MONROVIA, Liberia — Lady-Leelai M. Kpukuyou has disclosed that she spent several months battling a serious health condition that required multiple medical procedures and surgeries in Liberia and Egypt, including a period when she feared she might permanently lose her ability to walk.
In a personal statement shared publicly, Kpukuyou said what initially appeared to be a minor health problem developed into a prolonged medical ordeal involving hospitalizations, severe pain, surgical procedures, and setbacks.
She said the experience forced her to reconsider her priorities and prompted her to pray for something she had previously taken for granted: the ability to walk again.
“My prayer became very simple: God, please let me walk again and please give me another chance at this life,” Kpukuyou said.
After months of keeping her health condition private, she said she was now ready to share her experience and express gratitude to the people and institutions that supported her during the difficult period.
Kpukuyou said her medical journey began in Liberia, where she received treatment and underwent an initial surgery before being taken to Egypt for further specialized care, including another major spinal procedure.
She did not disclose the specific diagnosis or provide details about the dates of her surgeries.
Government Officials Recognized for Support
Kpukuyou expressed appreciation to the Government of Liberia, particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for providing institutional support when her health condition became serious.
She specifically thanked Foreign Affairs Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti, who also serves as dean of the Cabinet, for her leadership and assistance during the crisis.
She also acknowledged Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Ethel Davis and Deputy Minister for Administration Gabriel H. Salee, saying the officials personally visited her at the hospital and supported efforts to facilitate her transfer abroad for medical treatment.
According to Kpukuyou, the officials’ presence during her hospitalization provided reassurance at a time when the possibility of losing her mobility had become a major concern.
She further thanked Education Minister Jarso Maley Jallah for her encouragement and concern, as well as Civil Service Agency Director-General Josiah F. Joekai Jr. and his wife for visiting and supporting her.
Kpukuyou also recognized Samuel Kofi Woods II, Bong County Sen. Prince K. Moye, Sheikh Jalloh and Alex Noah, alongside other public officials, friends and loved ones who called, visited, prayed for her and offered assistance.
She said the support she received during her illness reinforced the importance of standing by people during their most vulnerable moments.
Praises Medical Teams in Liberia and Egypt
The Liberian woman expressed particular gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals who treated her in Liberia and Egypt.
The Liberian woman expressed particular gratitude to the doctors, nurses,, and other medical professionals who treated her in Liberia and Egypt.
She praised the administration of John F. Kennedy Medical Center, particularly Dr. Linda A. Birch and her team, for providing care during some of the most frightening moments of her illness.
She also acknowledged Liberia’s only neurosurgeon, whom she identified as Dr. Doe, and the international medical doctors who participated in her initial surgery in Liberia.
Kpukuyou said the medical professionals helped her navigate a period marked by severe pain, uncertainty and fears about her future mobility.
Her treatment later continued in Egypt, where she underwent another major spinal procedure and a difficult recovery.
She thanked the surgeons, doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and other medical personnel who assisted her during the second phase of treatment.
She described the experience as a fight to regain not only her mobility but also her independence and ability to return to her children and normal daily activities.
“I will never forget the people whose knowledge and hands God used to heal me,” she said.
Liberia’s Embassy in Cairo Commended
Kpukuyou also commended Liberia’s Ambassador to Egypt, Henry B. Fahnbulleh, and staff of the Liberian Embassy in Cairo for their interventions, telephone calls, prayer,s and concern throughout her medical journey.
She said diplomatic colleagues from other missions in Cairo also provided emotional support, visited he,r and regularly checked on her condition.
She said diplomatic colleagues from other missions in Cairo also provided emotional support, visited her and regularly checked on her condition.
According to her, the assistance helped ease the difficulties of receiving medical treatment far from home.
She said Egypt had become an important part of her personal story, adding that she intended to share more about that chapter of her life in the future.
Says She Can Walk Again
In one of the most significant revelations in her statement, Kpukuyou said she could now stand on her feet and walk again, although she acknowledged that her recovery was not necessarily complete.
She said the ability to walk, make plans, and look toward the future had taken on a new meaning after months of uncertainty.
“So if you were one of those who asked, ‘Leelai, are you okay?’ Today I can finally say: Yes, I am okay,” she said.
“Not because everything is finished or because my body has completely forgotten what happened to it, but I can put my own feet on the floor, I can walk, I can make plans again and look ahead.”
She said the experience taught her to accept help from others and recognize that strength does not always mean handling difficulties alone.
Kpukuyou also encouraged people experiencing personal struggles to seek assistance, allow loved ones to support them and remain hopeful during difficult periods.
“Sometimes getting through today is enough,” she said.
Expresses Gratitude to Family, Friends
Kpukuyou reserved special appreciation for her children, family members and friends, saying they supported her through days of pain, exhaustion and uncertainty.
She also addressed her social media followers, explaining that her prolonged silence was not intended to disregard their concern but reflected the emotional and physical demands of her recovery.
She said she had seen messages, missed calls and comments from people asking about her well-being but had not been ready to respond.
Reflecting on the experience, Kpukuyou said the illness changed her understanding of what matters most in life, making ordinary activities and the ability to live independently more valuable.
She concluded her statement by thanking the government, medical teams in Liberia and Egypt, family members, friends, and everyone who remembered her during her absence from public engagement.
Above all, she credited God for helping her through the ordeal.