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| Harrison Chikogwu |
The 22-year-old Accounting student is at present on admission at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja. The ailment has affected his hearing too. And according to the medical report signed by LASUTH’s Consultant Haematologist, Dr. A.O. Dosunmu, “due to his young age, bone marrow transplant is highly recommended but meanwhile, he is to commence on Cyclosporine that the parents cannot afford.”
The report added: “He has had multiple transfusion of red blood cells and platelet concentrates because he suffers from a very severe type of aplastic anaemia. This report is to assist him in seeking financial assistance’.
Distraught, Harrison’s father, Mr. Emmanuel Chikogwu, cannot stand the pain his young son is going through anymore. He has exhausted all the channels he has to seek assistance. The retired electrician’s visit to his state government’s office through the chairman representing his constituency, has proved abortive.
Narrating how it began, he said: “After we noticed some abnormalities, I took him to a private libratory for a test. The result was that he has a severe anaemia and needed urgent attention. I took him to a private hospital at Oshodi in Lagos where he was given two pounds of blood. We bought each for N15, 000. He was in the hospital for eight days before the doctor asked him go home. He also gave us date to come for check-up.”
Along the way, Mr. Chikogwu revealed that the case became worse. The private hospital recommended another laboratory test. “I said to myself that we cannot continue like this. Instead, we should go to a government hospital since we have more specialists there,” he said.
In September last year, the family decided to try out Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). By then, Harrison could not work again. When they got to the hospital, his father disclosed that they rushed down to the emergency ward where a certain doctor attended to them. He admitted that the doctor was furious at him, blaming him for keeping his son at home too long.
“The doctor asked me to accompany him and we rushed down to the blood bank where we got blood after I deposited some amount of money into the hospital’s account. He collected the blood and administered on my son. Later in the day, he asked for another pound of blood. My son was moved out of the emergency ward after that day,” he explained.
But since then, Harrison has been in the hospital. The doctors conducted different tests to ascertain what was wrong because according to his father, they said they could not ascertain the main cause of the ailment. Whenever they gave him blood, it dried off after two days or thereabout. After several tests, he said it was discovered that his bone marrow was no longer functioning.
“So on November 13, they said it couldn’t be done in Nigeria. They gave me a medical report that I should take it to my state government. At Delta, I went to see the Honorable Member representing my constituency in the state House of Assembly. He asked me to go back to the hospital to get a letter of reference to India. I met with the doctor and he said he would contact a hospital in India. He said N8 million would be required for the operation.”
Mr Chikogwu said Harrison now bleeds from the mouth, penis and his ears. When the blood sees nowhere to pass out, it forms a swelling on his forehead and burst out after a while.
In December when most people were celebrating, he said all his thoughts were centered on how his son will get better.
“The last time I visited him (December), he was the only one remaining in his ward. Most of the patients had either been discharged or transferred. So, I am really worried. The young man is not feeling okay as well. He told me recently that I should bring him home since the doctor said they cannot treat him in Nigeria and I do not have the money to take him to India. But to discharge him, I still need to pay a bill of N165, 000. I have not been able to raise anything,” he cried out.
Since he retired in 2007 as an electrician in Guinness Nigeria Limited, Ikeja, Lagos, he has not been doing anything. His wife, Beatrice, sells fruits and foodstuffs.
“Friends, well-wishers and relatives have really contributed to the little treatment my son has received so far. He cannot go back to school because of his health. The doctors have really tried their best but they say nothing could be done in Nigeria again. I am appealing to well-meaning Nigerians to come to my aid. We do not have the history of such ailment in the family and I only read about it in books until recently.”
Readers who wish to assist Harrison should kindly contact him on 08068921257,
or send their donations to:
Account name: Chikogwu Harrison
Bank: First Bank
Account no: 3078952789
For more Click on Help Harrison Chikogwu!
Plz no amount is too small donate! Thanks and God bless!
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