Bukola needs N1.5 million for her treatment
Oluwafeyikemi (before) and Now |
She has been diagnosed with Wilms’
tumour (or nephroblastoma) — a rare type of kidney cancer that typically
occurs in children, but rarely in adults. Experts say it causes a
tumour on one or both kidneys. And because of the urgency of her
condition, Oluwafeyikemi needs N1.5m for surgical operation and other
treatments, which include radiotherapy and chemotherapy sessions.
Her father said he had exhausted all he
had on his daughter’s failing health and appealed to good-spirited
Nigerians to come to his child’s aid. Elegbede said as Oluwafeyikemi’s
illness worsened, he had to sell his car and some other valuables, but
the proceeds didn’t go far.
He said, “I have to come out and plead
with well-meaning Nigerians to come to the aid of my daughter who is
suffering from swollen stomach as a result of a condition called Wilms’
tumour. Her physicians said she needs N1.5m. The radiotherapy costs
N200,000, while chemotherapy drugs and other medical treatments cost
N1.3m.”
Continue after the cut...
Elegbede, who fought back tears many
times, added, “Since my daughter’s problem began in June 2012, I have
spent everything I had. I had to sell my car and other valuables just to
make sure she lives.”
Elegbede said he was undergoing a
training/course in Lagos in June 2012 when he got a call from his wife
back home in Calabar that she noticed a bulge on the left side of
Oluwafeyikemi’s stomach. He said before they knew what hit their
daughter, the stomach had become distended. And the battle to save her
life began.
The distraught father said Oluwafeyikemi was taken to several hospitals before they got a referral to LUTH.
He added, “When my wife called me and
informed me that she noticed a protrusion on the left side of our
daughter’s stomach, I told her to take her to the Military Hospital,
Calabar. At the hospital, the doctor diagnosed ‘mass growth’ and gave
her a referral to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar.”
Elegbede said he decided to bring
Oluwafeyikemi to Lagos when she was not getting enough medical
attention, because the health management organisation which provides
health insurance cover for the family did not send the code necessary
for documentation to the hospital.
“I had to bring her to Lagos. We first
reported at the Ojo Cantonment Military Hospital, Ojo, Lagos. The HMO
sent in the code while we were there. It was here the doctor gave her
another referral to Naval Hospital in Ojo,” he said.
It was from there she was given a referral to Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi Araba.
Oluwafeyikemi was first presented at
LUTH’s Olikoye Ransome Kuti Children Emergency Centre on October 3,
2012. The medical report issued by LUTH and signed by one of the
consultant paediatricians handling her case, Prof. Edamisan Temiye,
reads in part: “General examination findings revealed an ill-looking
child in respiratory distress, pale, anicteric (not jaundiced), afebrile
(without fever) and not dehydrated; while systemic examination showed
tachypnoea (abnormally rapid breathing, RR=66 cycles/min), tachycardia
(a heartbeat that’s too fast, PR=128 beat/min), grossly distended
abdomen, visible superficial abdominal wall vessels and minimal movement
with respiration.
“A diagnosis of the left cystic nephroma
(kidney tumour) to rule out Wilms’ tumour was made and she had
exploratory laparotomy (a surgical procedure involving a large incision
through the abdominal wall to gain access into the abdominal cavity),
with a view to doing left nephrectomy (removal of left part of a
kidney).
“Intraoperative findings suggested
Wilms’ tumour and she subsequently had left nephrectomy. Histology
report later confirmed the diagnosis with favourable histology.
“She was scheduled to have radiotherapy
before commencement of chemotherapy, but due to severe financial
constraints, she hasn’t been able to receive any further treatments.”
Temiye told our correspondent on the
telephone on Monday that Oluwafeyikemi is still receiving medical
attention at LUTH and that she would undergo both chemotherapy and
radiotherapy.
He said, “What Oluwafeyikemi is
suffering from is cancer of the kidney, but I want to say that her case
is not beyond redemption. We can salvage it. It is true that the amount
needed for both chemotherapy and radiotherapy is about N1.5m.”
Elegbede appeals to well-meaning
Nigerians to save his daughter from the jaws of death, saying the
18-month-old child has gone through more than enough agonising
experiences that could last a lifetime.
Culled - Punch
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Please lets us try and identify with the family of Baby Bukola Elegbede's in view to support and donate for Bukola's treatment. Please anybody with useful information about Elegbede's contact or they can be reached should please notify us as soon as possible. Thanks!
An online portal, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/wilmstumor.html,
sheds more light on this disease. It says, “Wilms’ tumour is a rare
type of kidney cancer. It causes a tumour on one or both kidneys. It
usually affects children, but can happen in adults.
“Having certain genetic conditions or
birth defects can increase the risk of getting it. Children that are at
risk should be screened for Wilms’ tumour every three months until they
turn eight.
“Symptoms include a lump in the abdomen,
blood in the urine, and a fever for no reason. Tests that examine the
kidney and blood are used to find the tumour.
“Doctors usually diagnose and remove the
tumour in surgery. Other treatments include chemotherapy and radiation
and biologic therapies. Biologic therapy boosts the body’s own ability
to fight cancer.Drop a comment...thanks!
How sad it is. I'm sorry to hear that. In her case, she needs a strong support from her family and from people around her. She really needs prayer from us.I hope that one day she will be fine and win this battle.
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Thanks for the comment, we all hope, pray and with some financial support that she will get through this. Tack! once again for your concern.
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