Today’s feature, in honour of the International Day of Persons with Disability held on 3rd December, is dedicated to Maryann, the Minister of Happiness as she is popularly called. A Brand Influencer and Ambassador, Mrs. Maryann Osabouhien (nee Omole’s) story is a tale of courage and all the proof you need that disability is no reason to disable your quest for living and enjoying every moment life has to offer.
I first came across Mary on a Tiktok video I stumbled across, and I immediately could see that there was something special about her. She was playfulness and joy, rolled up in a bundle of laughter. I wanted more, and so I ended up binge-watching more of her videos, with a smile plastered on my face. I call her the TikTok Queen, as her enactments of TikTok videos will leave you in stitches. Little wonder, her husband was left with no choice but to be infested with her happy bug and feature in some of her videos!
Maryann was diagnosed with a rare condition called Arteriovenous Malformation or AVM, which is a brain disorder that causes abnormal arteries and fistulas and results in excessive bleeding in different parts of the body.
The pain AVM caused this beautiful, cheerful lady was unbearable and she became dependent on drugs to push through the pain and survive. Her hands began to swell, and eventually, they began to bleed continuously. At this point, the initial diagnosis of a case of whitlow was thrown out. Herbs and medications proved futile, and the pain worsened.
Exhausted from the increasing pain, Mary went to a hospital where she was diagnosed with congenital arteries and veins malformation of the hand. Following the diagnosis, she has had to undergo seven corrective surgeries and then two amputations. On January 16th, 2019, she had her first amputation in Military Hospital, Yaba. She confessed in an interview with BBC Pidgin that she lost many friends following this.
She has inspired a lot of people with the condition and disabilities of any sort to open up about their struggles. She is very open about her amputation, and this has endeared her to the hearts of many. In a world where everyone would have understood if she had embraced the darkness, Maryann chose to let the light in and looked beyond her disability.
Life with one hand did not stop her from creating happy moments, and crushing the lemons life handed her to make lemonade. Cupid smiled at her and decided to give her a bull’s eyeshot. Mary found love and got married to her handsome beau, Omole Osabouhien. She remains thankful for her husband for his help and enduring love throughout the process. And their marriage has been blessed with little Leon.
Her social media page is one of those pages you will never leave the same way. You don’t have to take my word for it, check it out. Follow her on Instagram and Tiktok (@maryann7049) for superb content that will leave you wanting more. It’s all positivity for this amazing bundle of joy and inspiration.
I hope Maryann’s story inspires you to understand that nothing should deprive you of the joy of living in the moment and making beautiful memories, no matter the challenges you face. We had to celebrate her on the site because if happiness was a person, it would be Maryann hands down!
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Love,
Diane.
