THE novel Isabella Testimony By Esther Adekoya  begins on an interesting note, in a hospital ward with the  scene of a woman in pains, and about to give birth. We are let into the back and forth of conversation between the attending nurse and Isabella’s husband, Michael. The conversation is written in an easy prose which makes it quite believable.

The reader can relate to what is happening because the narrative,  unfortunately represents a  typical attitude of some medical personnel in our familiar environment. Medical staff especially nurses, in this part of our world never seem to be sympathetic to women in labour pains as it is believed to be common to all mothers and should be borne by the person going through it with nobility and patience.

The writer’s use of simple prose and descriptive style really helps the reader to share in Isabella and Michael’s near-birth experiences. The reader is also  intimated about the behavioral tendencies of pregnant women as regards to craving for foods. This behaviour is typical of expectant mothers the world over.

Predicament of the couple

The book is very informative and educative in the sense that the predicament of the couple opens up an aspect of medical challenges that beset marriages thereby causing  it to be so shaken even to its  very roots.

Through the chapters of the novel, Isabella and Michael‘s emotional state and well being is stretched to the limits. The reader thus becomes so drawn to their plight, which  is fundamentally, resultant  from  the complexity of personal, individual beliefs and convictions.

Isabella chooses to stop taking her birth control prescription without due consultation with her husband or her doctor because she sees no reason to continue to do so. This brings about a major conflict that brings about hurtful words, negative emotions, and even though they try to get past their hurt, it festers and almost causes the marriage to fall apart irretrievably.

A great message is passed across at this point. No part of a whole/partnership which in this case, a marriage, should embark on their personal agenda which excludes the other or goes against the belief of the other person. All decisions no matter the religious convictions, superstitions, disagreement, suspicions, must be brought out to the open and discussed properly so as to reach a compromise or otherwise.

We are further enlightened on the possible strain that the challenges miscarriages, stillbirths, even the danger of the loss of the mother’s life, during or after childbirth. We also better appreciate a man’s way of reasoning which is logical as opposed to a woman’s emotional considerations.

The conflict between Isabella and Michael helps to come to the realization that previous disagreements were never properly thrashed out. They both harbor some measure of resentment of the other’s earlier stance and decisions.

The need for counseling when a person is hurt is brought to the fore, the necessity of seeking and receiving divine help from God through people around you is also introduced.

Dr Steve and Matron Stella’s willingness to go the extra mile to help Michael and Isabella overcome their problems affirms the principle that offering help to those around you will bring about solutions to one’s own problems.

Though Dr Steve and Stella had worked together in the same environment they never considered the fact that they might be suitable for one another. They set apart their own peculiar circumstances to attend to their patients.

Their mature Christian background and painful experiences in their past seemed to have prepared them for the blessing ahead. They were divinely matched together by divine guidance.

The book is very insightful and a solution in itself. We become aware of the futility of a life lived without Christ, the danger this portends, the vanity of focusing on ephemeral things such as wanting to be accepted by everyone around you, pursuit of political power, fame without caring to consider if any strings are attached or not

The redemptive power of salvation through Christ Jesus is the emphasis after we see the dangers and futility of doing otherwise. Isabella’s past experience enables us to better understand the fact that there is no life that cannot be redeemed. The love of God through Jesus is real and never discriminates. The overall message of the book is one of hope to all who feel hopeless, forgotten and misjudged.