Writing with Juliet Iwelunmor

When my Papa died, I wanted to die with him. He was the first man I loved, the first man who loved me just as I am, the first man who helped cement storytelling in me, the first man who reminded me always of my name. His death was the second death of a close family member I had ever experienced. My grandmother’s was the first and together they both remind me of how life is fleeting. Angie’s and my nephew’s death would increase the list, alongside my favorite uncle and aunties that have since gone home. One, aunty Helen is the reason why I feel inspired to do work at home. She was the first to truly chastise me for speaking too much. She did so by squeezing my belly button until I kept quiet. There are uncles too that treated me like a princess. One actually described me as his mother reincarnated and would literally make me feel like heaven whenever I was in his presence. These deaths are a reminder that life truly is fleeting and so cherish every day like it’s your last as it just maybe.

I am forever heartbroken by deaths that continue unabated in Nigeria. Just today, I learnt about the story of John who died after a short battle with liver cancer caused by Hepatitis B. There was also the story of Stella whose story I didn’t mean to pry but was moved by the spirit to call her sister who went on to narrate how Stella died from cervical cancer. Today, we began the second week of our change challenge bootcamp. Two weeks dedicated to training the next generation of scholars determined to end cervical and liver cancer in Nigeria. We have a long long way to go but these memories of so many loved ones gone, fuels us and together, I hope we fight to end cancer as we know it in Nigeria so that the death of our loved ones will never be in vain. I look forward to all the ways these scholars think outside the box with ending cancer.