Baby Njoku
Culled from THISDAY
My blog readers we can save this child...
Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that with just 10 thousands dollars, approximately N2.4million, an open heart surgery will be carried out on little baby Emmanuel, who has a hole in the heart
"The trauma is too much. Just watching your child and you don't know what will happen the next minute. Sometimes he looses breath and he chokes. Before he can take another breathe again, it takes him some time.
"So looking at him everyday is traumatic for us and my family so we want a permanent solution where he can be cured and grow up normally." Those were the words of a heartbroken mother, Mrs. Joy Njoku.
When the Njoku's got married and had two daughters in succession, life couldn't be better. When she took in again, the joy of the family knew no bounds because their little family was expanding. Precisely on March 3, 2015, little Emmanuel Ikechukwu Njoku, was born in Lagos.
For the Njoku's it was a momentous occasion given that the baby is a boy and as such signaled the hope of a new generation, hence the choice of names Emmanuel (God with us) and Ikechukwu (God's strength).
But few days after his birth, their joy changed from uncertainty to sorrow. Baby Emmanuel has a hole in the heart and since that day, it has been one sad story to another. The family has spent valuable resources trying to manage the situation, even as they hope for help as regarding the major surgery.
According to Mrs. Joy Njoku, her five-months-old was diagnosed of Large Atrial Septal Defect (Hole in the heart) and we were referred to India for corrective surgery, which would cost about N2.4million.
With the meager money they make from her job as a secretary and Mr. Njoku's beer business, they admit that they alone cannot do this, and thus are pleading with well meaning Nigerians to help their cause.
In an interview with THISDAY she said, "I have three children. Emmanuel is the third. We found out about his condition after birth when he was breathing noisily. I took him to the hospital and they referred us to Isolo General Hospital.
"When we got there, we did some tests including an x-Ray and Echo Scan and that was when the diagnosis showed that he has a hole in the heart.
"But there is hope. The hospital here helped us to contact a specialist hospital in India because that is where they said the surgery could be done. After sending the report to the Indian hospital, they said we should hold on for six months.
"He was born in March but recently he started developing some complications. He started crying more often. He is loosing weight. He is often tired. He is not breathing well because it's so fast.
"So we contacted the holiday back and they sent us for another diagnosis and it confirmed that there is need for surgery and it has to be done quickly and that is why we are soliciting for funds.
"The surgery proper is seven thousand dollars while the cost of transportation and other exigencies including the after-care brought the figure to 10 thousand dollars."
Already, the family has taken a step of faith in applying for the Visa for both mum and baby. Pooling the limited resources at their disposal, they have kick started the entire process that would start the journey of their son’s wellness.
Asides the money spent in pursuing visa's, Njoku said they have been spending heavily since the diagnosis was made, adding that each week they spend as much as N7, 000 on injection, which in a month is about N28, 000.
She added, "There is drug that they give the baby every week to help the heart function well so that he will be urinating more often. The drugs are expensive and we have done that for five months.
"With the recent development and complications, we have written to the Indian hospital and they sent us an invitation letter to start processing our papers. An appointment has been fixed this week for an interview at the embassy. I am begging Nigerians to help save my son."
Meanwhile, the results of the scan carried out at Mecure Healthcare Limited and signed by one Dr. MA Iyun, a radiologist, showed that although the cardiac size and contour are within normal limits, there is however a prominent left heart border with bulging.
Also, the 2D Echo scan result signed by Dr. Chinyere Uzodimma, a consultant peadiatrician and cardiologist, sighted a dilated right atrium and dilated right ventricle.
The Echo detailed diagnosis read thus, "Large Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), mild pulmonary artery stenosis, dilated right heart and normal biventricular function."
The doctor went on to recommend surgery for the ASD closure. So, the family is pleading with public spirited individuals, companies, churches and non-governmental organizations, who have the wherewithal to help to please help their cause and make their deposits to- Njoku Joy Nwakaego, Diamond Bank: 0037198537.
Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that with just 10 thousands dollars, approximately N2.4million, an open heart surgery will be carried out on little baby Emmanuel, who has a hole in the heart
"The trauma is too much. Just watching your child and you don't know what will happen the next minute. Sometimes he looses breath and he chokes. Before he can take another breathe again, it takes him some time.
"So looking at him everyday is traumatic for us and my family so we want a permanent solution where he can be cured and grow up normally." Those were the words of a heartbroken mother, Mrs. Joy Njoku.
When the Njoku's got married and had two daughters in succession, life couldn't be better. When she took in again, the joy of the family knew no bounds because their little family was expanding. Precisely on March 3, 2015, little Emmanuel Ikechukwu Njoku, was born in Lagos.
For the Njoku's it was a momentous occasion given that the baby is a boy and as such signaled the hope of a new generation, hence the choice of names Emmanuel (God with us) and Ikechukwu (God's strength).
But few days after his birth, their joy changed from uncertainty to sorrow. Baby Emmanuel has a hole in the heart and since that day, it has been one sad story to another. The family has spent valuable resources trying to manage the situation, even as they hope for help as regarding the major surgery.
According to Mrs. Joy Njoku, her five-months-old was diagnosed of Large Atrial Septal Defect (Hole in the heart) and we were referred to India for corrective surgery, which would cost about N2.4million.
With the meager money they make from her job as a secretary and Mr. Njoku's beer business, they admit that they alone cannot do this, and thus are pleading with well meaning Nigerians to help their cause.
In an interview with THISDAY she said, "I have three children. Emmanuel is the third. We found out about his condition after birth when he was breathing noisily. I took him to the hospital and they referred us to Isolo General Hospital.
"When we got there, we did some tests including an x-Ray and Echo Scan and that was when the diagnosis showed that he has a hole in the heart.
"But there is hope. The hospital here helped us to contact a specialist hospital in India because that is where they said the surgery could be done. After sending the report to the Indian hospital, they said we should hold on for six months.
"He was born in March but recently he started developing some complications. He started crying more often. He is loosing weight. He is often tired. He is not breathing well because it's so fast.
"So we contacted the holiday back and they sent us for another diagnosis and it confirmed that there is need for surgery and it has to be done quickly and that is why we are soliciting for funds.
"The surgery proper is seven thousand dollars while the cost of transportation and other exigencies including the after-care brought the figure to 10 thousand dollars."
Already, the family has taken a step of faith in applying for the Visa for both mum and baby. Pooling the limited resources at their disposal, they have kick started the entire process that would start the journey of their son’s wellness.
Asides the money spent in pursuing visa's, Njoku said they have been spending heavily since the diagnosis was made, adding that each week they spend as much as N7, 000 on injection, which in a month is about N28, 000.
She added, "There is drug that they give the baby every week to help the heart function well so that he will be urinating more often. The drugs are expensive and we have done that for five months.
"With the recent development and complications, we have written to the Indian hospital and they sent us an invitation letter to start processing our papers. An appointment has been fixed this week for an interview at the embassy. I am begging Nigerians to help save my son."
Meanwhile, the results of the scan carried out at Mecure Healthcare Limited and signed by one Dr. MA Iyun, a radiologist, showed that although the cardiac size and contour are within normal limits, there is however a prominent left heart border with bulging.
Also, the 2D Echo scan result signed by Dr. Chinyere Uzodimma, a consultant peadiatrician and cardiologist, sighted a dilated right atrium and dilated right ventricle.
The Echo detailed diagnosis read thus, "Large Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), mild pulmonary artery stenosis, dilated right heart and normal biventricular function."
The doctor went on to recommend surgery for the ASD closure. So, the family is pleading with public spirited individuals, companies, churches and non-governmental organizations, who have the wherewithal to help to please help their cause and make their deposits to- Njoku Joy Nwakaego, Diamond Bank: 0037198537.
No comments:
Post a Comment