How I Survived Ebolavirus by Dr. Ada Igonoh

How I Survived Ebolavirus by Dr. Ada Igonoh

Tuesday, September 16, 2014 11:16 pm


We were conveyed to the new place in an ambulance. It was just behind the old building. Time would not permit me to recount the drama involved with the dynamics of our relocation. It was like a script from a science fiction movie. The new building was cleaner and much better than the old building. Towels and nightwear were provided on each bed. The environment was serene.

The following night, Dr. Adadevoh was moved to our isolation ward from her private room where she had previously been receiving treatment. She had also tested positive for Ebola and was now in a coma. She was receiving I.V. fluids and oxygen support and was being monitored closely by the W.H.O doctors. We all hoped and prayed that she would come out of it. It was so difficult seeing her in that state. I could not bear it. She was my consultant, my boss, my teacher and my mentor. She was the imperial lady of First Consultants, full of passion, energy and competence. I imagined she would wake up soon and see that she was surrounded by her First Consultants family but sadly it was not to be.

I continued listening to my healing messages. They gave me life. I literarily played them hours on end. Two days later, on Saturday the 16th of August, the W.H.O doctors came with some papers. I was informed that the result of my blood test was negative for Ebola virus. If I could somersault, I would have but my joints were still slightly painful. I was free to go home after being in isolation for exactly 14 days. I was so full of thanks and praise to God. I called my mother to get fresh clothes and slippers and come pick me. My husband couldn’t stop shouting when I called him. He was completely overwhelmed with joy.

I was told however that I could not leave the ward with anything I came in with. I glanced one last time at my cd player, my valuable messages, my research assistant a.k.a my iPad, my phones and other items. I remember saying to myself, “I have life; I can always replace these items.”

I went for a chlorine bath, which was necessary to disinfect my skin from my head to my toes. It felt like I was being baptized into a new life as Dr. Carolina, a W.H.O doctor from Argentina poured the bucket of chlorinated water all over me. I wore a new set of clothes, following the strict instructions that no part of the clothes must touch the floor and the walls. Dr. Carolina looked on, making sure I did as instructed.

I was led out of the bathroom and straight to the lawn to be united with my family, but first I had to cut the red ribbon that served as a barrier. It was a symbolic expression of my freedom. Everyone cheered and clapped. It was a little but very important ceremony for me. I was free from Ebola! I hugged my family as one who had been liberated after many years of incarceration. I was like someone who had fought death face to face and come back to the land of the living.

We had to pass through several stations of disinfection before we reached the car. Bleach and chlorinated water were sprayed on everyone’s legs at each station. As we made our way to the car, we walked past the old isolation building. I could hardly recognize it. I could not believe I slept in that building for 10 days. I was free! Free of Ebola. Free to live again. Free to interact with humanity again. Free from the sentence of death.


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19 Comments

  • dimosso says:

    Ooh! That was great!! Thanks God, praise the Lord.

  • goca vic says:

    Jesus is indeed the final answer to all issues and problems.

  • felixoti says:

    Now is the time to take Dr. David’s advise and go into infectious disease specialization

  • abankula says:

    Publishers, filmmakers have a non-fiction thriller in their hands. Never knew a medical doctor could demonstrate such a marvellous writing skill, penning an unputdownable account of a near death experience. Ada, you are simply great. And congrats that you shamed Ebola to tell your story.

  • Truly says:

    The Doctors treat but God heals. By his stripes you ‘WERE’ healed Ada. God bless and keep you. Amen.

  • Emmanuel Harrison says:

    Praise God. The power of death is broken. This is a clear testimony that this deadly seemingly in curable disease can be conquered. Hallelujah. I am particularly grateful to God for Nigeria. Inspite of all the happenings, I am greatly proud to be a Nigerian! Thank God for deliverance and recovery. I pray that this affliction or similar one will not come to Nigeria again.

  • M.Y says:

    Your faith in God and work (i.e. drinking the ORS even when you felt like not) saved you, you are alive for a testimony……who say there is no God? i thank God for your life

  • ajisegiri says:

    Congratulations ! You sailed through.
    God is of a truth faithful. Faith works, works wonders. I commend your brave attitude and your faith that you put to work via meditation and research. Not loosing hope when passing through the valley of the shadow of death. God bless all those that stood by you too.
    To God alone be all the glory.

  • Lolade Saliu says:

    hmmm, wat a story….at some point my eyes got all misty, am so touched by your bravery. i have learnt so much. But one thing i understand is that ORT or not ORT your getting better and overcoming this disease is nobody’s doing other than God. he is a great healer… you said so yourself u had just minimal contact, the case of a boy who was in a room with an ebola patient and never contacted d disease…its amazing but in all i thank God for you. congrats

  • ksquare says:

    i appreciate your write-up. one, you never attributed your survival to act of magic as claimed by many miracle preachers. God made you follow the rule of consuming the ort as prescribed by the medical experts and this allowed time for the natural immunity re-growth. Miracle do exist but awareness and knowledge is also needed. maybe that’s why God didn’t create man a robot.

  • Josie says:

    Dr Ada, your faith healed. We thank God for you giving you a new life. In your situation, you were not selfish in your thoughts, you still were concerned about your family at home, ensuring that no one went into your room. You did not give up hope, you prayed, researched, encouraged others and emerged victorious. I am so proud of all the staff of 1st Consultant medical centre, God delivered Nigerians from this deadly virus through your staff. May the good Lord that delivered you all from this deadly virus continue to guide, guard and protect you all. I am so proud of the medical team at the hospital , it was a great loss – the death of Dr Adadevoh, Nurse Justina and Mrs Okoh. May they rest in perfect peace Amen.

  • Tony says:

    This is quite a story. Ada Igonoh you are my hero. I am so sorry about your friends and colleagues this terrible horrible incident took. I am so ashamed of Patrick Sawyer for his
    selfish recklessness that endangered so many.

    Ada your testimony revives my faith in humanity. Your selfless consideration in the midst of
    despair and imminent dissolution, how did you even gather your thoughts to warn your mother to barricade folks from entering your room at that point as you did…facing your mortality but thinking of others.

    Mankind is better because of people like you. How you and your friends at First Consultants Medical Centre are not accorded world recognition for how you guys navigated
    through this incident leaves one wondering.

    We could easily be talking about tens and hundreds of thousands in a population like Lagos has it not been for you and your friends. This is why I would hope that Churchill’s
    quote that never in the history of man has so much been owed by so many to so
    few is really proper here.

    I wish our path would cross so that I could get the privilage to personally say to you how grateful I am of people like you. I am faintly religious but my wish and thoughts for you is for whatever God and goodness there is, would continue to protect, guard and guide you throughout your days, for your children and your children’s children.

  • DR. CLAUD NKWENTI says:

    CONGRATULATIONS DR. ADA IGONOH. THANK GOD FOR YOU. GOD IS THERE, NO MATTER WHAT SOME MAY SAY. HE ALONE IS GOD. AND THANK GOD THAT HE IS GOD. THIS IS ACTIVE FAITH, AND A GREAT INSPIRATION. IT IS A CALL FOR US ALL TO REALISE THAT THOUGH THIS IS A SHINY EXAMPLE IN THE HEALTH FIELD, FOR YOU DOC TO HAVE SURVIVED THE WORST DISEASE IN THE HISTORY OF HUMANKIND, GOD WILL ALSO DO IT FOR US ALL WHATEVER THE SITUATION OR CIRCUMSTANCE. WHATEVER WE ARE STRUGGLING WITH NOW, BE IT THE EBOLA AS THE WORLD IS FACED WITH, BE IT INJUSTICE, HATRED, EXPLOITATION BY THE POWERFUL, SICKNESS, OR EVEN THIS SCOURGE OF NEOCOLONIALISM THAT WE NOW EXPERIENCE IN AFRICA, GOD, IN SEEING OUR EARNEST HEART’S DESIRE AND STRUGGLES TO OVERCOME AND SURVIVE THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, AS DR. IGONOH DID WILL SURELY GIVE US VICTORY AND IT WILL BE A SWEET VICTORIOUS SONG AS DOC IGONOH’S. THANKS BE TO GOD. MAY HE CONTINUE TO RAISE TRUE SERVANTS FOR HIM AND HUMANITY.

  • mercy says:

    Glory be to God almighty. what a good news.

  • Aseye says:

    Wow indeed God has really been with you. You did walk through the valley of the shadow of death, and He sustained you, for a purpose. glorify god with your life, and keep sharing your testimony. Condolences to the family of those who passed, especially the poor pregnant nurse Justina on her first day at work, and the gallant Dr. Adadevoh.

  • Eric Mabo says:

    Very inspiring. Thank You. Please write a book.

  • Yerima Wilson Musa says:

    God works in several ways. i am happy you survived and gave this testimony. may God Almighty the author and finisher of our faith continue to protect and guide you in the course of your job. praise God.

  • agadagidi says:

    God is great. Dr Ada,your faith healed you. You are indeed a doctor in all ramifications. The elegance of your prose; the simplicity of word flow all attest to your being an all rounder. Please publish this testimony as a little pamphlet for now.Expand it to a book at some later time when you are fully out of the stress and emotions of the immediate past. God bless and protect you my dear

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