By our Reporter
Tears, resilience, and an unbroken love for teaching now define the life of Mrs. Virtue Umera Bassey, a devoted teacher and mother of two in Cross River State, whose right leg was amputated after a prolonged battle with diabetes.
Mrs. Bassey, a Grade Level 16 English teacher at Government Secondary School, Adiabo, Tinapa, endured years of painful treatment and exhausting hospital visits, spending her life savings in a desperate bid to stay alive. Her condition worsened until she was eventually referred to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).
On August 26, 2025, doctors were left with no other option but to amputate her right leg after the disease had severely damaged it.
The decision, though lifesaving, marked a heartbreaking turning point for the seasoned educator, who is just six years away from retirement.
Since the surgery, Mrs. Bassey has reportedly been battling frequent illness and emotional trauma. Yet, in the face of adversity, her spirit remains unbroken.
Confined but determined, she speaks passionately about her desire to return to the classroom.
“I can’t wait to return to the classroom,” she said with quiet resolve.
“Teaching is my life. But the doctors say I must use a prosthesis, and it will cost about ₦2.6 million. Where will I raise such money?”
Beyond her medical struggles, Mrs. Bassey bears the heavy burden of responsibility for her two children currently enrolled in Nigerian universities. Despite being a government employee, she lamented that she has received no meaningful support from the government since her ordeal began.
Her condition drew the sympathy of former Commissioner for Special Education, Castro Ezama, who paid her a visit during the Yuletide season. Moved by her plight, he called for collective prayers and support.
“I spent part of my Christmas with some teachers in Calabar, and I visited Mrs. Virtue Umera Bassey,” Ezama said.
“She is one of the finest English teachers in Cross River State. She has only six years left in service.
Her battle with diabetes led to this amputation, and she has been ill lately.
“She urgently needs a prosthesis costing about ₦2.6 million. I am hopeful that help will come for her.”
Despite the pain, uncertainty, and financial strain, Mrs. Bassey remains focused on one goal: standing again before her students by January 2026.
Her story is one of sacrifice, resilience, and a silent plea for compassion—a reminder that those who shape young minds also need care when life turns cruel.
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