11/1 – Hooray!!
Made it to a new month! No infections, no fevers, weight is back to normal, and my white blood cells are ROARING back: ten times higher from their lowest point a week ago, and double yesterday’s count. I’ve set the following goals for November:
1. Get out (and stay out) of the hospital until transplant
2. Get back to work, even if it’s part time
3. Surpass my pre-admission strength & cardio levels
4. Incorporate a non-profit and apply for 501(c)(3) status
5. Meet with transplant specialists and decide on a plan of action
6. Read five good books
7. Lose ten pounds
8. Complete 20 Bikram yoga classes
9. Recruit 50 new donors
10. Reach December in good health!
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Nigeria 2014!
Welcome to my blog! I was born in Nigeria and just graduated from Yale Law School. Now I’m trying to make history as the first Nigerian delegate to compete in the Winter Olympics. To succeed I will have to beat the qualifying standards, as well as stem cell leukemia, T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma, anemia, and possible infections. I’ll also have to find a donor for a bone marrow transplant. I started this blog to record training/competition results, reactions to chemo, and other interesting experiences.
My new sport is easy to describe. Just imagine the luge. Now flip over on your stomach, hands by your side. No brakes and minimal steering as you careen precipitously down a bobsled track at nearly 80 mph. Headfirst.
Seems like a random career for a lawyer, but there’s a good story. I was a competitive swimmer for 16 years, represented Nigeria in international competitions, and even broke a couple national records. Then I missed the 2004 Olympics by a fraction of a second, but I never let go of my dream of competing in the Olympics.
One day – on February 5, 2009, to be precise – I emailed the law school for help:
Are you a sports lawyer? Are you slightly ridiculous?? Do you want to go to the Olympics as part of an African delegation??? I have a plan to get to the Winter Games, but I need your help… why not train for an Olympic sport where Nigeria doesn’t have a team?
And here are some of the (half-serious) responses:
- You are a maniac, in the best possible way.
- Such and [sic] awesome idea!
- I’ll be on the sidelines cheering you onwards!
A group of friends formed an exploratory committee: Kristin Burgess, Amanda Fornal, Benjamin Johnson, and Nick Pederson. After debating the options, we decided that the skeleton was my best chance for qualifying…and that’s how it began. In future posts, I will highlight the amazing friends who are helping to keep me alive and make this dream come true.
Nigeria, 2014!
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Recent
- 11/23 – In Remission!
- 11/20 – Happy Birthday Mom
- 11/19 – Food for Thought
- 11/16 – How to Host a Drive
- 11/16 – Morning Struggle & Update
- 11/13 – Buns of Steel
- 11/11 – Website Logo
- 11/11 – Yale Drive in the News
- 11/10 – Yale Bone Marrow Drive!
- 11/9 – Celebration!
- 11/6
- 11/3 – Update: Nigerian Bone Marrow Registry
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- November 2009 (13)
- October 2009 (21)
- September 2009 (13)
- August 2009 (22)
- July 2009 (5)
- June 2009 (13)
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Awesome progress!!!!
Speaking of December…are you going to be staying in the City??
Hey lawyer/cousin! I might need to pick your brain about incorporating a nonprofit soon…i hope you’re better.