Seeing my father break down in tears over my condition was heartbreaking – Amputee

Oluwatosin Jegede, who was born with a rare condition that left her without a tibia bone in her right leg and underwent a life-changing amputation as a child, speaks with TEMITOPE ADETUNJI about her journey, resilience and life after amputation How did you lose your leg? I was born with Type 3 Tibial Hemimelia, a rare condition in which the tibia bone is missing, accompanied by polydactyly in my right lower limb. At birth, my parents were ready to proceed with an amputation, but the medical team advised waiting until I was older before making such a major decision. By the time I was six, the affected limb had become increasingly heavy and painful. Even walking the short distance to primary school felt like a marathon. My parents realised that medical intervention could no longer be delayed, but the cost of specialised orthopaedic surgery was beyond what we could afford. We turned to prayer, and unexpectedly, a visitor at my church told my mother about a government-sponsored free healthcare initiative, the Tinubu Free Healthcare Programme. Although registration for that year had closed, we now knew there was a possible path to getting the surgery I needed. How did you react when the doctors told you that an amputation was necessary? In 2006, we were enrolled in the healthcare initiative and began medical evaluations. X-rays showed that delaying the amputation could cause severe and permanent damage to my spinal cord because of the physical imbalance. At that point, I knew the amputation was necessary for my long-term health. We started preparations at LASUTH, but when we were expecting a surgery date, the doctor told my father that the hospital could not proceed because it lacked the specialised equipment required. Seeing my father break down in tears was heartbreaking. We returned home devastated, but I refused to give up. I began fasting and praying, trusting that a solution would come. What happened next? In 2007, my father received a call that the equipment had arrived. Because of the complexity of my case, I was transferred to LUTH, Idi-Araba. The doctors explained that the procedure carried a 50/50 survival and success rate, and my parents had to sign high-risk consent forms. In February 2007, at exactly 10 am, I was wheeled into the theatre. I woke up to a successful surgery, and remarkably, the surgical site healed completely within three weeks. I also received my first prosthetic limb. It represented freedom, independence and answered prayers. What was your first experience like after the amputation, particularly the first time you looked at yourself and realised that you had changed physically? Waking up after surgery was a relief, but adjusting to life on one leg was a completely new experience. I had to learn to use crutches and adapt to daily routines. The first time I looked at myself after the procedure, I struggled to recognise myself. Growing up, seeing an amputee was rare, and during my hospital stays, seeing other amputees had always frightened me. Suddenly, I was one of them. I experienced sadness, fear and disbelief and wondered how I would explain my new reality to people. However, I was also grateful because the painful, heavy limb was gone and the threat of spinal complications had been prevented. Eventually, I realised that although my body had changed, my identity had not. Learning to live with my new body became a journey of emotional resilience and self-acceptance.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on Google How did the experience affect you emotionally and psychologically, particularly during the early stages of adjusting to life after the amputation? The adjustment was difficult, especially socially. After my incision healed, my mother transferred me to a new primary school where nobody knew me. She instructed me not to tell anyone that I had been amputated. I understand her decision now. She was trying to protect me from rejection and discrimination, but as a child, carrying that secret was overwhelming. I wore long skirts to hide my prosthesis while other girls wore shorter uniforms. Students noticed my limp and some bullied me. Others gathered around me during break and prayed for me to stand and walk “normally”. I wanted to explain that I was an amputee, but I remained silent because of my mother’s instruction. That period taught me resilience and forced me to become comfortable with who I was, even when people around me did not understand my reality. During your journey after the amputation, did anyone ever say something about your condition that was particularly painful or insensitive? How did you deal with it? People have said a lot, both to me and my parents, but I have thick skin. I value my peace of mind, so I don’t allow hurtful comments to remain with me. I simply move on. How did your family and close friends respond to what happened to you? My family has always been my anchor. When the doctors told my parents the surgery was 50/50, they held my hand and told me, “Oluwatosin, you know you are God’s favourite, and I want you to know you’ll come out of that theatre alive.” After the amputation, I didn’t have friends. In secondary school, I sometimes gave people my lunch money or food just so they would be my friends. At the university, I knew I didn’t want to repeat that cycle. I prayed for a true friend and met Atinuke Sonaike in 200-level. We have been friends for 10 years, and she has never been ashamed to call me her friend. My mother also kept me indoors because she feared rejection and discrimination. When I went out, I often wore long, flowing gowns to cover up. That affected my social life. One day, I told my father I was nervous about attending an event. He said, “If the world refuses to walk with you, I’ll walk with you. I’m your father.” That gave me tremendous assurance that I was not alone. Enugu flood kills two children, submerges 14 villages Family tackles LASUTH: Our brother died after six-hour delay My husband’s death turned me into a prison minister — 84-year-old retired teacher Some church members also encouraged me and showed me Nick Vujicic’s videos. However, my family and best friend remain my greatest support system. As you began adjusting to life with one leg, what everyday challenges did you have to deal with? Moving around with crutches can be difficult, particularly when crossing wide roads or using pedestrian bridges. I sometimes develop painful boils underneath my armpits, making it impossible to use my crutches. Recently, I had one as large as an orange and needed medication and injections. I have a prosthesis, but I currently cannot use it because my thigh keeps growing. Even if I could, having a personal car would make mobility much easier. Another challenge is the way people stare. When I first went to the market, people stared at me, although some eventually complimented me and said things like, “She’s so beautiful.” As for confidence, I think you are actually talking to me. Because my amputation happened when I was young, I don’t see it as something that should limit me. You have continued to share aspects of your life on TikTok. What made you decide not to hide your amputation? There is nothing to hide. I realised that my story could give someone else hope. At first, I didn’t know how people would react, but I eventually understood that there was nothing about me to be ashamed of. I share my life on TikTok to show that being an amputee is only one part of who I am. I can still be beautiful, confident and successful and pursue my dreams. My TikTok name is Oholuwahtosyn. If someone sees my story and feels encouraged to accept themselves or believe in their future again, then sharing my experience is worthwhile. You are now a perfume business owner. How did you get into the perfume business? After completing an internship with MTN, I stayed at home waiting for the next opportunity. My sister kept encouraging me to start a business because she noticed my natural marketing ability, but I was determined to build a corporate career. When job applications stalled and my savings dwindled, I knew I had to do something. I didn’t want to sell clothes, so I chose fragrance because smelling good and looking neat had always been important to me. With N120,000, I bought my first batch of perfumes. I marketed them on WhatsApp and carried my products everywhere, even selling to church members on Sundays. Within one week, I sold out the entire N120,000 stock. That was when I realised it could become more than a side hustle. Today, I am building Scent_by_Oholuwahtosyn with the motto, ‘Unleash Your Confidence.’ I am trusting God for the capital to grow it into a major brand. What has running your business been like as a woman living with a disability? It has been empowering. Thankfully, I haven’t really experienced people underestimating my ability because of my disability. Instead, I have received encouragement from people who see my ability beyond my physical condition. Capital remains a challenge because buying my perfume oils directly would give me better profit margins, but I have never seen my amputation as a reason to limit myself. I go to the market myself to source perfumes, and the business has strengthened my confidence. It has shown me that I can build something of my own, serve customers and pursue my goals like anyone else. Has your experience changed the way you see yourself, your abilities and your future? Yes. Having an amputation at such a young age forced me to discover a strength I didn’t know I possessed. I learnt that losing my leg did not mean losing myself. I still have dreams, ambitions and much more to offer. Resilience, to me, is not pretending everything is fine. It is allowing yourself to feel the pain, picking yourself up and choosing to keep going. Today, I look at myself with pride. What I went through could have broken me, but instead, it made me stronger, more confident and more determined. Looking at the woman you are today compared with who you were before the amputation, what are you most proud of? I am most proud of how far I have come emotionally and mentally. I faced pain, rejection and difficult moments but still chose to keep going. I am proud that losing a limb did not make me lose myself. I have learnt to embrace who I am and understand that my disability does not determine my worth or future. I am still determined to grow in my career, get a job, build a meaningful life and use my story to support others living with disabilities. I also want to advocate for inclusion and show society that amputees are capable, beautiful, ambitious and deserving of opportunities. Temitope Adetunji Temitope Adetunji is a journalist at Punch Newspapers who specialises in human-interest storytelling. She brings years of experience in online journalism into her work, having transitioned into print reporting with a strong digital foundation. Temitope is passionate about amplifying real-life narratives and highlighting the lived experiences that shape everyday people. Her reporting reflects hands-on newsroom experience, empathy-driven storytelling, and a commitment to accurate, people-centred journalism.

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