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| Victory and Faith |
The pain and agony faced by people living with Sickle Cell Disorder is best imagined. Unfortunately, scientists are yet to find a lasting solution that could be more affordable and accessible. Unfortunately too, the financial demands for the only treatment, Bone Marrow Transplant is very huge and out of the reach of millions.
Although, experts have stressed the need for couples to know their genotype before marriage, many Nigerians are still not aware. One such couple is
Mr. & Mrs Ernest Asagwara whose two children, Victory and Faith are living with Sickle Cell Disease.
If Mr & Mrs. Asagwara were properly armed with information, particularly as it concerns their gynotype, before marriage, their two girls, Victory and Faith may have been hale and hearty. SCD is a set of red blood cell disorders that are mostly inherited and affects people all over the world and the complications that arise from it are usually fatal.
As you read this article, Victory and Faith, urgently need a Bone Marrow Transplant, BMT, in far away Mediterranean Institute of Haematology, Rome. Unfortunately, their parents cannot raise the required sum for the life saving surgery. Victory is proceeding to JSS 2, while Faith is in Primary Five.
According to doctors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, and officials of the Sickle Cell Foundation of Nigeria, SCFN, N22 million is required for the life – saving surgery while another N6.5 million is required for hospitalisation, feeding and transportation.
Although, the Foundation has accepted to pay the cost of the surgery, the girl’s parents are yet to raise the N6.5 million needed for treatment.
Narrating his ordeal in an emotion – laden voice, Ernest, a deacon who described the situation as shocking expressed worry that the hospital in Rome has given them till September 7, 2012 to pay up or forget the surgery.
“My wife and I never knew we were both AS genotype. It was when we discovered that Victory and Faith were SS at age two and four that we decided to screen the whole family, ”he added.
The litany of their sad story began when a genotype test was conducted on Victory following her frequent illness. It was discovered from the result that she is SS. Similarly, Faith, their second daughter, was also discovered to be suffering from the same disorder.
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Note: Please readers, sadly their contact is not provided, but if you are really touched to assist or support this family in any way, please contact LUTH or Vanguard news.
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