Nigerian Medical Doctor and Storyteller, Chinonso Egemba, better known as Aproko Doctor has expressed gratitude for surviving a brain surgery, stating that the scars are a testament to life.
Speaking on News Central TV’s Breakfast Xtra on Saturday, the medical doctor who also creates health content on social media said his brain surgery made him more empathetic towards the health plight of others.
“Before I came on the show (Breakfast Xtra), I told myself that I am so happy I have these scars that remind me of how blessed I am to be alive.
“We take living for granted. And it takes to come close to that to actually realise that none of us are guaranteed time here.
“That is why we need to keep doing what we are doing with much intensity because tomorrow is not promised.
“It [surgery experience] also gave me a perspective on how to let people tell their stories. I mean it’s a brain surgery, why are you going ahead to tell it? I mean I could have kept it and nobody would have known, if we are being serious.
“The videos were just coming out and nobody knew I was going through that. But then when I see people going through these health conditions, I encourage them to tell their story.
“Most importantly for me, one of the things that [the surgery] did was to improve the confidence that the people have in the Nigerian health care system,” he said.
Aproko Doctor also encouraged people to share their health stories to help prevent stigma associated with certain conditions, as well as raise awareness about them.
He added that anyone willing to tell their story, could reach him privately on his social media platforms.
News Central reports that in January 2023, Aproko Doctor opened up about his battle with Craniopharyngioma, a brain tumour, and how he went through surgery to have the tumour removed.
“Throughout December of 2022, I was fighting for my life. I went blind in one eye on the 3rd of December 2022 and on the 5th, I was diagnosed with a brain tumour,” he said in a video posted on his Facebook page.
“They said it is a Craniopharyngioma and we need to do surgery to remove it,” the doctor disclosed.