Barely a year after being named the best graduating student of Graceland School, Enugu, Chisom Chukwuneke a young girl with prospects has died.
According to the school, Chisom obtained seven distinctions at the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) in 2019.
Her father Prof Felix Chukwuneke, a consultant surgeon at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Nsukka expressed sorrow over her demise on social media.
Chisom died on October 18, 2020. She is expected to be buried in Anambra State on November 29.
In a Facebook post, the father said he flew her to South Africa for treatment after she complained of leg pain but her condition soon got worse, leading to her death.
The professor stated that his daughter died just a day to his birthday and 10 days after she had promised him a special gift.
He wrote: “Just like a dream. But the realities are crystal now; just a pain in the leg that snowballed to a devastating episode. The battle started earnestly. I hear you call daddy my leg is paining me. I watch as you lie abed with pain. As restless and worried as I can be, I promised to do everything humanly possible.
“With glaring poor health care in Nigeria, off we went to South Africa. We were happy at your initial recovery not knowing the war was just to begin. We fought it together for more than a year in SA. You were an embodiment of intelligence of inestimable value.
“You spoke in parables about a special gift 10 days earlier, and left a day to my birthday. Never did I know your special birthday gift you promised was your glorious exit. You exhibited your virtuoso and dazzling intellects, to the bewilderment of the doctors at Wits Donald Gordon Hospital Parktown Johannesburg South Africa Today your name is written in Gold over there.”
