This Boy Needs N5m To Survive

WHEN Lekan Yusuff’s mother and uncle came to Nigerian Tribune’s office last month to request the media’s help in reaching out to millions of its readers in soliciting for funds for the kidney transplant of their son, it was the last thing they ever imagined they would have to do. First, they never thought that the life of their son would be hanging in the balance, waiting to be saved by the kind support of the Nigerian public; and second, they never anticipated that their child would be so sick that ailment would require a surgery, if at all one would be required, definitely not a kidney transplant. But here they were, soliciting for over N5 million to save their son’s life.

As a result of the publication in our sister newspaper,  Nigerian Tribune last month, the sum of N280, 000 was realised, according to Yussuf’s mother, Alhaja Yidiat Yussuff. She informed that the money had since been spent on dialysis for her son.

Expressing her appreciation for the money given on Thursday, Alhaja Yussuff said “we are grateful to those who have sent us money.

We are especially grateful to Ms Wahab Fabiyi Idiat who gave us N100, 000. Mr James Ajagbe gave us N20, 000, while Christ Life Church gave us N10, 000. A pastor from Port Harcourt also gave us N50, 000.” She added that people from gbagi market also donated the sum of N85, 000 for the boy’s treatment.

But Lekan’s mother, said while the family was appreciative of what had been done for them, they still needed more help. She explained that the money realised had been spent on dialysis, which had since been cut from thrice weekly to twice now due to lack of fund. The dialysis, she said, costs an average of N25, 000 per session, aside other daily hospital expenses.

The dialysis, the mother complained is affecting her son’s ability to walk, which she said had necessitated moving the dialysis point from the thigh to his waist. To do that, another expense of N20, 000 was made to buy the equipment, she explained. She said her son was in constant pain since the illness started.

Lekan Yusuf, an Ibadan-indigene was a brilliant boy in SS 3, when he was diagnosed with kidney disease. He is 15 years old. Before he was diagnosed with the disease, he was writing his WAEC mock examination at Loyola College, Ibadan, Oyo State.

According to his mother, on Friday, February 1, 2013, Yusuff was on his way to school for WAEC mock examinations when she noticed that his eyes were swollen. On examination, she felt uncomfortable sending him to school and, therefore, asked that he should be taken to a private hospital close by for examinations. It was confirmed that his PCV was okay and was well and so he was sent back home. But during the weekend, the mother made the resolve to take her only son to the University College Hospital (UCH) for further checks on Monday, seeing that his face had become more swollen than that of the previous day.

On getting to UCH, after series of tests, it was discovered that the young man was suffering from an advanced stage of renal failure and would require an urgent kidney transplant to live. Due to the parents’ financial incapability, the Consultant Paediatric Nephrologist, Dr A. O. Asinobi, on March 14, 2013, wrote a letter to the general public, asking them to rise to the aid of the ailing boy and save his life. In the letter, it was stated that “15-year-old Master Olalekan Yusuff with Hospital Number 955293 is the only son of his parents and had been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in end stage kidney failure. He needs to have a kidney transplant which is presently not possible in Nigeria. The kidney transplant is expected to cost a minimum of five million naira. He is also required to be on regular haemodialysis to stay alive before the transplantation takes place.”

The consultant signed off that “your kind and gracious donation to the child’s bid to have a sustenance haemodialysis and kidney transplant will be a gift of life for Master Olalekan.”

Yussuff’s parents are at their wits end, as regards finances to take care of their only son, the mother intimated. The visibly worried mother, who lamented the family’s lack of strength to sustain the growing financial burden of seeing to Yusuff’s ailment, said all their life savings had gone into ensuring that their son survived. The mother, who is in the clothes selling business, has had to sell off her business to raise funds for her son’s medical bill. Same as the father, who had also sold off his block making business. Yet, all they raised was not enough.

“Our relatives and friends have rallied round to give us money, yet we don’t have enough. That is why we are calling on well-meaning Nigerians to help us. Lekan has dreams, big dreams ahead of him and he most definitely wants to live to fulfil this dream. He is young and resilient, even in the face of three dialysis per week; he still maintains his optimism that all will be well. This week, the doctors gave a verdict, he needs kidney transplant to live as the dialysis won’t just cut it anymore. Lekan has had over 30 dialysis sessions since the ailment started, with each session costing N25,000, aside other medications and hospital bills.

“We have spent our lifesavings, sold our businesses and we are still unable to raise the N5 million needed to fly him abroad for the transplant. The money realised has been spent on dialysis and medical bills. We are back to square one. Please, help us. We need help from well-meaning Nigerians, state governments, most especially the Oyo State government. Please, look kindly on us and help save our only son,” the mother said amid tears.

Doctors have assured that Yusuff will live, if only the transplant could be done as soon as possible. “Lekan is the only son of his parents. Help them help their son live. It will be a waste if this brilliant chap dies. The world needs him,” one of the teachers at Yusuff’s school also said, while pleading on the boy’s behalf.

Well-meaning Nigerians who wish to help can do so by donating to 0029724419. Yidiat Romoke Yusuff. Access Bank or 3070008659, Yidiat Romoke Yusuff, First Bank. They could also reach out to Yusuff’s family on: 08134691668 and 08077764894.