By Chinenye Festus:-
It was a sad story of pains and sorrow, the painful exit of a rare gem, she left the world in her very prime. This is the story of one Chisom Chukwuneke, a Seventeen-year-old girl who participated in the 2019 West African Secondary School Certificate (WASSCE) and came out as the best candidate with Seven distinctions (A1s).
The news of her demise is making rounds in social media as people mourn the loss of a brilliant mind. It was reported that she died after a battle with blood cancer also known as leukaemia.
Blood cancer is a disease that occurs when abnormal blood cells start growing out of control, interrupting the function of normal blood cells, which fight off infection and produce new blood cells.
This Facebook post announced her demise and her father also confirmed it with a touching tribute;
The post reads:
“Forever in our hearts! Only a moment you stayed, but what an imprint you left in our Hall of Fame,” her school, Graceland College in Enugu said in a statement on its Facebook page confirming her demise. “A truly outstanding student! Rest In Peace Chisom!”
The father of the deceased identified as Felix Chukwuneke who also confirmed the sad news via his Facebook page said She died on October, 18th, 2020 in South Africa.
“Just like a dream but the realities are crystal now. Just a pain on the leg that snowballed to a devastating episode, the battle started earnestly. I hear you call, ‘daddy my leg is paining me’. I watch as you lie abed with pain,” the father, a lecturer, began in his tribute to the daughter.
“As restless and worried as I can be, I promised to do everything humanly possible. With glaring poor health care in Nigeria. Off we went to South Africa. We were happy at your initial recovery, not knowing the war was just to begin.
“We fought it together for more than a year in SA. You were an embodiment of intelligence of inestimable value. Above all an indefatigable personality, courageous in the face of glaring uncertainty. You were strong, philosophical.
“My strength even in sickness, you wanted your dad freed while you go on to rest. In the bosom of our Lord where there is no more pain. You spoke in parables about a special gift 10 days earlier and left a day to my birthday.
“Never did I know the gift you promised was your glorious exit. You exhibited virtuoso and dazzling intellects to the bewilderment of the doctors at Wits Donald Gordon Hospital, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa.”