Nigeria's first lady describes mystery illness, months after she underwent surgeries abroad

February 17, 2013

ABUJA, Nigeria - Nigeria's first lady has described details of a mystery illness she had that the country's presidency refused to discuss.

Patience Jonathan, wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, talked about the illness at a church service Sunday at Aso Rock, the nation's presidential villa.

Jonathan said she had her "intestine and tummy opened" and later fell unconscious for a week. She said she had "eight or nine" surgeries in all and some "sold my things off" because they thought she was dead.

The first lady said: "My doctors said all hope was lost."

In September, Jonathan disappeared from public view. Officials said she had "food poisoning" and was receiving medical treatment abroad.  She returned in October visibly thinner.