Superman by Radiant (with lyrics)

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Love doesn't keep a man from his destiny
Real men go to fight fight for their families
You're a strong girl waiting behind doors
Praying that your man won't be out long
Cheer up pretty woman, guess who's coming soon
It's your Superman. It's your Superman

Cheer up. It's your Superman
It's your Superman. It's your Superman.
Cheer up. It's your Superman
It's your Superman. It's your Superman.

When it gets tough on the battlefield
It's your love that gets him over the hills
Grenades and a gunshot wound
Won't take the place where your heart once stood
Cheer up. Pretty woman. Guess who is coming soon
It's your Superman. It's your Superman.

Cheer up. It's your Superman
It's your Superman. It's your Superman.
Cheer up. It's your Superman
It's your Superman. It's your Superman.

Your Superman can't wait to get home girl.
You're the girl of his dreams and the rock in his world
Every Superman needs a Super woman
You're the one he needs and all he's got

Watch lyric video

~ Radiant

My surprise baby shower (diary entry)

Today I experienced the love of God in a new dimension. I experienced it through the hands of selfless, loving, thoughtful and generous human beings.

My hubby had said we would go out on Sunday (today) for a dinner. Since it was valentine season, I was unsuspecting. After church, we went for grocery shopping, got back home, had lunch and were watching a favourite YouTube series. Then he informed me that we had to leave at 4:30pm. I put on my dress, applied a light make up and was set for the adventure.

He blindfolded me so I couldn’t guess the venue by the route he took. When we got there, there were already about 15 people gathered in the house of our friends, the Idahosas, with plenty of food, chewables, drinks, decorations and music. We played baby themed fun games and danced.



I was indeed pleasantly surprised.

I was reminded again the pleasant feeling of receiving gifts. I am challenged to be the one who gives people this feeling.



To all who planned, organised, honoured the invitation and brought gifts to celebrate the gift of a growing being in our lives, my prayer for you is that you will never lack help. You will always have love around you. My God will replenish your pockets. You will abound in abundance for every good work.

Thank you so much for your kindness.



~ Radiant

Baby delivery: What I packed in my hospital bag versus what I actually needed

Frankly, it’s more like what I packed in my hospital 'box' because mine was a 15kg suitcase packed with baby and mother’s stuff. As I didn’t know how long I would be in hospital for, I figured that it's better to be over prepared than under prepared.

Things I packed in my hospital bag

For mother

• Clothes

• Night wear

• Underwear

• Towel

• Toothbrush (an extra for dad)

• Toothpaste

• Soap

• Slippers

• Snacks

• Sanitary pads

• Sanitary pants

• Nursing pads - I didn't use these.

• Electric breast pump - I actually didn't need to pack this as I was encouraged to use the hospital pump which is more powerful.

For Baby

• Bodysuits - These are the small vests that are fastened at the nappy area.

• Sleepsuits - These are baby wears with arms and legs worn over the bodysuit.

• Muslin squares - Can be used for wiping milk that drips off mouth during feeding.

• Bibs - I had no need of these.

• Pacifier/dummy - I didn't use this as he was a calm boy most times. Also, I wanted him to establish his suckle first.

• Diapers - Take lots. My baby pooped 8 times daily on Day 1 and 2.

• Wipes - Depending on your cleaning preference, take wipes or cotton wool.

• Baby towel - You may not need this if your baby does not have his first bath in the hospital.

• Blanket

• Travel change mat - When packing this I wasn’t sure why I’d need it. After all I could change him in his cot, right? It was when he had pooped all over his body one day that I found good use of it. It helped prevent large stains to his clothes and my bed while changing him.

Depending on where you are expecting to deliver, you may also want to pack feeding bottle and baby milk in case breast feeding does not go on as planned initially. Luckily, I was given these at the hospital.

Other things to go to hospital with:

• Nursing pillow - I had 2 (one was given to me as a gift). The gifted one was a larger multipurpose pillow which I used during pregnancy for pelvic girdle pain, during labour for positioning, for support of baby and arms during breastfeeding, as an improvised baby cot sometimes, and as a sitting ring for pain relief. 

• Car seat - This was necessary as we were going to drive home.

And of course, some money. 

This list is not exhaustive. But these were basically all I needed for my 11-day hospital delivery journey.

Are there any items you think are important which I have left out? Please comment below. I'd be delighted.

Radiant ~ June 2020

Kinggirl & Jiry - The Prayer (Pidgin Cover) lyrics

Jiry:
I pray make you be our eyes
And watch all our waka o
And teach us to get sense
When we neva sabi
Na so we suppose pray
When we don waka loss
Carry us go dat place
Arrange our step with grace
Go dat place wey just make sense

Kinggirl:
Abeg give us your light
Even though NEPA don quench
Make the twinkle star for night
Remind us say God dey
Na so we suppose dey pray o
When we no dey see road
Carry us go dat place
Arrange our step with grace
Go dat place wey just make sense

Chorus:
Anoda life wey all dis gbege no dey
And all the heart wey don break go arrange back
Our sense go come back
Say na one God make us
I go give you my hand
All of us go shine

Jiry:
Abeg look us with soft mind (abeg look us with soft mind)
And show us correct road (and show us correct road)
Teach us make we dey see (teach us make we dey see)
Everybody as one (everybody as one)
Na dis we dey pray so (na dis we dey pray so)
As people for Naija (as people for Naija)

Carry us go dat place
Arrange our step with grace
Go dat place wey just make sense

Vamp:
Carry us go dat place
Arrange our step with grace
Go dat place wey just make sense
Carry us go dat place
Arrange our step with grace
Go dat place wey just make sense

Go dat place wey just make sense
Go dat place wey just make sense
Go dat place wey just make sense


Watch the lyric video here.

Do you love this song? Please comment below.
Follow the artists on Instagram @ajiri.ivovi and @onome_kinggirl and YouTube @Jiry Nation

Radiant ~ June 2020
These lyrics were posted with permission from the artists.

Creative Ways To Celebrate Your Birthday During The Lockdown

COVID-19 has spoilt the plans of a lavish birthday party for many. However, you do not want to look back post-COVID and wish you had figured a way around it. No one should be alone, especially not on their birthday. So, let's go through some creative ideas to celebrate your birthday during the lockdown.

1. Drive in or Drive-by birthday party

You might have seen some videos of musical concerts happening with people in their cars, or videos of friends driving by and dropping birthday or baby shower gifts. Well if you have the resources and your neighbours don't mind, then this is a fun and unforgettable option. Remember to check if you require permission from your local council.

2. Doorstep delivery party
So what if you cannot afford to lock down the street? Maybe you are not that extroverted, or you are afraid of disturbing environmental peace. If the mountain will not come to Muhammad, then Muhammad must go to the mountain. Roast some BBQ, bake some cakes, get some cookies and just drop them off your friends' doorsteps with a note that says something like this. 'It's my birthday. Too bad we cannot get together', blah blah.

3. Virtual party

What if you don't want to step outside your home at all? Coronavirus might still be in the air after all. You could host a virtual party. You can use online conference call platforms like Zoom, Skype or FaceTime. Invite your friends, ask them to get some drinks. You could deliver cupcakes and cookies if they are nearby. Play hot music, dance and have fun. You could also play games together, like ask them questions about you to see who knows you best.

4. Facebook Watch party

Well, since you cannot go to the cinema with your friends, you could invite them to see a good movie with you via Facebook Watch party. You could chat along, eat your popcorn and drink some Coke.

5. Recorded birthday messages

Did you know you can involve friends from all over the world? Your spouse or best friend could ask them to send you videos of them saying their birthday prayers and wishes for you. You can always play it back to yourself whenever you are down as a reminder that you're loved.

How I celebrated my birthday

I had my birthday recently. Due to the lockdown conditions, I couldn't host a lavish party as I would have loved to for a milestone birthday. However,  a combination 2 and 5 above still made my day memorable. I delivered my home-made cakes to friends who lived close by. 

Unknown to me, my husband had asked friends in different parts of the world to send their video birthday messages to him. About 60 responded which he compiled and played for me on the day. I was so happy to have all those people celebrate me. 

Thanks to everyone who sent their wishes and gifts. If I had thought about it early enough, I could have hosted a virtual party as well.

Have you had your birthday during this lockdown period, please share with me how you celebrated it.

Radiant ~ June 2020

Maternity Leave/Lockdown goals: What I have been up to

So I happened to give birth to my amazing newborn during the beginning of the UK Coronavirus lockdown period. Before delivery I had set out goals for my maternity leave as I was going to be taking a career break, I would have more time to introspect and hopefully think up and develop new skills apart from mothering. The first month of motherhood was challenging - but in a good way of course. I could not visit my goals as I was very well occupied with nursing, changing nappies, catching naps, bathing baby and so on. Now that my son is 2 months old, with help from my mom and hubby, I've settled into a nice routine and have now picked up some of those goals. We're still on lockdown, so it works for that too. This is what I have been up to.

1. Baking

I had started learning to bake before my delivery, but infrequently. Now I bake quite regularly. I have learnt different cake recipes via YouTube. I even baked my own birthday cakes. For someone who enjoys having sweets in between meals, it's nice and cheaper to make my own snacks.

From left to right, chocolate cake, banana cake, decorated vanilla pound cake, carrot cake and plain vanilla cake.

2. Reading
At the beginning of this year, I had said I would read at least one book a month. I started off alright, but got busy. This period, though tough, I have been able to get some time to read a little. However, I still have loads of ebooks on my list.

3. Spiritual development

In order to develop spiritually, one needs to regularly make time to shut out noise from the world in the form of work or other commitments. Call it a retreat, I have found time during this period to feed my spirit. I've been listening to Apostle Joshua Selman's sermons on YouTube. This has re-awakened my prayer life. Thank God for Zoom online platform, my church is still able to meet regularly. 

4. Connecting with family and friends

During the working time, I never had enough time to check up on people as I would have loved to. During this period, I have been able to catch up with family through video calls. Whatsapp group chats are now more active than ever due to the lockdown, so much I can't even keep up.

5. Continuous Professional Development

Thanks to many free webinars available these days, I have been able to keep up to date with my medical knowledge.

Other things I have been engaged with include social media management for my church and online activities of my university medical alumni group.

So that's what I've been up to lately asides from my number one duty which is to look after my lovely newborn. You see, whether it's lockdown or maternity leave, a period of staying at home is not so bad afterall. There are so many good things you could achieve during this period. But if all you have achieved is rest or family time, that is worth its weight in gold especially if you are one that finds it difficult to make time to chillax. 

I'd love to hear what you have been up to during this period. Please leave me a comment below or send me a mail at chidiogoradiant@gmail.com.

Radiant ~ June 2020

Career Lessons Learnt From Giving Birth At My Workplace

Two months ago, I gave birth to my bouncing baby boy at the hospital where I work. The experience of being at the receiving end of healthcare was beneficial to me. This would forever change the way I practice Medicine. Here are some of the important lessons I learnt.

1. Never take out your day’s frustration on a patient. 

Do not show how stressed you are. You might feel like you are just doing your job, it’s another patient, another case. But to them, this is the moment they’ve been waiting for, “the doctor is here". "The infant feeding specialist is here". "The midwife is here". You’d better make it count.

2. Be caring.

I found out that doctors were more detached and less empathetic than the nurses and care workers. One doctor totally disregarded the presence of my husband. Patients remember how you made them feel much more than what you said to them. They can differentiate who really cares from who is just going through the motions.

3. Don't leave patients in the dark.

I understood how it felt to be left in the dark. I requested for a PRN (as needed) medicine and 4 hrs later, I was yet to receive it without any explanation. Imagine if that medicine was for pain. On the other hand, I also found that it doesn’t help to have conflicting information from different people. Usually patients are waiting for a decision. For instance, if a junior doctor says something, the patient may take it as final and make certain plans (e.g transport) based on that information, only for it to be changed later by a senior doctor. In that case it is better to say, "this is what I’m thinking would happen but let us wait for a final decision by my senior". That way you give hope but they don’t begin acting on it till it is final. 

4. Don't be presumptive.

Don't assume that because a patient is a healthcare worker, that they know everything about their condition. Though I am a doctor and have taken care of children, I still needed to be taught how to sterilize feeding equipment, bath baby, position baby to breast feed, etc. 

5. Don't judge without understanding.

I understood how it felt to be judged incorrectly from my actions being misconstrued. I was suspected of neglecting my child without the observer seeking an explanation from me.

6. Always introduce yourself and what you do when meeting a patient for the first time. 

So many different teams came around. It was a bit confusing who was who, even for me who worked there.

7. Needles are really painful. Be considerate.

I was unfortunate to have very difficult veins. From my antenatal period till delivery, they always had multiple attempts at getting blood off me. It made me reconsider the sense behind a healthcare worker having a third trial if there is a more experienced person available to do the job. Many a times, this is done out of personal ego; not wanting to accept failure. My being a doctor didn't protect me from multiple attempts. In order not to be seen as being obstructive due to my position, I kept quiet initially. But when it became too much to bear, I raised an objection. Patients have every right to refuse an intervention.

8. There is no place like home.

It was starting to become almost depressing as I had stayed over a week in hospital. I eventually got discharged, only to be re-admitted the following day. However, I was so pleased to be home even for one night; to finally sleep on my bed, eat home-cooked food, and enjoy the love and comfort of family. I wouldn't trade that for anything. Because we know patients recover better from home, in our paediatric ward we allow home leave when patients request and are fit for it. If they are on once-daily antibiotics through their veins, we allow them to come in daily for it from home.

Out of all that I met, I will not forget:

• The midwife who explained the duration of the induction process and calmed our nerves.
• The midwife who stayed by my bedside all night during the last day of the induction.
• The doctor who delivered my baby.
• The carers who gave me a bed bath after delivery.
• And the infant feeding nurse who very patiently helped me position my baby to suckle. 

I am terrible with names but one stands out - Esthera. 

Radiant ~ June 2020