allowing time run its course in my healing process. I try to go out in the evenings only because sun rays irritate my scarred skin and may cause severe itching. There was a time I couldn’t even sit because it will be like they poured devil beans on my body, I had to lie down before the itching subsides but now I can comfortably stay in the kitchen and make a meal for myself; with little itching though. I also go to the church to hear from God concerning my situation. These words come to mind. “My light affliction which is just for a moment worketh for me an eternal weight of glory. For I do not look at things (scarred body and itching) which are seen but at things which are not seen. For the things which are seen is temporary (it will go away) but the things which are not seen is eternal”. God always speak to me through different medium and God’s spirit comforts me whenever I feel down. The grace of Jesus has been my sufficiency when I feel down. And resuming work did a lot for me because I have the most amazingly supportive Boss and colleagues. They are there 100% all the way from National Hospital to when I was transferred to Ibadan even up till now that I resumed duties. God bless them.
I added lots of weight (20kg) after the accident because they kept putting me on diets that will aid my healing process. I used to eat 9eggs every day, drink complain drink.. just basically protein, fruit and vegetables. Then when I did a bit of physiotherapy because I had contracture issues. By the time I was healed, I was 80kg. Its been so hard shedding off the weight as I am still on my healing journey even after a year. What people don’t know is that it takes 1 second to destroy and years to build up. Time has been a dependable friend in my journey and no one understands that. All people see is that it’s a year plus after, why are you still 75kg and scarred up. Up till now, I still do follow-up checkup to my consultant on out-patient basis. The consultant in the year 2016 december suggested immediate surgery for me because she thought my scars are unstable and because of the contracture behind my knees that needs loosening as a result of the scar at the joint.
My mum influenced me a lot and my pastors. I allowed her to take total control in my healing process. She was strong 100% for me. Whenever I see her beginning to break down, I man-up and help her feel that you are doing a great Job. Family is everything! Even if I was in pain, I will try my best to make little of it just to encourage her because the worst pain a mother can go through is seeing her child that she trained up to become adult learn how to walk all over again, deal with pain and go through the challenges I went through. My sister also became my Life coach, always preaching to me, encouraging and praying for me.
I always liked trousers growing up but when I became adult, I settled to wearing knee length or above the knee length dresses. Now, Its back to long flowy dresses or loose trouser. I remember telling a friend teary eyed that so I won’t be able to wear knee length gowns again..but she assured me that I can still look “fly” with long dresses.
I am an introvert but I love swimming, gym and sleeping. I cant swim anymore.
I still feel Body pain, itching, Scar contracture by my elbows and knees, Staring from people, And people feeling pity and all. Up until now, If I see anyone I haven’t seen before the accident, I break down in tears. But I have to say the tears, pain and all made me a stronger and more outspoken person.
I see myself going for reconstructive surgery, getting married, having kids and all. I also aim to be a philanthropist in future because I like to help the poor and broken people. I hope I have the ability for that when the time comes. "
I asked what the delay was, and it was a financial one, as the treatment is circa USD $7000. I suggested we go online and raise the money so she can continue her treatment. Below is her touching story. Please donate what you can to help this young lady regain her confidence and self esteem.
"My name is Toyin Balogun. I am from oyo state. A public servant and a believer of Christ. I am daughter, a sister to the most amazing and supportive family ever.
I was involved in a gas explosion accident on the 21st of March, 2016, at a rented apartment where everything including the 2 security doors, POP, burglary proof window, the wardrobe, the walls were destroyed. I was admitted in the hospital for a month at National Hospital at the Burn Centre Intensive care unit. I sustained 35% burns on my face, upper and lower limbs (that is my arms, legs, thighs). I was later transferred to UCH for healing and recovery journey.
While at the hospital, we were told, 90% people even with less percentage of burns even after spending millions to save the patient; don't survive gas explosion; so we should be prayerful. However during my stay at the Hospital, with God's help through the doctors and through intercession from the church, family and colleagues, I knew God has will surely heal me. And true to their words, I saw many victims of the fire accident that were brought in the same time as mine; pass away. That was the real fear.
I have to say that it has made me much more closer to God in the aspect that the devil came for my life but God saved and healed me. The funny thing was that I had a premonition of the accident. I just didn’t know it was going to be so Life changing. My doctor once asked me what has changed after the accident and I told her “Everything”. My perspective and priority shifted after the accident. The world seems smaller. I was given another chance to live. The experience has definitely changed my choice of clothing and my diet.
So far, the love God has for me has been what gives me courage to go on. Believe me when I said there are times when I had suicidal thoughs even months after the accident. I will be like, I can’t continue living like this with all these body pains, itching and the scars. I was permanently on pain killers and antihistamines everyday for almost a year. Then God healed me of the pain I used to feel, when my pastor prayed for me. I didn’t feel the pain any more. The hospital used to tell me that with time, the pain will reduce. Either that or I should learn to live with the pain if I love my kidney. I told myself I cannot continue to live like that. I have had doctors even preach to me that they are just doing their Jobs as doctor but God is the ultimate healer. All these worked for me. My family, church, friends, and colleagues encouraged me but God was the one that kept me going.
I am from Ogbomoso, Oyo State and my dad is a politician. He is basically tried to hide the fact that I had fire accident from his politician friends and was distraught when I went on facebook to testify about God saving me. In his words, he said, "He is highly embarrassed" and so I apologised for embarrassing him but I did it for my peace of mind because not only did I loose my beautiful skin after the accident. I also lost my 2yr plus relationship that i thought was alter bound after the accident and that did a number on my self esteem and I was depressed so I needed closure of some sort. I still have little itches and still on recovery path. But I thank God that they are steady recovery, however slow. This accident has taught me the act of patience. The word, “Time heals all wound” has basically been my key point. So I am allowing time run its course in my healing process. I try to go out in the evenings only because sun rays irritate my scarred skin and may cause severe itching. There was a time I couldn’t even sit because it will be like they poured devil beans on my body, I had to lie down before the itching subsides but now I can comfortably stay in the kitchen and make a meal for myself; with little itching though. I also go to the church to hear from God concerning my situation. These words come to mind. “My light affliction which is just for a moment worketh for me an eternal weight of glory. For I do not look at things (scarred body and itching) which are seen but at things which are not seen. For the things which are seen is temporary (it will go away) but the things which are not seen is eternal”. God always speak to me through different medium and God’s spirit comforts me whenever I feel down. The grace of Jesus has been my sufficiency when I feel down. And resuming work did a lot for me because I have the most amazingly supportive Boss and colleagues. They are there 100% all the way from National Hospital to when I was transferred to Ibadan even up till now that I resumed duties. God bless them.
I added lots of weight (20kg) after the accident because they kept putting me on diets that will aid my healing process. I used to eat 9eggs every day, drink complain drink.. just basically protein, fruit and vegetables. Then when I did a bit of physiotherapy because I had contracture issues. By the time I was healed, I was 80kg. Its been so hard shedding off the weight as I am still on my healing journey even after a year. What people don’t know is that it takes 1 second to destroy and years to build up. Time has been a dependable friend in my journey and no one understands that. All people see is that it’s a year plus after, why are you still 75kg and scarred up. Up till now, I still do follow-up checkup to my consultant on out-patient basis. The consultant in the year 2016 december suggested immediate surgery for me because she thought my scars are unstable and because of the contracture behind my knees that needs loosening as a result of the scar at the joint.
My mum influenced me a lot and my pastors. I allowed her to take total control in my healing process. She was strong 100% for me. Whenever I see her beginning to break down, I man-up and help her feel that you are doing a great Job. Family is everything! Even if I was in pain, I will try my best to make little of it just to encourage her because the worst pain a mother can go through is seeing her child that she trained up to become adult learn how to walk all over again, deal with pain and go through the challenges I went through. My sister also became my Life coach, always preaching to me, encouraging and praying for me.
I always liked trousers growing up but when I became adult, I settled to wearing knee length or above the knee length dresses. Now, Its back to long flowy dresses or loose trouser. I remember telling a friend teary eyed that so I won’t be able to wear knee length gowns again..but she assured me that I can still look “fly” with long dresses.
I am an introvert but I love swimming, gym and sleeping. I cant swim anymore.
I still feel Body pain, itching, Scar contracture by my elbows and knees, Staring from people, And people feeling pity and all. Up until now, If I see anyone I haven’t seen before the accident, I break down in tears. But I have to say the tears, pain and all made me a stronger and more outspoken person.
I see myself going for reconstructive surgery, getting married, having kids and all. I also aim to be a philanthropist in future because I like to help the poor and broken people. I hope I have the ability for that when the time comes. "
Organizer
Mark Caulker
Organizer
England