For decades, Amanda preciously held on to an old, faded out, black and white photo. It featured her, as a little baby, held by a young nurse. The photo was taken in 1977 when Amanda had to be taken to a hospital in the New York area after a serious accident. At just 3 months, she rolled off the sofa onto a scalding hot humidifier, suffering severe burns.
The black and white photo reveals the little baby’s head wrapped in a thick gauze, and the nurse looking down lovingly at her. For the following years, Amanda underwent several surgeries, and was bullied by his classmates as she was disfigured…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>
When in her darkest moments, she often picked up that photo and looked at it. It gave her comfort– proved that at some point in her life there was someone who really cared about her.
Amanda searched for years for the nurse who’s loving expression in the photo inspired her to not give up. She tried everything for 20 years, and ultimately turned to social media. What happened next is so heartwarming — I was both fascinated and deeply touched by this simple, yet beautiful story.
It was in 1977 when Amanda, at just 3-months old, was rushed by ambulance to the local medical center with third degree burns. She had rolled off a couch and landed on a hot humidifier. At the hospital she was attended to by a young nurse.
This black and white image shows the nurse holding Amanda in her arms and looking warmly down at her. Amanda recovered well, but her childhood wasn’t easy: she’d been severely burned during the traumatic event and was disfigured.
“Growing up as a child, disfigured by the burns, I was bullied and picked on, tormented,” Scarpinati told the AP news agency. “I’d look at those pictures and talk to her, even though I didn’t know who she was. I took comfort looking at this woman who seemed so sincere, caring for me.” Amanda was hoping that one day she would find the nurse who gave her warmth and comfort during those rough times. After 20 years of searching, with no luck, she eventually turned to social media.
She shared the black and white picture on her Facebook page and wrote: “This was from 1977. I would love to know her name and possibly get a chance to talk to her and meet her. Please share as you never know who it could reach.” READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>
Amanda was hoping that one day she would find the nurse who gave her warmth and comfort during those rough times. After 20 years of searching, with no luck, she eventually turned to social media.
She shared the black and white picture on her Facebook page and wrote: “This was from 1977. I would love to know her name and possibly get a chance to talk to her and meet her. Please share as you never know who it could reach.”
Her post spread like wildfire and the very next day after she received the message she’d been longing for. A woman named Angela, who worked as a nurse at the hospital that same year, recognized in the photo a former colleague – Susan. Susan was 21 at the time and had just finished college. The young nurse had also saved the picture and never forgot the tiny girl who’d fought so bravely against such severe burns. “I remember her,” Berger said before they met face to face. “She was very peaceful. Usually when babies come out of surgery, they’re sleeping or crying. She was just so calm and trusting. It was amazing.”
Shortly afterward, the two had an emotional reunion, 38 years after their first encounter. “I don’t know how many nurses would be lucky enough to have something like this happen, to have someone remember you all that time,” Berger said. “I feel privileged to be the one to represent all the nurses who cared for her over the years.”
The young nurse had also saved the picture and never forgot the tiny girl who’d fought so bravely against such severe burns. “I remember her,” Berger said before they met face to face. “She was very peaceful. Usually when babies come out of surgery, they’re sleeping or crying. She was just so calm and trusting. It was amazing.”
Shortly afterward, the two had an emotional reunion, 38 years after their first encounter. “I don’t know how many nurses would be lucky enough to have something like this happen, to have someone remember you all that time,” Berger said. “I feel privileged to be the one to represent all the nurses who cared for her over the years.”
Before we begin with the history of Ibadan, let us set some facts straight. Ibadan, (pronounced E- baa- dawn) the present capital of Oyo State, is the third-most populous city in Nigeria (with over 3.5 million dwellers) after Lagos and Kano.
Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state, is the third-largest city in Nigeria after Lagos and Kano. The city is popularly known for its rich and fascinating history, culture and amazing tourist destinations. One of the most visited tourist destinations in Ibadan is the University of Ibadan Zoological Garden which was established in 1948. It is home to a wide array of animals comprising mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.
Mum-Zi was a member of Chief Akkiri’s harem in Akwa Akpa (now Calabar), who would later be the father of her daughter. Pic credit: Twitter
Who Was Mum-Zi – The Youngest Grandmother in the World?
Mum-Zi was just eight years and four months old when she gave birth to a baby girl in 1884.
From Nigeria, on an island called Akwa Akpa, now known as the city of Calabar, Mum-Zi’s daughter followed her mother’s footsteps, becoming a mother at the age of eight years and eight months thus making Mum-zi the youngest Grandmother in the world…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>
Over the years, it has not been uncommon to find young parents out there but what is perhaps unusual is to find young teens – as young as 17 – as grandparents.
In recent times, most people at that age are looking to complete their education or to graduate from high school. The thought of even becoming a parent is rare, thus, having grandchildren is often out of place.
But this was not the situation for Mum-Zi and her daughter, as well as, other young girls in the 19th Century.
According to Lyall Archibald’s 1936 book, The Future of Taboo in These Islands, Mum-Zi was a member of Chief Akkiri’s harem in Akwa Akpa (now Calabar), who would later be the father of her daughter.
Since the 16th Century, Calabar had been a busy international seaport, shipping out goods such as palm oil.
Historical accounts state that during the Atlantic slave trade, it became a major port in the transportation of African slaves, with most slave ships being owned by Bristol and Liverpool.
Some missionaries would later record the challenges of poor water supplies, malaria, and the presence of some tribes who were sometimes not too welcoming to evangelists and other slave traders.
What was common, however, was the fact that chiefs kept a harem of wives and slaves.
The harem is basically a female backyard or household largely reserved for princes and lords of this world.
In most parts of Africa and elsewhere, a harem, in terms of royal harems of the past, may house a man’s wives and concubines, as well as, their children, unmarried daughters, female domestic workers, and other unmarried female relatives.
Mum-Zi was one of the many women and girls who lived in a harem belonging to Chief Akkiri. After giving birth at 8 years and four months, with the chief being the father, her daughter would also become a mother exactly eight years later. She was reportedly impregnated by the same chief who happens to be her father.
She gave birth at an age slightly older than that of her mother’s, as she was 8 years plus 8 months. Nevertheless, this remains one of the shocking moments in history.
Ever since the 1700s, a number of cases have been highlighted to show how girls and women across the world suffer just because of their gender.
Among these forms of gender-based violence is child marriage, which denies children the right to be children and take away from them the opportunities for education and a better life. It also exposes them to risk of violence at the hands of their usually older and powerful husbands.
A recent report by Girls Not Brides revealed that globally, more than 700 million women alive today were married as children and 17 per cent of them, or 125 million, live in Africa.
It added that about 39 per cent of girls in sub-Saharan Africa are married before the age of 18 and all African countries face the challenge of child marriage.
According to the report, Niger has the highest number of child brides, with three out of four girls married before they are 18.
The Central African Republic follows. There, the legal minimum age for marriage is 18, however, girls can get married at 13 years if it is approved by a court and/or if the girl is pregnant.
In some cases, earlier marriage is allowed if a parent consents to it. At third place is Chad, which has a rate of 67 per cent.
Some of the drivers for child marriage in these countries are poverty, upholding social and religious traditions, as well as, conflict, which forces many parents to consent to child marriage as a way of protecting their girls from violence and sexual assault.
