Regina Askia, 56, has shared a health update with her followers.
The former Nigerian actress/beauty queen, who now works as a health care professional in the United States, revealed that a recent visit to the hospital showed that she had extremely rare tracheal masses.
She narrated on Facebook how the diagnosis affected her and she feared the worst.
She wondered what would happen to her children and her aged mother.
Amid her diagnosis and treatment plan, she and her loved ones immediately began praying and a recent visit to the hospital showed “no mass, no cancer.”
Sharing her story on Facebook, she wrote: “Life is so very precious and no one, absolutely NO ONE, has the promise of tomorrow. Psalm 90 v 12 says teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Let us be kind because you never know what battles we each are facing. It is well.
“A routine doctors check may throw up a curve ball that gives you just a few months to say goodbye. Out of the blue, no rhyme no reason, increased platelets in a routine check led to the need for further investigations. A chest X-ray revealed something of a 5cm mass on the right side of my trachea. What!!!!
“Tracheal masses are extremely rare and almost exclusive to smokers. You cannot begin to imagine my anxiety! How? After working so hard and now when it’s finally time to “flenjor”, this???
“What happens to my beautiful children? My 92 year old Mom could not survive the loss of another child. I was planning to travel, to write books, so much to do and now this? I was numb, trying my best to process words like rule out Lymphoma, rule out malignant neoplasm of the trachea in the context of “me”? Someone who has never smoked? How? I have always been the caregiver, the provider, now a possible patient?
“Sleep abandoned me! Big Rudy did his best to console me. He kept saying “Don’t worry ma, it’s going to be okay.
“I called my mother, like I always do when the cares of life get too heavy. She listened very quietly and said it is well. She prayed for me. You can believe a support system of prayer warriors went to work. My family is blessed with deeply spiritual individuals who believe unshakably in the power of prayer. Knees hit the ground in prayers for complete healing for me. For divine intervention. Some of you may have been a part of the Sunday prayer chain.
“Still I was terrified. Somewhere in the chaos of diagnosis and treatment plan, I sank deeper into reclusion. If I a medic could be so shaken, I feel deeper empathy for patients who would mostly be anxious, confused and afraid.
“I reminded myself that I of no merit nor graces was granted the opportunity to experience the human consciousness. My life indeed was a gift, and when it’s time, it’s time. I fasted and prayed. because I didn’t feel in the least bit ready.
“Mind you I had absolutely no symptoms. People who have worked with me call me “Iron Lady” for the capacity to work hard.
“Next step was a CT scan to determine and further diagnose the tumor. To me, this was the gates of hell . To me, a positive CT scan result would mean say your goodbyes
“I prayed the prayer of Getsemane – “Let this cup pass over me”. The thought of chemotherapy, surgical excision of the mass, left me in utter dread. No , please no. Psalm 91 was my constant mantra.
“How could I be just gone? Like a candle in the wind? Ha!! It used to be just a song.
“My body tingled as the contrast fluid flowed intravenously and I felt heat. The CT scan machine whirred as I held my breath to command. Again I prayed, my father, may It be your will to let this cup pass over me.
“Two days later, my doctor called with results! My tears were copious and hot! Deep gratitude .
“Results – No mass, no cancer. How? What about the…. We don’t see it.
“I was just too relieved to ask any questions
“Now I prayed Psalm 23!
“May he who started his good works in me perfect my healing in Jesus name, Amen. May it please God in his mercies, to bless us and all that concerns us with his abundance and peace
in Jesus name. Amen.”
