Sure, not a few would mistake her for an expectant mother, but she is not. In excruciating pains, Grace Adebayo, 31, has since 2000, carried in her womb, a pernicious ovarian growth that has made life a nightmare for her.
Her predicament started that year. She was in Lagos in search of greener pastures after completing her Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE), at the Iddo Community High School, Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
Being the last among the six children of her parents, she was staying with her first brother, a cleric at the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Ajah. Suddenly, she felt a strange swelling in her stomach and her siblings took her to Mainland General Hospital, Marina, Lagos. From there, she was referred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba.
After screening and diagnostic assessments, it was discovered that she had an ovarian tumor which could only be removed through what is known in medical parlance as Fxp Laparotomy- Cytoreduction. Doctors also said she would undergo General Anesthesia (GA).
Then, all she needed to get well was N135, 000 which her family could not raise. Then in 2003, she was compelled to return to her Ile Agbede-Adodo, Ibadan home to try if she could raise it. The move yielded no fruits as her cash-strapped kith and kin lacked the financial muscle to help her out.
Not ready to resign to fate, Grace turned to churches; visited Imams, Alfas, herbalists and other trado-medical practitioners, in desperation for a way out of her predicament. Rather than get the desired relief, her case deteriorated.
All she could do to raise the needed fund was to learn sewing. It did not work.
In 2003, her mother, Mrs Maria Adebayo, a widow, sold some personal valuables to raise the money to send her back to LUTH. Sadly, the cost of treatment and other administrative fees had soared. And all she had on her was a far cry from what she needed.
She was told that within the period of four years, the tumor had grown worse; therefore, before she could undergo the surgery, the tumor would need to be further investigated – at a cost.
Her admission for each week, it was said, would cost N23, 600, besides N20, 000 per week till she would recover and be discharged. She would also need some pints of blood apart from investigation fees, it was said.
Being at a loss for how to raise the money, her hope crashed. “I became confused in hopelessness. I almost fainted. Now, I’m dying,” Grace said.
With full knowledge of the financial situation of the home-front in Ibadan, going back there was not an option. She has, therefore, resorted to sleeping in and outside the hospital, churches and in neighbouring streets.
The need for survival has forced her to dip her hands into the money initially raised for her treatment. Now, out of desperation, she has turned to the Corporate Department of the hospital for assistance through its Head, Mrs Hope Nwaowolo, who has appealed to well-meaning Nigerians and corporate bodies to help her get the sought succour.
All she needs now is N400,000. “There is nothing else left for me to sell to take care of my dying daughter. Nigerians should please help me; this is beyond me,” sobbing, her mother pleaded yesterday.
Any Good Samaritan, the hospital said, could approach its Corporate Department or pay into the hospital’s retainer’s account: Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Idi-Araba Branch with account number: 0007427021 (Sort Code: 032154645).
