Iyabode Margaret Mary Ikhianosime is not just a name on a page; she is the living embodiment of strength, a force of nature wrapped in the gentle hands of a nurse. She is the ultimate super mum whose life story is full of battles that would break most women, her daughter ELIZABETH IKHIANOSIME writes
Hers is simply a solid spirit driven by an all-consuming love for her children. Born and raised in Ilawe Ekiti with a foundation of faith, mum’s early life laid the groundwork for the woman she would become. Her passion for healing led her down the path of healthcare, a profession where her dedication continues to shine brightly.
From midwifery to public health, she poured her heart into the service of her community, a pillar of care for countless individuals. This same strength and dedication prepared her for the very difficult struggles she would face in her family life.
The first storm came in the year 1998. Her first pregnancy, a time of joyous anticipation, turned into a brutal fight for survival. Diagnosed with a perforated gut, she was placed on feeding tubes for several months. Her body starved while carrying new life. “It felt like my body was betraying me,” she shares, her voice soft, yet firm; “but the thought of my baby kept me fighting. That tiny life inside me became my reason to hold on.”
Against all odds, she delivered her first child – a girl, prematurely at 32 weeks. She was a fragile miracle born via a caesarean, while fighting for survival herself. While her baby lay in an incubator, mum underwent multiple surgeries, her body a battlefield.
“It was agonising,” she confesses, her eyes reflecting the pain of those early days. “I was in Akure, and my husband’s work kept him hundreds of miles away in Lagos. There were no mobile phones then. He had to shuttle. It was very tough for us.”
But the trials didn’t cease. Medical negligence during neonatal care left the poor baby with cataract before her first birthday. And later, hearing impairment. For any mother, this would be a crushing blow. For mum, it lit a fire of protection.
“I remember feeling so helpless,” she says, her voice thick with emotion. “But I knew I had to be her strength, her advocate. Her challenges became my challenges to overcome.” And overcome them she did, nurturing her into a thriving young woman.
My arrival in 2003 renewed mum’s spirit. But fate had more trials in store. A motorcycle accident in 2006 left her with multiple fractures, confining her to crutches for over a year. While she suffered, she was forced out of her marital home by her husband’s family.
“That period felt like being thrown into the wilderness,” she recounts, her gaze steady. “I was physically broken, emotionally battered, and suddenly without a home. But my children… they were my compass. I knew I had to find my way back to them, to build a safe harbour for us.”
Mum at this time relied on the kindness of friends and the sanctuary of the church. There was a moment, she admits, where the weight felt unbearable. “I fled without them, a decision that haunts me still. But it was a moment of desperation, a need to breathe before I could fight again.”
And fight she did. With a fierce determination aided by prayer and an unbreakable maternal bond, she returned, reclaiming her place and eventually, reconciling with her husband and his family.
Looking back, mum doesn’t dwell on the bitterness. Instead, her focus remains on the lessons learned, the strength forged in the crucible of adversity. “Life will throw stones at you,” she says, her eyes filled with a wisdom hard-earned. “It’s not about avoiding the stones, but about learning how to build with them. My children were my foundation, my reason to keep building, no matter how shaky the ground felt.”
My mother, Iyabode Margaret Mary Ikhianosime, is more than a survivor; she is a thriver. She is a super mum who faced down illness, heartbreak, and physical limitations with an indomitable spirit.
She continues with her outstanding career in healthcare and now serves as the Deputy Director of Nursing Affairs in Surulere Local Government Area.
She is the pillar of our family, the unwavering force that held us together through the storms. Her story is one of resilience and the enduring power of a mother’s love. And as her daughter, I can say with certainty that her strength is our legacy.
In every way, Iyabode Margaret Mary Ikhianosime is the number one Super Mum!
