Did you ever think that a pregnancy-related complication could cause a woman to lose one of her legs? Well, that was the story of Lydia Ofaribea, a hairstylist who became pregnant in her late 20s.
She said she was a young lady who had high hopes for the future when she finished her training and started working, optimistic of doing well like others in the business, until she became pregnant.
” I had swollen feet, but I didn’t see it as anything life-threatening,” she said. “In my ninth month, one evening, I felt very feverish, and my right leg more swollen from the ankle to the knee, and suddenly blisters were forming, as if hot water had poured on my leg.” She disclosed this in an interview at Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region.
The now 47-year-old said what worsened the situation was that she resided in the outskirts of town, which made it difficult for her to easily access medical care frequently throughout the period of pregnancy and even resulted in the loss of the baby. She said it was a devastating moment for her as she battled the loss of a baby, ill health, and even her partner abandoned her.
According to the resident of Ablekuma, she noticed that her skin was peeling off, causing a painful sore on her foot and what was more disturbing was that, despite a series of tests and medical attention, her condition did not improve.
Ms. Ofaribea disclosed that, for about 18 years, she had to endure the pain of dealing with the sore, which put a heavy burden on her finances and overall well-being.
“What was more worrying was that even the series of tests could not tell what the exact cause of the problem was.” She said that, with every day coming with unpleasant surprises, she was finally advised by a medical team to have the leg amputated.
“I couldn’t believe it when they suggested that because I had thought of going for plastic surgery. I was shocked,” she said. “I was hoping that things would get better, but I was wrong.” She questioned how realistic it was to have continued living with a condition that made her unhappy and restless for years.
In 2015, the trader and evangelist said she made the painful decision to have her leg amputated.
She said, interestingly, a year after she became physically disabled, she met a man who proposed marriage and so she got married.
She said she noticed her fiancé saw beyond her physical disability, which convinced her he would make a good husband for her.
“I didn’t want to be married out of pity, and I also didn’t want to be disrespected by my spouse or his family and I found that in him” she said.
The 47-year-old said unlike her, she had noticed over the years that, some potential spouses gave the impression that marrying Persons With Disability (PWD) meant they were doing them (PWDs) a favor, which she described as unacceptable.
She observed that sometimes, unfortunately, PWDs themselves looked down on themselves, making it easy for others to do the same. “But I don’t, and I do not allow disrespect. No way!” She stated.
“Because of my husband, I know that when the right time comes, you will find a partner who will love you just the way you are,” she said.
She said that because she used crutches and sometimes had a challenge with her balance, her husband helped her with tasks she could not do easily.
” Also, he prevents people from being rude to me because of my disability. He treats me with respect” she said and encouraged other women with physical disabilities not to accept disrespect just because they wanted to be married.
Ms Ofaribea also cautioned that being physically disabled was not an excuse to be lazy as she revealed that, she had always been a hardworking person who even went about selling her goods with the help of crutches.
Thankfully, she said she has a prosthetic leg now, which facilitates her swift movement, makes her disability less visible and has made her more independent.
Based on her experience with pregnancy complications, she advised women to take their antenatal care seriously so that any unusual developments could be dealt with in time to save both mother and child.
Clearly, Ms Ofaribea’s story serves as a powerful reminder that one can pull through life’s challenges with resilience, determination, and the right support. Her journey also highlights the importance of self-love, acceptance, and seeking medical care during pregnancy.
As the 47-year-old continues to thrive, her experience inspires others to face their challenges head-on and never give up hope because there is life at the end of the tunnel.
