“Wow!” That was the first thing we said after reading Torinmo Salau’s entry for the #SWChristmasCampaign. Her story is so beautiful and it is a reminder that beyond words we must act and show love to people even when they may never be able to repay us. Enjoy her entry below.
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As the year winds down, I always yearn for Christmas with so much anticipation towards the festivities which colours the atmosphere and fills the air with nostalgia. My perspective of Christmas changed six years ago by a traditional ritual which I have participated in for over two decades of my life.
My father died of prostate cancer while I was writing my final SSCE exams; this was chiefly because we were too poor to mull over the option of surgery, when we could not even pay for his second round of chemotherapy.
Being the eldest child, I had to put my dream of becoming a doctor on the shelf and step into his shoes to fend for myself and the family, so I took up a job as an office assistant. But the zest to earn the most coveted prefix did not stop me from sharing with whoever cared to listen, how I planned to save the world one day at a time.
My heart sank as I stepped forward to accept my gift from the Secret Santa exchange which was hosted by the Admin manager on 20th December 2009. It was a white envelope. While everyone in the office was all smiles as they opened up their gifts, the Christmas card I got read thus –
“Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.” Charles Schulz
Although the words did not mean much to me, especially when I was hoping to get a Tom Ford shirt or Michael Kors wristwatch. By the time I reached home, it was quite late and all my siblings were in bed but my mother was still awake.
“Somebody from a courier service delivered this here today,” she said handing a brown envelope to me. A short note was inscribed on it, ‘With Love From Secret Santa’.
Still a bit confused, I open it. The content of the envelope was a scholarship letter offering me admission to study Medicine and Surgery at University College Hospital, Ibadan fully funded by Hopevine Foundation.
Dear Secret Santa, if you are reading this story, I want you to know that I graduated as one of the best graduating students of my set in 2015 and I am presently working with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. Thanks for believing in my dream, going the extra mile and showing me that Christmas is love in action.
About Torinmo
