A young lady named Onyinye Udebuani who sustained a face injury in an accident has beaten all odds as she bags a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Lagos, Nigeria.
Onyinye, a Nigerian was involved in a car accident in 2018 that severely disfigured her face when she was a passenger in the collision that killed three others. Due to the accident, she sustained multiple facial fractures and degloved facial soft tissue according to the ASPS website.
She stated that the injuries were so extreme that Michael Obeng, MD, FACS, an American Society Plastic Surgeon member had to perform numerous reconstructive procedures over three years to restore her face to its current function and form.
“We debulked the whole face because the right side was so much bigger. There were some masses that we removed. The second surgery, we were able to go in, readjust the nose, put an implant, and then the third surgery we went back in and we have corrected the ectropion,” Micheal Obeng said.
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Onyinye said after the years spent in and out of surgery, she and Micheal became close, and was like a father figure to her adding that he even takes her to church on Sundays. She added that Micheal nominated her as a 2022 Patient of Courage.
The Patients of Courage-themed Triumph Over Adversity program honors charitable reconstructive plastic surgery patients who help others despite their struggles. Despite the challenges, Onyinye chose to rise against all odds and continue to pursue her education after her accident.Â
“I’m here after a horrible accident. I’m living my life. I’m crushing my goals. And I’m going to live my life to the fullest, and nothing is going to stop me. So, if I can do this, anyone can,” Onyinye said.
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Even with her extreme facial disfigurement, Onyinye applied and was accepted into a master’s program at the University of Lagos. She said studying for the degree is a fulfillment of a childhood dream to pursue an education that involves math.
“As a kid, I always loved mathematics. Math has always been my place of solace,” she said. Onyinye obtained her bachelor’s degree in Agriculture and Bioresources Engineering at the University of Nsukka, Nigeria.
Onyinye is now is a Google- and Udacity-certified data analyst. She uses her position to give back to her community by providing resources and mentorship to young people who want to break into a tech career like hers.
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