Stroke and Witchcraft?

Dear Doctor,
My brother sufferered a stroke about a year ago. He was flown abroad and later sent back home. He has been geting better but only slightly and a bit too slow for my liking. He is no longer in the hospital because we have been made to realise that what he needs now is some physiotherapy and so on. But I am not satisfied. He can hardly talk or recognise any body. I am worried - some of our relatives are sure there is witchcraft involved and, as if they are right, certain people at home, i am told, have in fact, already confessed their involvement. Doctor, what can i do? What do you think about the witchcraft angle? What can I do to help? I don't want to lose him! Please help. Thank you
Mrs Mata Humuani, Epe, Lagos

Dear Mrs Humuani,
Stroke is defined as "a sudden loss of brain function caused by a blockage or rupture of a blood vessel to the brain, characterized by loss of muscular control, reduction or loss of sensation or consciousness, dizziness, slurred speech, or other symptoms that vary with the extent and severity of the damage to the brain. Also called cerebral accident, cerebrovascular accident and apoplexy, stroke involves a sudden loss of consciousness resulting when the rupture or occlusion of a blood vessel leads to oxygen lack in the brain. Hypertension is usually the disease behind a stroke. It increases the pressure --or force of flow-- of the the blood vessels to the brain are carrying beyond the point of endurance and the poor vessels burst --rather like when the water pipe from water corporation bursts at some point before it gets to your house! Then you will suffer a "no water" situation-- just like the brain suffers a no oxygen situation causing brain cells to die. And since nerve cells do not regenerate when they die, rehabilitation will have to take long -- the function of dead nerve cells will need to be taken over and learnt slowly (by dint of repetition and practice) by other nerve cells unaccoustomed to those functions. When there is a blockage of blood vessel rather than a bursted blood vessel at the root of stroke however, then we have -- not hypertension -- but something else as the underlying disease condition causing the stroke. A good example is when there is a Road traffic accident and some long bones are broken-- maybe the thigh bone or femur. Here the displaced bone marrow fat from the broken bone may travel through blood vessels as an embolus to go and block vessels in the brain and cause a stroke. Emboli may also form from the cholesterol plaques found in the inside walls of old and ageing artherosclerotic blood vessels --again dislogdging and travelling to block smaller blood vesels in the brain to cause stroke. This is why a high cholesterol level and artherosclerosis are dangerous. The care of a stroke patient involves making sure they are receiving as and when due their medications against hypertension (commonest cause in these parts) and or whaever else may be the root of their stroke, because if care is not taken the high blood pressure will soon cause another stroke in a patient that has just been diagnosed of the same!!! Psychologically, there must be committed, caring , supportive, non- complaining ansd anticipatory care best given from loving members of the family. You see, a person with stroke is either paretic or paralysed --(very weak or totally non-functioning muscles) and cannot move by themselves to some or every degree and may not even be able to help themselves to toilet. So as not to demoralise them and thereby make them prone to further deterioration, the care and support must be of high quality and committed -- it takes very little carelessness for a paralysed patient to develop a bed sore -- deadly in its effect - and usual when nursing care is deficient -- a paralysed patient's position must be changed at least every 2 hours!! Spiritually, you will find that prayers will help --seriously. You can't pray? Well psalms are ready -made prayers and work if prayed conscientiously. Witchcraft? Confessions? Hmmh. Let's just say that it is true that many diseases disabilities, discomforts, diasasters and depressing adversities are negatively spiritually engineered by agents of darkness. If you read my book,"Destroying the Strongholds of Witchcraft" you will learn much in its 333 pages that will be useful to your brother and your prayers. Call the helplines or send e mail to find out how to obtain the book.
Cheers

Dr. Caleb Bibbi Oluranti