One of the health issues that plagues women in society is the health condition called fibroids.
Fibroids are abnormal growths that develop in or on the uterus during a woman’s childbearing years.
Symptoms of fibroids may include heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged periods, pelvic pain, pressure or fullness in the lower abdomen, pain during intercourse, and increased urination. However, in some cases, some women may not have these symptoms, which is why women of childbearing age should go for a medical checkup for cases of fibroids.
It is not a death sentence.
Fibroid causes may include hormones, family history, and high body weight, although research has not yet come to a concrete conclusion as to why fibroids develop.
Research has shown that most small fibroids don’t cause any symptoms and don’t require treatment other than regular observation by a doctor. However, in some cases, fibroids can damage the womb, particularly if they are large or interfere with normal uterine function. Treatments include medications and fibroid removal (surgery), depending on the severity.
See https://www.healthline.com/health/uterine-fibroids for more information.
Hanatu, a young lady in her prime, had pain in her stomach and decided to visit the hospital. After running some tests on her, the doctor informed her that she had a fibroid.
It was, of course, a piece of devastating news for Hanatu.
Nevertheless, the doctor informed her that it was a small fibroid, and according to her health condition, she was advised not to undergo surgery to have it taken out for now. Since it was still a small fibroid, she could manage it until it was safe for her to be operated.
Hanatu informed her long-term boyfriend, Chinenye, whom she had been in a relationship with for seven solid years, about her diagnosis, and that was when the pressure began.
Confused and devastated by the news, Chinenye confided in his brother about what had befallen the girl he wanted to marry. Just like most men who cannot stand the news of a woman having fibroids, especially if they are still in the dating stage, Chinenye was troubled.
It put him in a difficult situation because his family – an Igbo family – had already vehemently opposed his intentions of marrying her simply because she was from Kaduna State. They wanted their son to marry an Igbo girl. Chinenye was still finding it hard to convince his family to accept Hanatu; imagine what they would say if they found out that she had a fibroid.
Chinenye couldn’t keep it to himself, so he confided in his brother, but pleaded with him not to inform their parents.
His brother did not stick to the agreement. When the words left Chinenye’s mouth, he reported it to their parents. Chinenye’s mother raised hell and brimstone.
Her son would not marry Hanatu! Over her dead body that her child should marry a woman with fibroids! God forbid it!
Chinenye then began pressurizing Hanatu to go for the surgery despite the doctor’s advice. It seemed that he had better plans for her, because he kept insisting that she go for the surgery so that she could be free from it. For him, it was better that they only had tribal issues to handle with his family than add fibroids to it. Hanatu reminded him she was advised not to go for surgery immediately, but Chinenye was adamant.
The more Hanatu kept putting forward what the doctor told her, the more intense Chinenye’s pressure became.
It reached point that Hanatu could no longer withstand the pressure. She loved Chinenye, and she didn’t want her seven-year relationship with him to go south because of the situation. So Hanatu eventually went to a hospital and booked a surgery to remove the fibroid.
The surgery was successful, but shortly after that, she fell sick again.
As a result of the surgery, her health issues deteriorated. Hanatu became critically sick and was admitted at the hospital. She didn’t get better with time. As weeks flew by, her condition worsened, and soon enough, she developed new tumors (fibroids). Hanatu had to undergo a hysterectomy – a surgical operation to remove a woman’s womb.
That was the only way to keep her alive.
According to their diagnosis, the tumor had spread to her womb, and if not taken out immediately, it would continue to spread, which was a grave danger to her life.
However, even after the second surgery and her womb gone, Hanatu didn’t get better. She remained in the hospital receiving treatment after treatment for months until she eventually passed on.
This happened in April 2024.
If she had heeded the advice of the first doctor, her condition would not have escalated, and perhaps she would still be alive.
About two months after her death, Chinenye and his family travelled to their hometown for a burial ceremony, and there, he met a beautiful Igbo girl.
After a short while of being in a relationship, he proposed, and she accepted. In November 2024, Chinenye and his family went to her family for their marriage introduction. His parents instantly blessed the union; it was what they had always wanted.
Chinenye and his Igbo bride are now married, while Hanatu’s lifeless body has probably decayed in the ground.
What Do You Think?
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Hmmmmmmm, this is shocking.
I pray we learn to put ourselves first be it a man or a woman, because the moment you die, life continues!
May her soul rest in peace,Amen.
Life continues the moment you die📌😢
I have to commend our story teller for taking her time to not just write a story but research on the health condition. Kudos ma’am
But I doubt that what Hanatu had was fibroid, it’s possible she had ovarian cancer and it was misdiagnosed.
It’s sad what happened to her but a lot of ladies will do this if they were in a relationship that has been for 7 years.
Hmm, this is another angle, because one of the issues we have in this country is poor medical services. However, Hanatu should have prioritized her health.
Things we do for so called LOVE,
Too bad Hanatu wanted to save her long term relationship at the detriment of her LIFE.
The way this story is, they would have not still married Aunty o
The last statement…I thought it was just me🌚
Priotize your health and love yourself first, even the Bible says so …
I won’t blame Chinenye much… Hanatu saw the signs all these years but still stucked there…
An advice to ladies… No matter what you do, never marry a man whose family does not approve of you, if the man isn’t able to convince the family to accept you… You might be pushing that marriage alone, this is 95% true.
Always prioritize yourself above everything and everyone else📌
This is another big lesson to learn that our health and everything concerning ourselves should come first before any other thing in life. May Hannatu’s soul rest in peace
Always put yourself first!
Irrespective, health first. Genuinely
Exactly!
It feels so sad it ended for Hanatu like that.
Really sad.
Love others as you love yourself.
The loving has to start from you first before you can love another person the right way.
She should have stuck with medical professional advice
She wanted to save her relationship. Nobody should pressure anyone like that🤦🏼♀️
We heard of so many cases where women lose their life after undergoing surgery…
We pray this never happen to us or anyone dear to us.
Prioritize your health, peace and happiness over any man or relationship.
Prioritize your health! It’s only a living person that can love and get married.
Woow well done @yourfavstoryteller.
This story serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of prioritizing others’ desires over medical advice. I think it’s high time we challenge stigmas surrounding health conditions like fibroids, like she said it’s not a death sentence.
We also need to build a solid relationship with our families and friends cos she never mentioned any of her friends and family, if they were in the picture maybe she wouldn’t have make such drastic decisions.
May God keep us far away from sicknesses and diseases that will cut our lives short.
Every word you have said📌
I want to commend you for a beautiful write-up, for taking time to talk on fibroids.Good job, Sweetheart!
Self-love can never be overemphasized, put yourself first, Life goes on with or without you. I’m not surprised the guy moved on quickly.
Whether he did it that year or later, he still would have moved on🤷♀️
Poor Hanatu! I sincerely hope that this current generation does not repeat the mistakes our parents and grandparents made. Marriage should not be for procreation or ethnic integration, but for love and compatibility.
As for Chinenye, I truly don’t believe there is a stipulated amount of time one must mourn, especially since they were not legally married. People grieve differently, and however he chooses to mourn is between him, his conscience, and God. That being said, he remains a secondary cause of Hanatu’s death, Hanatu bears the primary responsibility for endangering her health by listening to Chinenye or trying to prove her love.
I always tell people this, not everyone has to give birth. That’s why options like adoption, IVF, and other methods exist, solutions that scientists are working tirelessly to improve in order to make life easier.
In all, may her soul rest in peace. Perhaps her story will serve as a lesson to someone who might be on the verge of making the same mistake Hanatu did.
God help and guide us always.
Thank you, our beautiful storyteller, keep up the amazing work.
It’s the same thing I always say, but Nigerians don’t want to hear that they’ll get married and not have kids at all, or not through the natural means. It’s sad.
I can’t blame both Chinenye and Hanatu for how it turned out. Their intention was to get solution. It was just unfortunate.
But there was a warning🤷♀️
She’s dead, only the living can learn.
Hmmm😢
You only have one body. Protect and take good care of it. It’s your responsibility to prioritize your wellbeing.
It’s your responsibility and yours alone📌