I have been following Jerry Ihejirika’s project management blog for some time now. Partly because he is interesting and writes beautifully, but also because I love to keep up with what’s going on in project management around the world. His Project Management for Africa initiative has been supported by me in a small way. Jerry shares his story about how an accident changed his life and how he doesn’t fear following his dreams.
Jerry IhejirikaWe all desire to have beautiful bodies, a job or a great position in a dream organization, a successful career, and to spend time with our loved ones. We want to inspire others, help them succeed, and make the world a better environment.
Many people dream of living this life, but only a few actually live it. How do you manage your diet and how often do exercise to maintain a beautiful body? Are you able to find the right job or a great position at your dream company? Are you able to use your creativity, drive, and dedication to build a successful career? How much time can you afford to spend with your family and loved ones each day, week, month, or year? Are you able to inspire others to success? What can you do to make the world a better place to live? Or are they just fantasies?
It’s great to dream, but only a few people can live out their dreams in the real world. Are you in agreement?
Let me tell you my life story.
How I got a broken leg
On my way to the mandatory CDS (Community Development Service), for Corps members in March 2015, I was struck by a motorcycle. It wasn’t an okada (often called someone driving a motorcycle commercially in Nigeria), but a private individual (a public servant) working in the same Local Government Secretariat I was posted.
Because it was on a narrow street, I was already at its end when I saw the motorcycle approaching me from behind. I was walking along the side of the road when I saw the same motorcycle coming from behind me. I tried to flee, but the motorcycle caught my right leg and broken it. Because my fibula and tibia were broken, it was an open fracture. This was the moment I realized that my NYSC service was over.
I had no choice but to endure the intense pains and think about my future for the next five weeks. After passing the physiotherapy test, the external fixation that was placed on my leg to keep the bones in tact was removed. A fibre cast was put on and I was released from the Federal Teaching Hospital (former Federal Medical Centre), Ido-Ekiti.
After being discharged, I traveled to Lagos for my regular check-ups. Igbobi’s first x-ray revealed bad news. My bones were badly misaligned, so I had to have another surgery to correct it.
I was so disappointed, so angry, and so sad that I was told that I would need to have another surgery. I was aware of the risks, severe pains, and discomforts that I would have again, as well as the time and money that I would need to spend. Igbobi’s orthopaedic physicians said they could manage it, but I was unsure if I would have another surgery in a government or public hospital.
I was admitted to a private hospital in Lagos in June 2015 for my second operation. Although it was expensive, it was not cheap in any of the other public hospitals in Nigeria.
After my surgery was over, an external fixation was placed on my leg. I experienced a lot of discomforts, stress, and pains for the next three years. My leg was placed in a fibre cast and the external fixation was removed. I wore it for five months. The cas
How I got a broken leg, thought deeply about my career and focused more on my passion
