Wayne State grad, Nigerian mom reunite after years apart

DETROIT — As her son was introduced to those attending Wayne State University's graduation, Mary Chukwueke wore a broad, proud smile across her face.

Victor Chukwueke of Oak Park, Mich., participates in a fundraiser to bring his mother and sister from Nigeria to his college graduation.

It was a picture she couldn't have imagined a decade ago, when she sent him away in search of a medical miracle for him.

As he stood at the podium Thursday, Victor Chukwueke, 25, stood still, gathering himself. "My presence here shows anything is possible," he said. After a 4-minute speech, the large crowd stood and clapped for 30 seconds, the only standing ovation of the evening.

In the past 10 years, Chukwueke has overcome obstacles to achieve at a high level.

He underwent six surgeries to remove large tumors on his head and face. But he also earned his GED and then a college degree in chemistry. He graduated with honors Thursday. He's now headed for medical school.

But the most emotional moment came hours before the ceremony, when his mother walked off a plane here, and they saw each other for the first time in a decade.

"I wasn't sure if I was going to see her ever again," he said. "Words cannot express how I feel."

They hugged for 5 minutes in the baggage claim area , trying to erase a decade of separation in the emotional moment.

"Don't cry," she told him in their native Nigerian tribal language, said a nun translating for the news media. "I am your mother, and you are my son."

The reunion came years after his mother agreed to send him away with missionary nuns.

Then 15, he had large tumors growing on the top of his head and side of his face. A nun arranged for a Southfield, Mich., surgeon to operate for free.

Victor Chukwueke's journey and educational achievements inspired those around him so much, he was asked to speak at his Wayne State University commencement Thursday evening. His mother was sitting in the audience for the speech, after clearing last-minute financial and visa hurdles with help from the school, a U.S. senator and a millionaire businessman. She'll stay for 11 days to visit with her son.

Chukwueke told the graduates Thursday night that they could overcome any challenges in their lives if they just have the right attitude. He said he faced the question of how he could move forward before the surgeries.

"Should I call myself a victim, or should I press forward to my dreams?" he said, interrupted once with a loud ovation. "Strive to be all you can be. ? My presence here shows anything is possible."

He also took time to thank those who helped him. "Only in this country could something this wonderful happen to someone like me," he said.

Chukwueke has neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that causes tumor growth in the nervous system. Experts say they believe mutations in genes that suppress cell growth are to blame. An estimated 100,000 people in the U.S. have it, according to the National Institutes of Heath.

His case is extreme. Doctors in Nigeria told the family, impoverished and living in a rural village, that there was nothing that could be done for him. He was ashamed to show his face outside, fearing the taunts that always followed. Missionary nuns offered hope and arranged for him to come to America.

Over time, Chukwueke underwent six major surgeries to remove the tumors -- a process that still isn't complete. He's facing another surgery this summer . While recovering in the Detroit area in a house with nuns, he worked to get his GED. He attended community college, transferred to Wayne State and worked on his degree in chemistry. Those who know him credit him for hard work.

"He is someone who overcame so much," said Kenneth Hohn, a professor of pathology who nominated him to speak at the commencement. Chukwueke works in Hohn's lab.

For more information about reprints & permissions, visit our FAQ's. To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.We've updated the Conversation Guidelines. Changes include a brief review of the moderation process and an explanation on how to use the "Report Abuse" button. Read more.

USATODAY.com

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.