Soar to be the world celebrated neurosurgeon?

Who would ever think I would ever soar to be the world celebrated neurosurgeon?

Who would have ever whispered to my ears my destiny of separating a siamese twin which was impossible for most of the renowned neurosurgeons in the whole of America?

My exit from Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos was seconded by anxious journalists fighting their way to get me interviewed; the flashes of light from the different cameramen and the jeer from the joyful crowd overwhelmed with joy.

Tears of mixed emotion dribbled down my eyes as I recalled the event surrounding my recent feat.

I remembered vividly the happiness that oozed from me as I ran happily to dad to break the news of my admission as a medical student at the prestigious University of Ibadan.

The way he wrinkled his face in disgust made me think I took the wrong decision by informing him. With his hands akimbo, he looked straight into my eyes and said:

"Why are you wasting your time Helen? I told you that I won't waste even the least of my money on your tertiary education immediately you left secondary school. Many influential suitors have solicited for your hand in marriage, what did you do? You practically turned them down with the stupid excuse that you want to further education first. Training you in school is watering another man's garden because you will end up in another man's house. Your education will end in the kitchen. Allow your male siblings to acquire education as the breadwinners of their different houses. They will come back to my house with their families, but you will face your family and forget me. Just go and marry. Your mum flouted my order by paying your UTME fee. Since she wants to carry the burden, let her carry it to the finish."


 Dad's remark threw me in a state of hopelessness.  I stared at my father with bloodshot eyes. My eyes transmitted my vow to make it without him. I swore in his face to never give up in my dream of becoming a medical doctor.

Oh yes! Mum proved daddy wrong by seeing me through school. But death came knocking at her door two years after my graduation. Oh, death! Where is your power? Mum wasn't alive to see me become what she wanted.

I know daddy must be wallowing in guilt as he watched me being interviewed from his television. I could feel his pang of guilt. Oh yes, I proved to dad that furthering a female's education was not watering another man's garden. It wasn't going to end in the kitchen. It was opening the door to her excellence.