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Going back to the source for a solution
The Bible says “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing“according to John 15:5 (KJV). This is a profound statement that needs to be considered in all aspects of our lives, especially in our marital relationships. People think that you can establish a relationship particularly a marital one, without the involvement of God and therefore Godly principles and expect it to work. No wonder the rate of divorce keeps soaring and soaring.
What we need to understand is that marriage is for fulfillment of God’s purposes for mankind and therefore to take him out of the equation makes the relationship a non-starter. I was watching a movie and the newlyweds were embarking on their honeymoon just by boat, soon after the wedding that was held at a seafront. The groom was the one driving the boat and the family and friends waved them off joyfully as the boat sped off. Shortly afterwards they decided to turn back to say a final bye bye to the people and the man ‘s foot got entangled in the rope that was used in tying the boat to the platform used as the disembarking platform and fell over board and was being dragged along like someone doing water skiing. A family member observing the chaos that ensued commented, “This marriage would not last”. There are sometimes signs of how a marriage is going to end at the friendship or courtship stages but family members tend to gloss over, only to later confess when things go wrong that they saw signs but thought things will work out so they kept their silence.
Listening to the discussions going on the TV show on Friday the September 25, about a lady who had asked the host about what to do regarding the ultimatum given her by her fiancé that either she gets a butt enhancement through surgery or she should forget about him ever marrying her. This marriage if it should happen has no firm foundation. It is only based on physical appearance which would change with time. What happens 10 years after It brought to the fore the attitude towards women in our chauvinistic society? The divorce rate has been on the rise and my worry is the impact it has on society since the family unit is a microcosm of the society and therefore if marriages do not work, then it is the society that is at risk of disintegration.
Some ladies go looking for partners sometimes with a tall list of criteria they are looking for in a man and when they realise that time is running out for them then they get desperate and settle on anyone who comes their way. They do not take time because they are in a hurry to really get to know their partners. It is true that you cannot really foretell what the future holds but if you are a Christian, serious prayer would let you have the assurance that the person you have settled on is the right person for you. Most of the time however, people who are ready to marry, do not have time for serious prayer. In fact some are not willing to even involve God at all. They just go in to see the parents and they do the customary marriage and they become man and wife. Clearly such a relationship may be headed for trouble since the people involved have not brought in the God factor so they can go to Him for assistance should they encounter challenges.
What people need to understand is that the marriage institution is something ordained by God for His children to fulfill His purpose for mankind. Any marriage relationship must therefore be established according to His rules. Anything done outside of his rules is headed for trouble and it does not matter the educational or social status of the persons involved. The fact is that one plus one equals two and it does not matter which planet you are on, it remains the same. What you choose to believe does not change that fact. The problem though is that when you choose to believe either through ignorance or for some other reason that one plus one is equal to say 3, you would have yourself to blame when it matters most. If you think that if you are not a child of God you can still have a successful marriage, then you are living in a fool’s paradise.
There are two forces in this world the forces of good represented by God and the forces of evil represented by the devil. There is no middle way. You are either a child of God or a child of the devil, it does not matter whether you believe it or not just as one plus one equals two. Marriage is something that the devil hates because when properly established it destroys the kingdom of satan and promotes the agenda of God. Therefore the first day a marriage gets contracted is the day the marriage and the people involved became the target of the devil. When one of the partners is a child of God and the other is not, it becomes easier for the devil to manipulate issues in the marriage to destroy it. If you get married to an unbeliever, satan is your Father-in-law and you can be sure that no good advice will come from him to her son or daughter to help establish that marriage. That is why the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 6:14 that “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers…” (KJV).
All the blame for failed marriages however cannot be put on at the doorstep of the devil. Our attitude towards marriage goes a long way in determining whether or not our marriages would be successful or not. When a woman starts to disrespect her husband due to loss of his job, illness or some other reason, a foundation for the destruction of the marriage is being laid. It is just a matter of time before such a marriage implodes. A husband who begins to cheat on his wife also lays the foundation for the destruction of the marriage and you cannot blame this on the devil. There are other issues like succumbing to the influence of friends, reduction of care and demonstration of affection towards each other, maintenance of body shape, maintenance of personal hygiene etc. which if not addressed has the potential to disrupt the harmony of any marital relationship. These cannot be blamed on the devil.
Another worrying development is the loss of moral values gradually taking hold of our youth. The sanctity of marriage especially the “till death do us part” portion does not matter to them. To them divorce is now part of the marital equation and at the sign of a slight challenge begin to find a way out. There is also the issue of feminist agenda which began at the Beijing Conference and our ladies especially the educated ones, have adopted it hook line and sinker and have even taken it to ridiculous levels. If people decide to have their own way and disregard God’s rules as far as marriage is concerned, then I dare say emphatically that they can never have a stable marital relationships; for without Him we can do nothing.
Laud Kissi-Mensah
The driver stopped the vehicle at the gate of the large, fenced property along the Nsawam Highway, and Kakraba stepped out to meet the several workers who had gathered to wait for him.
He greeted them and went straight to the point.
“Gentlemen, I am glad to see that you have almost completed the clearing of the land. I’m happy to report that we have concluded all arrangements with Nana Serebour, and construction of the palace will start in a few days.
“I will need you to go and level the ground, and then come back to start this project. Some workers from a construction company will come and join us.
“My plan is to build twenty houses in four months. Then we will do twenty more until we reach two hundred.
“I am relying on you to help me deliver good-quality work to satisfy our clients and, as I have already indicated to you, I will reward you for your work.”
After an hour’s discussion, he closed the meeting and moved to drive away. Wofa Yaw drew closer.
“Director, can you please spare me five minutes? I would like to discuss a small issue.”
“Why, Wofa Yaw? Your wife has threatened to leave you?”
“No, Director. My wife will never leave me. This concerns a young niece of mine.”
“I hope it’s something I can help with. Please sit in the car and let me hear you.”
“Boss, my niece, Beesiwa, is a polytechnic graduate, very beautiful and with very good character.
“Unfortunately, her parents virtually forced her into a relationship with an idiot based in the US, which affected her badly. She has now recovered from that experience and, Boss, I am respectfully asking if you would find a job for her.
“I promise you that you will never regret it.”
“Well, Wofa Yaw, let me meet her and speak with her. I may be able to help, maybe not in the way you expect, but let me meet her.
“I will not be back here for another week, but I will be at the office throughout next week. You can come with her.”
On Monday morning, Wofa Yaw and Beesiwa were seated at the office by nine o’clock. Three young ladies welcomed them warmly, offered them soft drinks and assured them that Kakraba would be there shortly.
They then returned to their desks and sat behind computers with large screens displaying various building designs.
Kakraba walked in and greeted them warmly. After chatting briefly with the three ladies, he ushered Wofa Yaw and Beesiwa into his office.
“Director, this is my niece, Beesiwa. I mentioned her to you when you came to Nsawam.”
“Yes, indeed. Madam Beesiwa, you are very beautiful, just as your uncle said. Wofa Yaw is my colleague.
“We have just started a building project that will take about three to four years. He mentioned that you have a small problem, so I said I would like to meet you and see how I can help.
“So, Beesiwa, please tell me a little about yourself.”
Beesiwa described her childhood, her school experience, her brief work at the bank and the nasty episode with Sammy Abrokwa, which shattered her peaceful life. She also explained how she had been recovering from the experience.
“I am really sorry to hear this,” Kakraba said. “Now, here is what we are going to do.
“We are a small but very busy company. The three ladies out there spend most of the day on site and come back to report on their work in the morning.
“I have three main projects. The big one is an estate project in Nsawam, where your uncle is one of my main colleagues. I need a personal assistant who can take care of my activities, especially when I am not in town.
“Now, we will have to start with trust. Based on what I know about Wofa Yaw, and based on what you yourself have told me, I think we can start on a sound basis.
“So, Wofa Yaw will take you to my home. You can move into one of the four guest rooms.”
“Sir, I have taken some computer lessons, and I have even done graphics and web design,” Beesiwa said.
“Fantastic! I will give you a good phone and a laptop. I will also arrange computer lessons for you.”
“Now, Wofa Yaw, take her home. My sister, Kuukuwa, will meet you and show you around, and then you can return to Koforidua.
“When would you like to start work?”
“Sir, I would like to start today, but I would need to go and bring my things.”
“No problem. Take a taxi to my house, meet my sister, and let me know what you decide.”
Later that day, Kakraba and the three ladies met with some bank officials to conclude the sale of the three buildings at Adabraka.
They closed at five-thirty and, after rewarding the ladies for their hard work, Kakraba got home just after dark.
He was surprised to find Kuukuwa and Beesiwa sitting at the table enjoying supper.
“What’s happening here?” he asked. “Beesiwa, I thought you would return to Koforidua.”
“She changed her mind,” Kuukuwa said. “We went to the mall and bought a few things for her. Then we came back to cook. She has made some nice changes to your bedroom and cooked a couple of interesting dishes. Sit down; we will serve you.”
“Well, I certainly can’t refuse that. It’s been a busy day.
“So, what’s the plan now? Will Beesiwa go to Koforidua tomorrow, gather her things together and come down?”
“No, I will stay here for a while,” Beesiwa replied. “Kuukuwa bought me the things I need, so I may go back next week. I’m ready to start work. What would you like me to start with?”
“Well, you can come to the office tomorrow morning, meet the three girls and get a feel for what we do.
“Since you are living here, at least for now, we can discuss the plans for the next few weeks.
“Sometimes there are gaps when I travel up north. You can take care of things from now. I think the girls would like having someone like you around.”
By Ekow de Heer
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A frequent question following breast surgery is whether human tissue possesses the regenerative capacity to restore an excised organ.
From a strict physiological standpoint, a completely removed breast cannot regrow. Unlike certain organisms that can regenerate complex limbs or organs, adult human tissues—particularly specialised glandular structures—lack the cellular machinery required to rebuild an entire organ after its total surgical removal.
Instead, the body heals the surgical site through processes such as scar tissue formation and re-epithelialisation rather than complete cellular regeneration.
What a mastectomy actually removes
To understand why natural tissue regeneration does not occur, it is important to examine the surgical scope of a mastectomy.
Depending on the type of procedure and the medical reason for surgery, a mastectomy may involve the removal of:
Glandular architecture: The milk-producing lobules and ducts that form the functional core of the mammary gland.
Adipose tissue: The fatty tissue that contributes to breast volume, projection and contour.
Other breast tissue: The extent of tissue removal varies according to the type of mastectomy and the need to achieve appropriate surgical clearance.
Because specialised breast structures are physically removed, the body does not rebuild a complete mammary gland. Instead, healing occurs through tissue repair and scar formation.
Distinguishing residual tissue from “regrowth”
Patients or observers may notice changes in the chest area after surgery, sometimes leading to misconceptions about tissue regeneration.
Skin- and nipple-sparing procedures
Modern breast surgery may preserve the outer skin envelope or, in selected cases, the nipple-areola complex. Small amounts of breast tissue may remain depending on the surgical technique. Any changes in remaining tissue due to hormonal fluctuations represent residual tissue responding to the body, rather than the regrowth of a completely removed breast.
Adipose accumulation
Weight gain after surgery can increase the amount of subcutaneous fat across the chest wall. However, this is part of general body fat distribution and does not represent the regeneration of a mammary gland.
Modern reconstructive pathways
Because a completely removed breast does not naturally regenerate, modern medicine offers reconstructive options aimed at restoring physical symmetry, contour and body image.
The two main approaches are implant-based reconstruction and autologous, or tissue-based, reconstruction.
Implant-based reconstruction
Implant-based reconstruction uses synthetic medical devices, typically filled with silicone gel or saline, to rebuild the breast mound following a mastectomy.
The two-stage process: This approach may begin with the placement of a temporary tissue expander to gradually create space and stretch the surrounding tissues. A later procedure may then be performed to place a permanent implant.
Recovery profile: Implant-based reconstruction generally involves a shorter initial surgery and recovery period compared with procedures that require tissue to be harvested from another part of the body.
Long-term considerations: Breast implants are not lifetime devices and require ongoing medical monitoring. Some patients may need additional procedures over time because of complications or changes in the implant or surrounding tissue.
Autologous or tissue-based reconstruction
Autologous reconstruction uses the patient’s own living tissue to create a new breast mound. Tissue may be transferred from another part of the body, commonly the lower abdomen, using procedures such as a DIEP flap.
Natural look and feel: Because the reconstruction uses living tissue, it can provide a natural warmth, texture and softness. The tissue may also change with the patient’s body weight over time.
Long-term durability: Once healing is complete, autologous reconstruction can provide a long-lasting result without the need to replace an implant. However, some patients may still require further procedures.
Complex surgery: This option usually involves a longer operation and recovery period. In microsurgical procedures, surgeons may need to reconnect tiny blood vessels to establish blood flow to the transferred tissue.
Direct comparison
When choosing between these two reconstructive pathways, patients and their surgical teams must consider several physical, medical and lifestyle factors.
Surgical burden: Implant surgery is generally less invasive, while flap reconstruction involves surgery at both the chest and the donor site.
Foreign material versus native tissue: Implants involve the use of a medical device, while autologous reconstruction uses the patient’s own tissue.
Recovery: The recovery timelines and rehabilitation requirements differ significantly between the two procedures.
Recovery and physical rehabilitation
Recovering from breast reconstruction requires patience, careful pacing and, in some cases, structured physical rehabilitation.
Because implant-based and autologous tissue-flap procedures involve different surgical techniques, their healing timelines and physical therapy milestones can vary considerably.
Understanding these differences is important for patients considering reconstruction, as the choice involves more than restoring physical appearance. It also requires careful consideration of recovery, long-term monitoring, lifestyle and individual medical needs.
Part 2 will examine recovery timelines, physical therapy milestones and other factors patients should consider when choosing between reconstructive options.
By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson
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