Nollywood actress Abiola Segun Williams, better known as Titi Kabisoye on Tinsel ( Shalewa’s mother) revealed she has a skin disease called Scleroderma , an ailment yet to have a medical cure, during the maiden edition of ‘Wake Up Nigeria on Monday.
Scleroderma, or systemic sclerosis, is a chronic connective tissue disease generally classified as one of the autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Hardening of the skin is one of the most visible manifestations of the disease. The disease has been called “progressive systemic sclerosis,” but the use of that term has been discouraged since it has been found that scleroderma is not necessarily progressive. The disease varies from patient-to-patient.
According to the Tinsel Star, she said: “It all started few years back when I was coughing in the studio, I did all sort of test because I thought I had cancer. But I always ensure I went for holiday every summer with my children. I could sleep for 3 days at a stretch because of the ailment. I went to a dermatologist who thought I had vitiligo but he was wrong, unfortunately each time I am exposed to chemical I start feeling pains and consistent cough. When our studio got burnt, it compounded my problem because the couch became worse. Now I am on medical pills and undergoing some chemo.
“I went to India for two months for my chemotherapy with the support of my pastor and my mum, because some days I couldn’t stand up from my bed or even pick up my calls or eat. My daughter helped me a whole lot, having a girl child is the best thing that ever happened to me.”
She continued, “God gave me the scripture of consolation, God made me understand that for things to be restored to you, you have to loose things. I lost everything I had during my trials, but now God has restored them all. Ireti Doyle and my Tinsel daughter Shalewa were always there for me. They are blessing to me.”
On how the actress unwind, Abiola Williams said, “My fun time is spending time with people. I have a son who is an economist studying in America, and then my daughter just finished her high school education. I love traveling but hate swimming or dressing up. I studied Theatre Arts at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Actually, God told me to go and study drama. What happened was that I finished secondary school in 1983 and I kept writing JAMB. When I wrote it the fourth time, I decided that was the last time I would ever write the exam.
“I asked God to give me direction on what to study and He instructed me to make use of the talent He gave me. When I heard the instruction, I decided to apply to study drama. When they see me, they see the real Abiola. A lot of times, I don’t wear make-up. I am always simply dressed with my pumps. When they see me, they become confused. They would not recognise me as Titi but would comment instead, that I look like her. I am smaller and I look younger in real life than I do on television. But the character, Titi, helps me when there is a long queue somewhere. People would naturally make space for me.
“I was with Chuck Mike, who taught me directing in school at a time. But he left as I was entering final year and because of that, I decided to major in playwriting. I felt Chuck was the only lecturer who could teach me directing. Studying playwriting sharpened my skills in writing. I could see a play from the perspective of a writer and not just from that of a director. The movie, ‘Home’ was my first professional job and it was directed by Chuck Mike.”
Titi K as she is fondly called, on her last words of encouragement before the end of the show, said: ”The Lord is my strength and my life and salvation, hold on to the Lord. He is the very air that I eat. No matter what you are going through, make sure you focus on God no matter the disappointment, look forward to tomorrow, never give up on yourself because God will never give up on you. ”
