The Nation Newspaper

Tag: patient

  • I’m dying, kidney patient cries out

    I’m dying, kidney patient cries out

    When Adesoji Adebola, an estate surveyor, first experienced renal pains in February last year, his family didn’t realise that it had a serious problem at hand.

    His face and legs were swelling up, followed by severe bouts of malaria. At the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, he was initially diagnosed of infection and he was treated for it.

    He thought it was all over, but in April, he was diagnosed of kidney failure. All efforts to save him began.

    But there was a snag – the dialysis machine at LUTH did not work, leading to his transfer to a specialist hospital.

    “He was just talking incessantly for over 24 hours. We had to rush him back to LUTH where they said he would have to undergo dialysis immediately. Unfortunately, the machine wasn’t working and we had to move him to a private clinic,” his sister, Adebukola Adesoji, said.

    At the Dialyser Specialist Medical Centre in Oshodi, Lagos, where Adebola was admitted, he was told that his kidneys had packed up. To live, he has only one option: He must undergo an urgent kidney transplant in India. He was also told that on his kidneys have been destroyed by infection. Also his Packed Cell Volume (PVC) was less than 20, hence he would need blood transfusion every time he goes for dialysis.

    When The Nation contacted the hospital, its Medical Director, Jacob Awobusuyi, said: “He has kidney disease and it is a permanent one.  The infection which caused the problem is glomerulonephritis, an inflammation which the body produces and it has destroyed his kidney.”

    Awobusuyi said Adebola would need an urgent kidney transplant which would cost at least N7 million, adding that the patient also needs a kidney donor urgently.

    For now, Adebola undergoes dialysis twice weekly at about N45,000 per session; the family is groaning under the financial stress.

    Adebola is appealing to kind-hearted Nigerians to help him raise the fund. “I’m dying; Nigerians should please help me.”

    Donations, the family pleaded, can be made into his Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Account number: 0011516188 under the name, Adesoji Adebola.

  • Seven-year old hole-in-the-heart patient needs N2.5m for surgery

    Seven-year old hole-in-the-heart patient needs N2.5m for surgery

    When Abiola Isaiah Babalola was born seven years ago, his parents did not have an inkling that as the child grew in age, so would his pain grow. He was born on August 23, 2008. But only four months after his birth, the journey to a painful life started for the little baby.

    The parents noticed that his growth was stunted as he was not growing exactly like other babies. It was later discovered that little Isaiah had a hole in his heart, causing the stunted growth and other serious health conditions.

    Since then, the family has not remained the same. The parent’s pain hit the peak when the doctors at the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan declared to them that the little boy would need a sum of N2.5 million for surgery to correct the heart.

    According to Dr. Tosin Majekodunmi, an adult congenital and interventional cardiologist of the Tristate Cardiovascular Institute at the UCH, Isaiah, if not operated soon, may suffer hormonary hypertension, the implication of which, he said, is a short term life expectancy.

    Isaiah is the last of three children in the family. The eldest, who is an 18-years old boy, lives with one of their family members while the second one, a female, 15, lives with them.

    As The Nation correspondent walked in to his father’s uncompleted three-bedroom flat at Lakoto area of Apete, Ibadan, Isaiah extended his hand to greet, speaking incoherently. His parents wore mournful look as they ushered our correspondent into their dusty sitting room which is yet to be plastered.

    Still, the boy will not leave the visitor. With a slow voice, his father, Mr. Jacob Babalola, who is a native of Ilero community in Kajola Local Government area of Oyo State, narrated how they discovered Isaiah’s ailment.

    His parents had decided not to have another baby after the arrival of their second child. The decision, which they attributed to their weak financial strength, was jettisoned when family, friends and neighbours, citing cultural reasons as Africans, persuaded them to bear more children. Eventually, the mother was delivered of a baby boy, Isaiah, on August 23, 2008, eight years after the second child. They were happy it was a boy but their happiness did not last.

    Recalling the events, Mr Babalola said: “We just noticed that his growth was retarded; he was not developing rapidly like his peers. It was one of my sisters who first alerted us. We were told to pray over it, for healing, because they have had such cases before. His retarded growth also slowed down his education as he just started nursery school late last year. And that has changed him a bit. He is a sharp boy naturally,” the father said.

    “I had prayed God to direct me; to be able to give him the best a father can give his child or children. I just love him. In as much as I am alive, I have thought, I would finance their education to the highest level. I love education,

    “Lately, we decided to take him to the hospital and it was revealed that the hole has widened. He was diagnosed with an arterial septal defect on January 22, 2015 at the Tristate Cardiovascular Institute at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. And that was the point we were told to go for surgical operation,”

    Speaking on how the medical bills have affected their living, Mr. Babalola, who worked as a transport supervisor at a firm in Ibadan until late last year, said he has spent over N300, 000 on medication alone “not to talk of the hospital bills at UCH.  The medication is on hourly basis. It is only God that has kept him thus far.”

    A government licenced electrical contractor, Mr. Babalola noted that Isaiah’s ill-health has made them lose their sources of income as they cannot go to work frequently again. He explained that he resigned voluntarily for him to be able “to take care of the boy with the hope that i was going to be working as an electrical contractor. I took that decision because there is no how my work as an employee will not deny him first-hand attention.”

    His family, friends and church members, he explained, have been trying. “The church gave us N56, 000. At first, I felt reluctant to collect the money because what I wanted was for them to advise me on what next to do to save my boy.

    “There was a day a test that should have cost N120, 000 was done for us at UCH at the cost of N50, 000 because of the magnanimity of one of our church members who works there. I have another debt of N15, 000 to pay. They are too numerous to mention.

    “The medication has affected our feeding. We cannot buy all the prescribed drugs. The mother cannot work anymore; she has a sewing machine but the condition of her baby hinders her. She was a nanny in a daycare centre but she had to leave when the doctor advised her that it is either she leaves her job or risk losing her baby”.

    Shivering and rubbing his palms against each other, the mother. Mrs. Folake said that she was not happy as a mother. The stress, she admitted, has affected her own health too. “I was not like this; the stress is too much. Whenever I think about it, I am not happy.”

    They appealed to well-meaning Nigerians, government and corporate organisations to come to their aid by donating to the following bank account.  Account name: Tristate Cardiovascular Institute. Bank:Stanbic/IBTC Bank; Account number: 0009560650:Sort Code: 221190825.

  • Cancer patient escapes from UBTH without paying bill

    A cancer patient, simply identified as Mrs Enoyin, has allegedly run away from the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) without paying her medical bill.

    Her 15-year old son, Esosa Ukponayusi and his younger sibling, are also being held at the Ugbowo Police Station in Benin, the Edo State capital, for alleged “unruly behaviour and assault” on the whereabouts of their mother.

    Authorities of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) accused the children of rudeness to the workers.

    Mrs Enoyin, a widow and indigent patient, was receiving treatment at the UBTH.

    She was reported to have escaped from the hospital, following her inability to pay the balance of her medical bill.

    Mrs Enoyin reportedly sold bean cake (akara) to cater for her children.

    One of her breasts was cut off to prevent the spread of the cancer.

    The poor woman was allegedly detained for eight weeks at the hospital before her escape.

    It was learnt that her two children, who had spent the Christmas in detention, had been released.

    They were said to have gone to check their mother at the hospital but were shocked to learn that she was no longer there.

    The children were alleged to have assaulted UBTH’s security personnel, demanding the whereabouts of their mother.

    But a member of the Medical Advisory Committee (MAC), who spoke in confidence for security reasons, confirmed the incident.

    The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof Michael Ibadin, could not be reached for comments.

    But the source said Mrs Enoyin’s son was detained for allegedly assaulting the security personnel and not because of the woman’s inability to pay her medical bill.

    The source said: “The truth of the matter is that they were not detained because the woman escaped but because they beat up our security. Whenever people behave like this, we usually write up their medical bills. They actually arranged for her to escape because when our security insisted on conducting a search in their house, they resisted. This led to the fracas.”

    On the allegation that the patient was detained for eight weeks, the source added: “If you are on admission, you are expected to pay your bill before you leave. But because she had not done that, she was in the ward. So, it is not as if the police were watching her. What she would have done was to approach the Medical Social Service, where her matter would be looked into for help. But she decided to run away.”

    But other sources at the UBTH said the doctors and nurses responsible for the woman’s treatment would lose their salaries in lieu of her medical bill.

    The source said: “It is not unusual to have those responsible for escaped patients being surcharged and punished for dereliction of duty. That is why in most cases, we demand payment from patients before commencing treatment. It is not really our making. Rather, it is the kind of system we find ourselves.

    “It is even more painful when you stick out your neck for some patients who were rushed in on emergency. Some of them escape when they have recovered, on the pretext of trying to buy some items at the gate. It is really unfortunate.”

  • Kidney patient needs N7.5m to live

    Kidney patient needs N7.5m to live

    Except an urgent kidney transplant is carried out on him, the hope of 40-year old technician, Chika Igwilo, to fulfil his dreams in life may soon be cut short.

    Chika who hails from Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State and resides in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, was diagnosed of a chronic kidney failure three months ago at the National Hospital.

    He hangs on to life through a weekly dialysis which requires a payment of N100,000 at a private specialist clinic in Abuja.

    According to Ada Blessing Igwilo, his younger sister who has been taking the responsibility of taking him around hospitals for treatment as well as footing the hospital bills, Chika’s ill health started with malaria symptoms.

    “The kidney failure started about three months ago when he complained of malaria symptoms,” she said.

    “He was having constant malaria, itching, frequent urinary, dizziness and later swollen legs” Ada Blessing added.

    She disclosed that her brother was admitted at Kubwa General Hospital where he was treated for two weeks before he was referred to a specialist hospital.

    The strike by medical staff of National Hospital however forced her to take him away to a private facility, Zenith Medical and Kidney Center, where he currently undergoes dialysis twice or thrice a week.

    While speaking with Abuja Review on the dialysis bed, Chika who coughs intermitently pleaded with well meaning Nigerians to save his life.

    His words: “what I need now is to reach out to fellow Nigerians to help raise money for me to undergo kidney transplant in India or in this country. I need N7.5million to be able to undergo the transplant and I plead with Nigerians to help me. God will not leave all of you alone, they should please save my life.”

    Lamenting the health status of his brother, Ada Blessing, who said that Chika’s case wouldn’t have required kidney transplant if it were acute kidney failure saying “ doctors told us that mere dialysis would have been enough for the kidney to pick up and function well again if it is acute kidney failure”

    She noted that his present condition is preventing him to consume more liquid as the more he drinks, the more fluids his body possesses which would also have to be removed with dialysis “otherwise he would be in more pains.”

    “Now I have exhausted all our savings and I can’t even attend to my own business because I can’t leave him alone. We want Nigerians to come to our aide and save my brother. I don’t want him to die,” she cried.

    For any financial help, his account number is: Igwilo Chika, A/c 3089460224, First Bank.

    You can also contact Chika through 08034940624.

     

  • Patient needs N600,000 for surgery

    Patient needs N600,000 for surgery

    Mrs. Oluchi Victor, a pool agent, is experiencing severe pains on her hospital bed because of injuries she sustained from the beating her neighbour gave her. She needs N600,000 for plastic surgery. She spoke to our Aba correspondent, SUNNY NWANKWO reports on how her neighbour’s brutality has kept her in hospital for six months.

    Papa Chiamaka (a name she called her neighbour) is a very shy man who hardly looks at someone’s face. We have not had any quarrel for nearly one year when we moved into our compound. His wife and I used to exchange home movies. Honestly, I am yet to know why he attempted to strangle me to death. When that attempt failed, he hit me with his car. That has kept me in the hospital for the past six months.”

    These are the words of Mrs. Blessing Victor while narrating the incident involving her neighbour, Mr. Ibezim Michael, a driver with Geometrics Power Company Limited, Aba, who, after luring her with a coupon business, allegedly attempted to strangle her to death. When his attempt failed, she said, he hit her with his company’s car which has left her bedridden since February 12, this year.

    Having spent six months at the hospital, the family resources have been drained.

    Though the first phase of her treatment is almost completed, Oluchi, a patient at a hospital in Aba (name withheld for security reasons), will need to undergo plastic surgery to live a normal life again.

    She is begging the government, religious organisations, non-governmental organisations and public-spirited individuals to come to her aid to enable her foot the bill of N600,000, which she said her family could not afford.

    Oluchi, who is an indigene of Ohafia in Abia State and married to an Akwa Ibom man, said: ”I work as a pool agent. I have two kids. My first daughter is three years while the last one is one year old. We live at Obuzor, Ekeakpara in Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State.

    “On February 12, this year, a man living in the same yard with me by name Ibezim Michael called me on phone to inquire if I had opened for business. He said he was on his way to the pool office.

    “In a short while, Mr. Ibezim arrived at my office.

    “He said he called to tell me that one of their staff was waiting for me at home. According to him, the person plays heavy stake and usually does not go to pool offices. He rather prefers playing privately because of his position.

    “He further told me that the man always sends him to play pool for him at a pool office somewhere on Okigwe Road.

    “He said since we are living in the same yard and having observed that I do neat business; paying my customers as at and when due, that he cannot continue going to Okigwe Road, even as he begged me to follow him to our yard to see the man.

    “He said he had told the man to patronise me as not only his neighbour, but someone that does not indulge in dubious or shoddy deals.

    “He said if the man is satisfied with the way I will treat him that he (Ibezim’s Oga) will become one of my regular customers.

    “I was happy that my neighbour could be so concerned to have thought it wise to bring such a customer to me. I was reluctant to go back to our compound because it was not long I left our yard for the office. He told me not to worry because he came with a car, assuring me that he would take me back to my office. Reluctantly, I agreed to follow him to the house.

    “On our way, he suggested that we take the alternative road to avoid traffic jam which is usually associated with the road.

    “At a point, he pulled the car over. While I was inside the car waiting, he quietly came over to the door where I was sitting, opened it and grabbed me on the throat. He asked me to say my last prayer because, he said, I was going to die. He kept pressing me hard on the neck as he tried to strangle me to death.

    “There was nobody on the road to come to my rescue. He pressed me so hard that my two eyes were bulging out. I could barely talk or cry out as a result of what he did to me.

    “On hearing the sound of a motorcycle driving towards our direction, he stopped pressing me so as to avoid being suspected by the motorcycle rider. Immediately the person passed by. As luck would have, he stopped pressing me after he heard two women trekking and approaching towards our direction.

    “Suspecting that the women have seen us and could raise the alarm, he pulled me out of the car and while he was trying to reverse and escape, he hit me with the car and I sustained severe injury on my legs.

    “It was at that point that the women raised the alarm which attracted other people to the scene. It was a woman, one of the early callers at the scene of the incident, who recognised me and went to inform my husband.

    “Before my husband could come, some public-spirited individuals had arranged for a tricycle that took me to a private hospital, at least to save. At that point, my seven-month-old baby was nowhere to be found.”

    On the relationship between both families before the incident, Oluchi explained: “We had not had issues. We have been living peacefully. I used to exchange home movies with the wife (Mama Mimi as we fondly called her). Since the incident happened, I learnt she visited but was sent back by my relations. She has not called or sent text message(s),” she said.   On what life has been since the accident, Oluchi added that because of the harsh situation we find ourselves in, to eat is even a problem. We don’t even have the money to offset the medical bill. I have started walking gradually with a walking stick.

    “I am appealing to public-spirited individuals and the government to please come to my aid because it has not been easy for my family.

    “The doctor has been so good to us because there are things he will decide to do freely. Police from Osisioma has equally visited me here to take my statement. My husband told me that the case has been transferred from Osisioma to the Aba Area Command.

    Mr. Archibong Victor, who corroborated his wife’s account, said it was the Geometric Company that brought his wife to the hospital, adding that after taking care of some of their medical bills, they abandoned the couple to their fate. The company’s vehicle has been in the custody of Osisioma Police Station.

    “Though they paid about N200,000, they said they will not help us again. That is why we are still here. There is nobody to help us.

    “To pay the bill at this orthopedic hospital is difficult because I cannot afford it. Sometimes, I borrow to pay but there is no money to pay for the hospital bill again. We are appealing to the government and public-spirited individuals to come to our aid to save the life of my wife. We are really facing a critical time at the hospital now.”

    He said though Mr. Ibezim is facing a murder case in the law court, his priority is seeing his wife’s condition better and improved.

    You can save the life of mother of two by offering financial assistance through First Bank account number; Kalu Oluchi 3029875848. For more information, you can contact her on 08069242807.

  • ‘Cancer patient’s case can’t be handled in Nigeria’

    ‘Cancer patient’s case can’t be handled in Nigeria’

    •Woman requires N16m for surgery in India

    She cuts a pitiable picture in her pathetic state. What used to be her face is now a drooping mass of flesh. Her eyes, nose, mouth and chin are indefinable, making her look scary.

    This is the cancerous condition that a business woman, Mrs Yinka Popoola, has been battling with for three years.

    Writhing in pains, he now lives at the mercy of her three equally needy children in an uncompleted building at Ayetoro in Ogun State since her husband and relations seem to have abandoned her.

    Following her story in The Nation over a month ago, a source said kind-hearted Nigerians donated about N300,000 to aid her recovery. But sadly, the money went into medical bills and drugs.

    The patient, who hails from Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, requires N16 million for corrective surgery in India as her condition cannot be handled here.

    But how did this problem start? “Over three years ago, I noticed a small boil by the side of my nose. At first, I thought it was nothing serious, but it continued to itch me terribly as I scratched it constantly. Then, it started growing bigger; I called my husband’s attention to it. I told him that I suspected a skin infection. He casually dismissed my suggestion, insisting that it was a mere boil which would soon ripen and pour out its puss,” she had told this reporter.

    As time went on, she realised that it was more serious than that. As the pains worsened, her face began to take a different shape despite her efforts to manage the ailment.

    Within a year, she became impoverished since all her savings and what was left of her business went into saving her life.

    With no help in sight, she hit the streets with the aid of her children, begging for alms to sustain herself.

    The search for what to eat took them as far as Mowe, an Ogun State suburb, where they met with a Good Samaritan at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Camp, who gave her some money and directed her to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) for diagnosis.

    She heeded the man’s advice, following which she underwent a scan and series of x-ray which raised her hope that the disease could be treated through surgery.

    After roaming the hospital for days, she, again hit the streets, trudging from one bus stop to the other, begging for alms to feed herself and her children, and to see what she could raise out of the N3.2 million initial estimated cost of the surgery.

    Out of desperation, she opened an account with GTBank with number 0128760777, under the name, Yinka Popoola. She gave her phone number as 08143122984.

    As her condition grew worse, a sympathiser, who simply identified herself as Bukola, stepped up efforts to help her. “We wrote to LUTH, seeking a written medical bill, but the hospital wrote back on March 13, this year, that the surgery couldn’t be carried out in Nigeria because of lack of the relevant equipment. Now, I don’t know what to do except a miracle happens,” she said on Saturday.

  • Patient to First Lady: please, help me

    Patient to First Lady: please, help me

    A 32-year-old patient, Daniel Imo Emori, who is suffering from spinal cord injury since 2003 has appealed to First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan to come to his aid. His travail began when he was attacked by a mad cow that caused him to be bed-ridden since the incident.

    Prior to October 2003, Daniel Imo Emori was a normal young Nigerian, working hard to make ends meet and believing that he had his whole life ahead of him. Unfortunately, it took an attack by a mad cow to make these dreams seemingly deferred.

    The 32-year-old Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) holder from Cross River State has been bed-ridden for almost 11 years. His limbs are malfunctioned, his legs are swollen and like that of a cripple. He can only turn his head sideways, speak and direct with his hands. He has been passing urine with the aid of a urine cartulary attached to his system.

    A visit to Emori in his self-contained apartment revealed a swept and clean environment. Unfortunately, the apartment exudes malodorous smell of urine due to numerous bed sores and urine cartulary.

    Fortunately for Emori, all hopes are not lost because the accident which caused him cervical injury can be repaired. His hope is that, one day, he would be able to walk again, return to school and achieve his dream of being an accountant.

    Regrettably, he is from a poor family.

    In 2003, the 5th child in a family of eight, while delivering pharmaceutical products for his company, RICOL Pharmaceuticals in Onitsha, he was attacked by a mad cow.

    At the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, the doctors discovered that he had sustained injury on the spine. He was not treated because his family could not afford the money. This necessitated his being taken to the village where he remained paralyzed for 10 years with no assistance or medication.

    He said: “One day in October 2003, I had just resumed work that morning. I was sent by one of my bosses in RICOL Pharmaceutical Company to supply drugs to one of our customers that had ordered for products at Fege Onitsha Anambra State. “As we were about to leave, a neighbour suggested that we supplied the goods to her instead which we did. So, after the supply, I wanted jump down from the vehicle, a mad cow appeared from nowhere knocked me down.

    “As soon as it happened, we thought it was a minor injury. I was taken to a nearby clinic and the next day, they referred me to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu. After examination by the consultant, he discovered that I had spinal cord injury which is called cervical injury. The most threatening at that time, according to him, was the internal injuries that I, sustained as there was no external injury.

    “After running tests and a little treatment, they requested for N75, 000 for the operation which my family could not afford.

    “After being in Enugu for a while and the hospital could not operate on me because we could not afford the over N100, 000 bill, a matron at the hospital offered to be a Shorty for us as they will deduct the money we owe them gradually from her salary.

    “So, my family took me back to the village, where I stayed with no treatment or drugs. By 30th October last year, on the 10th anniversary of my illness, after i had pasted my picture on Facebook, one of the journalists with National Mirror in Cross River State took up my case and brought the Reverend of the Damarismilla Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) to my community.

    “The NGO arranged for me to be brought to Abuja to the Primos International Hospital Karu, February 1. On arrival at, the management of the hospital requested for N150, 000 for admission which the NGO paid. After that, they paid another additional N200,000 for the hospital to run tests after which they discovered the injury on my neck, a tear in my bladder due to the prolonged use of the urine cartulary and another injury on my rib which is a bed sore caused by prolonged lying on my back.

    “To effect the operation on my neck would cost N1.2 million. They carried out the operation on the 3rd and 5th. And I was discharged. The next stage was the physiotherapy which they could not be carried out immediately. The NGO got me this accommodation and paid a house boy that takes care of me while they look for a place that I can undergo the physiotherapy.

    “The problem right now is that, contrary to the NGO’s expectation that the problem would be over after the operation, based on the doctor’s advice, they said that my condition is not going to normalise immediately but as long as I’m taking the prescribed medication and going for physiotherapy, I will get better. But the NGO said it will need support because they are running out of funds.

    “My medication monthly is very expensive. The one for this month cost N99, 480 and I get new prescriptions every month which are also expensive. They doctors for now are not sure when I will get better. I’m begging for help from the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan and all well-meaning Nigerians to assist me to carry out the physiotherapy and buy my drugs so that I will be able to walk again and return to school to continue my education.”

    Emori’s medical certificate addressed To Whom It May Concern and signed by the Medical Superintendent and Head of Medical Services, Primos International Hospital Karu, Col. (Dr). E. O. Emodi (rtd) explained his medical condition.

    It states: “31-year-old male, presented in our facility on 3rd February, 2014 with 10 years history of old neck injury leading to weakness of all four limbs. He also presented with pressure sores and ulcer on his penis.

    “He underwent cervical spine surgery and Urethral repair on 10th February; he was discharged on 6th March, 2014 in a stable condition. He has been on a regular follow-up and he is advised physiotherapy and medication.”

    Kind-hearted Nigerians who wish to render financial assistance to Emori in order to have access to physiotherapy and his monthly medications could make their donations as quickly as possible to make live normal life again.

    This is his bank account details: Daniel Imo Emori, Fidelity Bank, account, 6160829205. You can contact Emori on these phone numbers 08098929156 and 08086387108.

  • Helpless breast cancer patient dies weeping

    Helpless breast cancer patient dies weeping

    ours after this paper carried her story, cancer patient Mrs Oluwabunmi Olabiyi died yesterday before help could reach her.

    She required N7million for a surgery to remove her right breast which got infected after the removal of her left breast.

    Thenews of her death reached our reporter about 4.10 pm through a call from a woman, who simply gave her name as Bukola, a sympathiser of the late Mrs Olabiyi.

    The late Mrs Olabiyi battled breast cancer for three years.

    The caller wept profusely for about two minute, before saying: “That woman, Mrs Olabiyi, whose … whose story was published in your newspaper today (yesterday), has died; she gave up at 3.30 pm. She died weeping!”

    In our story, the late Mrs Olabiyi pleaded: “… Every second now, I pray to invite death to come quickly and take me away. God will take care of my children should I die. Death must come now, if help refuses to come my way.”

    The late Mrs Olabiyi, who is survived by three children a widower, hailed from Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

    Her poor widower could not help her thriving provision business collapsed while she was ill.

    Relations and sympathisers took her to various hospitals when her left breast became infected.

    When our reporter visited her in hospital in Bariga a Lagos suburb, she pleaded: “This pain is too much for me to bear any longer; please, help me beg death to come now!”

    Her remains have been deposited at a mortuary in Lagos.

  • Please be patient with us

    Please be patient with us

    Enyimba’s Coach Imama Amapakabo is upbeat the People’s Elephant will return to winning ways after last weekend’s 0-1 loss to homeside, FC Taraba in their Glo Premier League fixture at Jalingo.

    The former Sharks FC gaffer stressed that the match result was not a true reflection of the game but, however, pleaded with fans of the club to keep faith with the People’s Elephant.

    “We are disappointed with the outcome of the game because the result does not reflect the balance of play,” he said. “But in football, its the final result that matters, not how well a team plays so we can understand the frustration of our fans. But I appeal to them to be patient.

    “I’m very confident that we would start getting positive results very soon because in all the games we have played so far in the league, we have dominated play but it appears that our strikers do not believe they can score goals, they seem to be short of confidence so it is something we need to address,” Amapakabo told the club’s official website.

    Enyimba suffered their second defeat of the campaign after a strike by FC Taraba’s Bobby Abel on the half-hour mark. The five-time Glo Premier League campions are now placed on 14th spot with four points from four games.

    Amapakabo insists it’s too early to sound the alarm bells.

    “This is just the start of the season and these things sometimes happen. It is possible that the new players haven’t settled well into the team and perhaps the older players are equally low on confidence, due to the results of the past games but like I said, I’m full of confidence, full of hope that this poor spell will end and we will get the team into the top four places on the log.

    “With a little more time and with some special training sessions, we will get it right. I have recognised that we are vulnerable to set pieces so its a part of everything we are going to correct and start scoring goals to match our domination during games.

    “Our next game against Warri Wolves is one that we will take with a lot of seriousness before returning to Aba to get to work on the flaws of the team,” Amapakabo stated.

  • Kidney patient seeks N10m to survive

    Kidney patient seeks N10m to survive

    THREE years after he underwent a kidney transplant, Abiodun Akinyemi needs N10 million for another operation. Why? The initial transplant relapsed after he could not keep up with the expensive drugs prescribed by his doctor. The drugs cost N150,000 monthly and are to be taken twice daily.

    His travails began in 2010 when he had recurring typhoid fever which forced him to undergo tests at the General Hospital in Ikeja, Lagos. It was then the father of three was diagnosed with kidney failure. Everything was okay after the first transplant. His medicals and laboratory tests revealed it was a success and he was diagnosed to be fit to keep up with his daily work.

    Adeyemi’s problem got worse when he could not sustain his medication schedule. The burden became too much for his wife, a hair stylist, who gave all she had for the dialysis.

    His doctor, Ebun Bamgboye of St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos advised him to prepare to undergo another transplant. Dr Bambgoye, a nephrologist and Clinical Director at the hospital, said if he could get a possible donor without a history of smoking or alcohol that is compatible, the chances of the correction is high.

    In the course of the kidney disease, he suffered other ailments associated with it including ulcer and high blood pressure.

    He urged Nigerians to come to his aid. “I am just a depressed person. Please come to my aid and save my life and that of my family,” he pleaded.