In Memory of Oby This page is dedicated to the memory of my late wife, Anthonia Oby Okwuosa Elias. Oby was brave, kind, strong yet self-effacing. Fondly called Ada Mmadu by me, Oby was born on July 6, 1964 in the city of Port Harcourt, River State, Nigeria. Oby was brutally murdered by incompetent physicians at the Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Sacramento, California on February 19, 1995. Ten days earlier, they also murdered our son in your womb. Oby's favorite saying was an Ibo language expression, Obu Chukwu - translated to mean All praise belong to God or all things happen because of God. She was of average height, slender, elegant, feminine, a fountain of good advice, a tower of strength and indeed the strongest woman I have evern known. I swore to honor her memory - all the days of my life - because that is the least I could do in light of the injustices and your wrongful death in the hands of incompetent doctors at Kaiser Hospital in Sacramento. The death of Oby had a devastating effect on me and our families. I had spent few long months nursing her, hoping that somehow the illness that was ravaging her body needlessly would miraculously vanish; but as she grew weaker, it was still hard for me to believe she would ever leave us. I wrote the poem below after her death to memorialize her life. DREAM GIRL A few months before meeting her in person through a family friend, I saw a local newspaper in my dream with the caption, "Chris Weds Oby". I knew then that she was my girl. Getting to meet her a few months later and eventually marrying her was a realization of my dream. Her black hair that swirled like natural ridge, Her brown eyes gleamed for me, awoke desires..... Her slender form was sculpted, graceful, lithe; She walked demurely, yet in love she'd writhe. I know her well, she was my dearest love. In crowds, a hint of walk, a curve, sudden glint of brown takes me back.... The bitter rack of sad remembrances. We were so young, We loved quiet madly. I knew them all and loved from Spring to Fall and back again my dream girl with her funny ways. Gone forever, yet locked forever in my heart. Ada Mmadu, Yes, the true pain came when death wrenched us apart. Some of our happiest times were spent during our honeymoon in Orlando, Florida and Nassau. I still recall those humming birds everywhere and all sorts of fruit trees when I requested you to strike a tourist pose for our camera in front of our hotel. We discussed the beauty of Orlando and how we were going to spend the rest of our lives together. Little did we know........... Oby, you have departed this world But you are not forgotten In your memory, Chris Elias On behalf of the Ohuabunwa family Pose at a stopover in Orlando on way to Nassau for honeymoon Oby searching for me during our traditional wedding ceremony Wedding Photo