"Finally Our Beautiful Sister Angela Akoji is At Peace With Her Maker: Angela passed peacefully today Sunday December 18, 2016 at the National Hospital, Abuja after a strong fight against breast cancer.As I type this eulogy, am still in denial. I have never really accepted the fact that Angel had breast cancer, knowing that the absolute risk of women less than 30 years is less than 1% or 0.44% or 1 per 4,000 women. Why Angel?
For the past 8 months I wake up every morning and every night with thoughts of Angel on my mind. As I do my daily rituals – I think of Angel and what I would say on this day. Not that I gave up hope, – Angel’s strength and drive to stay alive for her family would never let me do that, but I know that the prognosis is not good and I wanted to remember Angel in life – not the crushing day we have today.
When she had a mastectomy – shortly after the Oncologist brought the shocking news that the tumour had metastasized to the left breast. Initial prognosis was she had 2-3 months. She held on for 8 months. I was so taken by Angel’s fighting spirit and driven disposition.
I speak to, “Angel – you are truly, truly amazing. If anyone can, you can accomplish amazing things with your fight. But then, what can I do to help other than send positive thoughts to you.”
What I learned from this whole ordeal is that we need to find a little good in even the bad days. Angel was jovial and always find something good about each day. And honoring my dear sister, I am going to find some good in this most painful day. The good I find is the gift of the last year. No it was not enough, not nearly enough, but we got some extra time. Extra time to say I love you to each other a lot more than we ever had. Don’t wait to tell someone you love them. Don’t wait to show and express that love.
Angel was actively seeking inspiration this past year. Once again, unselfish Angel. Not calling attention to her battle. Just very happy to hear the good things happening in other’s lives. Sometimes it’s the smallest things in life that bring us the most joy. It can be as simple as a shared laugh or a warm smile.
It was grace that brought us this far. How you climb up the mountain is just as imperative as how you get down the mountain in the end. It all comes down to one word…GRACE
It was grace that gave us the courage and acceptance: To surrender our worries and accept what is beyond our control and to know peace.
In our trying times as a family, love is the greatest gift we can give to ourselves. Love is all that truly matters.
Angel showed us that our time in this world is not for self indulgence and looking for gratitude. It is about being there for one another and by doing so making this world a better place.
Today is painful because we lost an awesome daughter, sister, friend. But if we are to make some sense of what is really incomprehensible as a family in this trying times, we should all keep Angel alive in our lives. We should take who she was, what she stood for and learn from it and honor Angel by keeping her in our memories and in our heart.
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For all of those who have touched her life and shown Angela love and support, most especially Emmanuella and everyone who stood by our dear sister until this day, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have been there for Angel more than I have been there for her. I cannot thank you enough. You will never be forgotten. Love to all.
Farewell dearest Angel, never to see one another any more till at the right hand of Christ.
Adios
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