Opio Benedicto is a 29-year-old father and the third-born among seven siblings. He is that kind of man whose worth is not measured in words, but in actions. To his two children, he is the storyteller who turns bedtimes into adventures. To his mother, Alum Betty, he is her “third heartbeat,” the child who shoulders the family’s burdens without complaint. And to his neighbors in Alebtong, where he hails from, he is that one communal child who’d help clear community roads and construct granaries. Three weeks ago, on a Sunday evening, this instinct to protect and be there for others nearly cost him his life and everything.
Benedict, that evening, was at the community center, enjoying the evening’s cool breeze in the company of friends, when he noticed his 15-year-old neighbor under attack by five thugs. Coming from the same neighborhood, Benedict wasn’t going to stand by and watch. Not under his watch.
His reflexes kicked in before his mind could weigh the danger. He charged forward, shouting for the attackers to back off. But he was outnumbered. Before he could land a single blow in defense, the gang turned on him with a fury no one saw coming. A brick, then another, then a third, crashed against his skull.
People fled, some in fear, others in shock, leaving Benedicto lying in his blood. For five agonizing hours, he lay there, motionless, as rumors spread that he was dead. It wasn’t until word finally reached his family that his mother, Alum, and others rushed to the scene, their hearts in their throats. They carried him to a nearby clinic, where he spent the night fighting for his life with little more than prayers and basic care.
By morning, Alum had seen enough and wasn’t going to let her son die under her watch. “We’re taking him to Lira Regional Referral Hospital,” she declared. But even there, the doctors knew Benedicto’s condition required specialized care and medical attention. After a day of desperate efforts, they referred Benedict to Lacor Hospital in Gulu for specialized care.
Somehow, through the grace of God, Benedict and his mother made the journey in a taxi, his skull fractured, and his breath shallow. When they arrived, he couldn’t speak. He could barely move. He was barely alive.
But when desperate situations call, our doctors measure up. Desperate measures were taken. After stabilizing him, he was rushed for a full CT scan, and when the results came back, it was dire: Benedict was bleeding in the brain, his skull was fractured, and the swelling was not only pressing the brain but threatened to crush the very organ that made him who he is.
To understand the gravity of the situation, we spoke with Dr. Daniel Lajul, the lead surgeon who, under the supervision of Dr. David Nyeko (General surgeon and Deputy Scientific Director), performed the life-saving procedure.
“What the scan revealed was nearing Benedict to his last breath,” explained Dr. Daniel Lajul.
The diagnosis was clear: an urgent and highly specialized surgery that would involve the skull and brain was the only way to save his life.
“Benedicto’s case was critical,” Dr. Daniel continued. “The scans showed a fractured left skull, which led to bleeding in the brain, a condition known as intracranial hematoma. Time was running and we had no room for hesitation, so on the 11th August,2025, we performed a skull elevation and hematoma evacuation. During the surgery, we found multiple bone fragments, some of which had injured the brain. The dura was also open and compromised, with blood pooling inside. There, our priority was to elevate the fractured bone and remove the blood clot, which we did successfully.”
The surgery lasted one and a half hours, after which Benedicto was immediately transferred to the ICU. Remarkably, within days, he began showing impressive improvement, though his speech was still slightly impaired.
Benedicto with his mother, brother, and Dr. Daniel Lajul
As of this writing, Benedicto is out of the ICU and no longer in danger. He is back on his feet, speaking coherently, though some words remain uncoordinated. Dr. Daniel remains optimistic, assuring us that Benedicto’s speech will improve with time. However, he emphasized the importance of preventing any further head injuries.
“Glory to God for the immense wisdom and knowledge he has given us to serve and to heal,” Dr. Daniel concluded.
The road to full recovery may still stretch ahead, but today, we celebrate a life reclaimed, a family restored, and a future rewritten. Benedict was discharged from the hospital on 20th August, 2025, and will visit the hospital every two weeks for control.
Much thanks go to the team of Lacor hospital who took care of Benedicto.
