An entrepreneur, Deborah Adejoye, tells TEMITOPE ADETUNJI the painful story of how she survived a life-threatening accident that nearly led to the amputation of her leg, the pain she went through, the lessons she learnt, and her recovery process
What do you do for a living, and where are you from?
My name is Adejoye Deborah. I am from Epe, Lagos, and I am a student of Tai Solarin University of Education. I am also an entrepreneur; I sell clothes to support myself financially.
You shared on TikTok that you were involved in a devastating accident in 2019—one that nearly claimed your life and changed everything for you. Can you take us back to that painful day and tell us what truly happened?
I was quite young then and preparing for my JAMB examination. Before the accident, I was a hardworking young girl trying to make progress. I worked as a salesgirl at a gas station while also learning computer studies at a vocational centre. I was determined to improve myself and help my family.
On that morning, I had an accident. I was on my way to refill a gas cylinder before going for my computer training classes. It was supposed to be a normal day, but on the road, I was involved in a serious accident. The accident happened in Epe.
Can you take us back to the accident? What kind of accident was it, and what do you remember happening immediately after?
I was on a commercial motorcycle that day. The rider was speeding and attempted to overtake a trailer. Everything happened so fast that I cannot clearly remember the exact moment of the crash.
I was later told that I was thrown off the bike, and the heavy gas cylinder I was carrying landed directly on my leg and crushed it badly.
After that, I lost consciousness completely. Everything went blank. When I finally opened my eyes again, I was already in the hospital, confused, scared, and in extreme pain. It was one of the most terrifying moments of my life.
At the hospital, what were you told about your condition?
While I was still lying there, I overheard the doctor telling my mother that my injury was very severe and that my leg might have to be amputated because the bones were badly fractured.
The moment I heard that, I broke down completely. It felt like my world ended in that instant. I even called my boyfriend to tell him what the doctor had said… but his response shocked me. He said, ‘What is my business with that?’ or ‘What do you want me to do about it?’
That moment broke me even more. I felt abandoned. It was painful because I expected support, but instead I felt completely alone.
How did your family respond, and what decision was eventually made?
My mother was devastated. She cried so much and called my father immediately to explain what the doctors had said. But my father refused to accept the idea of amputation. He said he would not allow them to cut off my leg.
He came to the hospital, discharged me, and took me to an orthopaedic herbal home for treatment. That was where I spent about six months fighting every day just to be able to stand and walk again.
You walked again after six months of treatment at the orthopaedic herbal home despite the doctors’ declaration that your leg would be amputated. How difficult was that journey physically and emotionally?
It was not easy; I would just say it was by the grace of God that I survived. I couldn’t walk; I had to use crutches. It was extremely painful and difficult. I spent six months there.
Every day was a battle with pain, fear, and uncertainty; I wanted the pain to end. The pain was overwhelming. There were moments I felt like I could not continue. It was one of the darkest periods of my life.
What was the lowest moment during that recovery journey?
After about three months, they said the leg was healing and asked me to stand. But when I tried, the leg broke again; my mum cried again. It felt like all the suffering had been for nothing. I had to start the healing process all over again. Slowly, I started walking with crutches and support. It was not easy, but every step meant hope.
How did that affect you emotionally?
I was broken emotionally. I cried many times. I became tired of the pain and frustration. There were moments I felt hopeless; at one point, I felt like giving up. I was scared. My boyfriend (now an ex) had left, and my closest friends weren’t showing care or asking how I was faring. It was a difficult moment.
What kept you going when you felt like giving up?
My family, especially my parents, kept me going. Seeing how much they were fighting for me gave me strength. My mother cried often, and that touched me deeply. I wanted to survive for them, too.
When you finally realised you could walk again, what went through your mind?
It was gratitude—deep, overwhelming gratitude. In that moment, I just knew it was God who carried me through everything I had been through. There were days I never thought I would survive, let alone walk again.
If my father had agreed to the amputation, I honestly don’t know what my life would have looked like today. Everything about me would have changed—my movement, my confidence, even the way I see myself. But somehow, I was spared that outcome.
So, when I think about it now, I don’t just see pain anymore. I see mercy, I see grace, and I see a second chance I did not deserve but was given anyway.
You mentioned that some people abandoned you during that season, including your boyfriend. What truths did that season teach you?
That not everyone who smiles with you will stay when trouble comes. Real love and loyalty are proven during difficult times.
Did the accident affect your education?
Yes, it delayed many things. My family became protective of me, especially my mother. She was afraid something might happen again if I went far from home, so I had to heal properly.
After everything you went through, how did your education journey continue, and when did you eventually sit the UTME to further your studies?
I sat my first UTME in 2020, and that was what gave me admission into Michael Otedola College of Primary Education in Epe, where I studied for my NCE.
Later, I wrote UTME again last year, and that was what secured my admission into Tai Solarin University of Education, where I am currently studying Entrepreneurship Education.
I gained admission last year, and I am still in school now. Going to school means a lot to me because there was a time I truly thought my future had ended after the accident.
When you look at yourself now, what do you see?
I see strength. I see someone who survived pain, disappointment, and fear but refused to give up.
If your father had agreed to the amputation, would you have lived with any regret?
Yes, I would have, because it would have changed my life completely.
Finally, what message would you give to anyone currently battling pain or hardship?
Never give up on yourself. Hard times can make you feel forgotten, but life can still change. Keep fighting, keep believing, and keep moving forward.