Miracle of Mercy
A True Story of Courage in the Face of Adversity
by
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My name is Mercy Azoh-Mbi. My husband, Solomon Azoh-Mbi, was appointed high commissioner (i.e., ambassador) of the Republic of Cameroon to Canada in 2008. I arrived in Canada in early 2009 full of life and excitement, looking forward to this new chapter in our lives. But barely seven months later, my life would take a dramatic turn.
My arrival in Canada coincided with the outbreak of the H1N1 flu pandemic that was commonly referred to as the swine flu. The entire world was gripped by the crisis that began in Mexico and quickly spread worldwide in 2009. The symptoms of H1N1 flu are similar to those of other influenzas and may include fever, coughs, headaches, muscle or joint pain, sore throat, chills, fatigue, and a runny nose. How is the swine flu related to my story? Well, read on.
Since I was either in a coma or disoriented for several months during my hospitalization, parts of the story I am recounting here were only possible thanks to medical records as well as the recollections of medical personnel, family members, and especially my husband, who kept a detailed diary during the entire ordeal.
As a conservative African woman, I have never been comfortable calling my husband by his first name. I call him “Daddy” in the presence of our children, “Nde Solo” in the presence of other family members, “Solo” as a tease, or “Nu” as a special term of endearment. I only use his first name, Solomon, when I need his attention during official events. So, to spare you any confusion as you read this story, I will simply refer to him as my husband, unless the circumstance dictates otherwise.
This is my story…
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About the Book
Mercy arrived in Canada in 2009, full of life and excitement following her husband’s appointment as high commissioner (ambassador) of the Republic of Cameroon. As she settled in her new environment, she could not have suspected that just seven months later, her life would take a dramatic turn.
She awoke one morning complaining of fatigue, fever, a headache, and blurred vision, and was rushed to hospital with what she thought was a routine ailment. But a medical misdiagnosis would turn her life upside down. When she was placed in a wheelchair upon arriving the ER, little did she know that she had just taken her last steps on her own two feet. She soon slipped into a coma and wavered between life and death for weeks, then eventually made a miraculous recovery after undergoing high-risk open-heart surgery. But this recovery was to simply prepare her for the horror of yet another grim and dreary reality, the amputation of her two arms and two legs. Through fears and further mishaps, and with two prosthetic arms, two prosthetic legs, and two prosthetic heart valves, Mercy emerges and soon finds her stride.
She surprises us with grace, strength and ingenuity as an entrepreneur, a diplomat’s confidante, a woman of faith. Despite her ordeal, Mercy shuns bitterness and resentment, choosing to embrace life, love, compassion, and forgiveness as she seeks to shine a light on those in the trenches and throes of despair.
Miracle of Mercy is an uplifting true story of courage in the face of adversity. It will make you shed a tear, and then cheer as Mercy charts a new inspirational course for her life guided by faith, fortitude, and the support of her family and community.
About the Author
Mercy Azoh-Mbi was born in Cameroon where she earned a master’s degree in geology before moving with her family to Ottawa. She was getting ready to pursue an MBA when disaster struck. After recovering from a health crisis, she and her husband, Solomon, founded the Mercy Azoh-Mbi Heart Foundation, a Canadian charity focused on raising awareness of heart disease. For more about the foundation, visit www.maheartfoundation.org.