Friendly Darasimi Daniel Sanusi was lost in a world of his own as he played with a pen and paper. In deep concentration uncommon to his peers, the 18-month-old scribbled away his ‘masterpiece’ of uneven lines. Then, suddenly, he broke down in tears, screaming at the top of his voice. Within seconds, his eyes had turned red; and his mouth, tongue, palms and feet, dark blue. It took a lot of petting from his mother, Mrs Temitope Sanusi, to get him back to his game. Once again, he started playing as if nothing happened. But within seconds, he screamed again, wailing.
After staying with the boy for two hours, it was evident that it was a usual practice by little Darasimi; and also that the eyes, mouth, tongue, palms and feet were red and blue. What’s wrong?
Darasimi has a life-threatening heart condition – a hole-in-the-heart. According to Mrs Sanusi, 26, her son was born with the condition, and it is growing worse each day.
“From when he was born on October 9, two years ago, he always cries and refuses to eat. He even refused taking breast milk. And when he is asleep, he breathes heavily like someone who has been running for long. Also, I noticed that his eyes were becoming redder and redder; and his mouth, tongue, palms and feet had become dark blue. I kept feeling that something was wrong but did not know what to make of it. By the end of last year, his condition had worsened and he was always falling ill. He doesn’t eat; even up till now. He only takes watery things such as water and juice. Give him anything solid and he will vomit it. And by February, I made up my mind that I was not going to sit around and watch my child die. That was when I decided to seek medical help,” she said
After a series of tests at the Lagos State Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Darasimi’s mother received the heart-breaking news.
“Our baby has a hole in his heart, we were told. In fact, after the test, they told us he was born with the condition. The news broke my heart. We were shocked and confused. It was the first time I was hearing about such condition,” Mrs Sanusi said.
The news, according to her, has affected their lives. As a student of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), who had just finished her second year of the Ordinary Diploma, she had hopes that she would return to school after weaning her baby. But that was not to be.
She said: “It has affected my education because after my one-year I.T, I thought I would be able to return to school. Now, I am only concerned with how to save my child. Although my husband is working with a hotel, he is not earning much. His job is even being threatened at the moment.”
Her constant visit to LUTH for medical checkup instead of easing her pain is adding to her sorrow. I am told that Darasimi’s condition is life-threatening and he requires urgent surgery to correct the abnormality. And the tests show that it is getting worse as the days go by. I asked the doctor what caused it. I was told it is caused by heavy consumption of alcohol or cigarette smoking or an attempt to abort the baby during pregnancy. “But I didn’t do any of that.” But we were told it is also caused by malnutrition and also that children with this kind of problem have slow growth and don’t walk on time. It is making me to be sad.”
Despite the family’s financial condition, Mrs Sanusi and her husband are determined to save their child. The search for medical help took them to the Down Syndrome Foundation Nigeria (DSFN), an organisation that has helped sponsor several children living with Down Syndrome who have similar heart conditions. But Darasimi’s case was peculiar. He does not have Down Syndrome but a heart defect.
She said: “We were told that the surgery could only be done abroad and that it costs over a million. Still, we are determined to learn more about it and to give my boy the necessary medical treatment as long as his life would be spared. My husband then went to consult with a friend, Mr Kanu Ahaoma, the Public Relations officer of DSFN. He introduced us to DSFN president, Mrs Mordi. From there we found that the surgery could be done in India and would cost about N1.8 million. Although they have been of great help, helping us to draft solicitation letters, Darasimi does not have DS, so we have to source for fund ourselves.”
The task, according to her, has not been easy. For lack of options, she is soliciting the help of well-meaning Nigerians to save their son.
“I tell you it has not been easy. We have been everywhere looking for help. Our families have done their bit but everybody has their own problem. What we raised from them, we have been using for medical care and tests. My husband and I can’t afford the money for the surgery. Like I said before, I am a student and my husband is just managing his job. Darasimi needs N1.8 million to be flown to India for surgery, to save him from dying. This is my first child and I underwent caesarian operation to deliver him. I don’t want to lose him. Please, help me…help save my son”
To raise funds for the surgery an account has been opened at GTbank, Isolo branch, with the account number and name: Darasimi Daniel Sanusi 0126879219.
