By Gbenga Osinaike
The founder of the Warri-based Word of Life Bible Church, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has given a deeper, behind-the-scenes insight into the grueling journey that saw him battling cancer.swveral.months ago.
He gave the account in a video shared online and monitored by Church Times.
From his.account.which is a follow up the the much publicised news about his cancer experience, he said the situation tested his faith, his finances, and the loyalty of his inner circle
The former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) revealed that behind the public victory lay a series of intense medical hurdles, as much as $120,000 USD bill, and a display of devotion by one of his associates that defied hospital protocols.
Oritsejafor said after doctors in the US delivered the verdict that he had cancer they asked him to return in three months before they could begin treatment, as intervening at that time was deemed potentially risky.
He returned to Nigeria and attended a major programme at his church called Jubilee. While there, he noted that many people had no idea he was battling cancer. “I was in pain, but I was still doing my best for God. There was cancer in my body. I was laughing, I was smiling,” said Pastor Oritsejafor
Back to the US for treatment
After the programme, he traveled back to the US to meet with his doctors. One of his associates, named Bayo, insisted on traveling with him despite his advice against it.
Upon arriving in the US, the doctors ran another test on him to ensure the cancer had not spread to his bones.
Fortunately, the results showed that it had not. The medical team immediately began treatments, including surgeries that lasted for months. However, in the course treatment, they discovered another medical condition in his body that could not be explained.
There were initial plans to wheel him into the theatre for another surgery, but an older doctor counseled against it. The physician warned that if Oritsejafor underwent another surgery, he would die. Instead, the doctor recommended two different antibiotics; the second one worked perfectly and cleared the infection.
Throughout the treatment, the pastor remained isolated in his room. Anyone who entered had to wear full protective gear from head to toe to prevent potential contamination.
While everyone else covered up, his associate, Bayo, refused to. He stayed in the room, sleeping on the floor. When doctors ordered him to leave, he refused, telling them, “This is my pastor. I can’t leave him and go anywhere.”
As God would have it, Pastor Oritsejafor’s health began to improve by the day. By the time the doctors concluded the treatment, he was fully fit—though he had lost a significant amount of weight.
More food
To regain his weight, he was advised to eat six times a day and was told he could eat whatever he craved.
That was a luxury he never expected.
Oritsejafor began eating as directed, and since he loved pork, he consumed a lot of it. However, when the doctors found out, they cautioned him, explaining that the instruction to eat anything did not include pork.
Now feeling better and full of gratitude, Oritsejafor informed that he returned home after spending about four months receiving cancer treatment in the US, adding that his total medical bill came to about $120,000 USD.