Fourteen months ago when Mrs. Elsie Kenine Asibe, a caterer and mother of four residing in Lagos State, was preparing for the Christmas and New Year celebrations, she was oblivious of the misfortune waiting to befall her.
Asibe also did not have the faintest foreboding that she would not be able to cater for her high profile clients during their annual end of year get-together, before she suddenly fell ill in December 2015.
One morning, the 40-year-old law graduate woke up and noticed she had some strange heavy feeling in her two legs.
At first, she had thought that it was just a symptom of malaria and typhoid, but after some time, her two legs became swollen and she had to visit a hospital for treatment. From the Saint Michael and Gabriel Hospital, Satellite town, Ojo, Lagos, she was referred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital located in the Ikeja area of the state.
For the patient to survive her current lifethreatening ordeal, hospital authorities have said she must be urgently flown to India for a kidney transplant, which will cost about N10million
Asibe, however, got the shock of her life when, after series of medical tests, she was eventually diagnosed with chronic kidney problem!
According to a medical report signed by Dr. Buraimoh at Clinx Healthcare, the patient has stage 5 renal disease, with 101mg/dl blood urea, Pvc 22.6 % and blood pressure 139/81mmHg. The report further states that after three sessions of haemodialysis, her blood pressure rose to 184/92mmHg.
As her health status deteriorated, she was again referred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, and after investigation she was discovered to have a history of weakness, anorexia and bilateral legswelling.
According to a report signed by a consultant to the hospital, Dr. B Olanrewaju, the patient has end stage renal disease, with 72mg/dl blood urea, Pvc 25.6 % and blood pressure, 150/100mmHg.
The report further states that she’s currently on haemodialysis, twice a week, via tunnel line. But due to financial constraints, the patient has not been on regular dialysis and her health is fast deteriorating.
However, the consultant recommended that the patient should be working up for a kidney transplant at the Lagos State University Teaching hospital, Ikeja, which will cost a whopping N8million! Having exhausted the family’s entire savings on treating her at different hospitals since she was diagnosed with the chronic kidney ailment, Asibe’s husband is now appealing to philanthropic and publicspirited individuals, organisations and corporate bodies in the country to urgently come to the rescue of the mother of four from the jaws of untimely death.
For the patient to survive her current life-threatening ordeal, hospital authorities have said she must be urgently flown to India for a kidney transplant, which will cost about N10million.
The Gbagada General Hospital has already contacted a kidney specialist hospital in India for that purpose, if only her family could raise the money required by her to live. On her hospital bed at the LASUTH in Ikeja, our correspondent observed that the once beautiful, hale and hearty lady now looks lean, exhausted and distraught.
A plea by the husband of the victim, Mr. Fidelis Asibe, aptly captures the current ordeal being undergone by the family over his wife’s chronic ill-health. According to him, ‘’The situation now is precarious that she has been undergoing haemodialysis three times a week at Clinix Healthcare at the cost of Sixty Thousand Naira(N60,000.00) per session, drugs inclusive.
“The only alternative left is for her to go for kidney transplant, which she has agreed to undergo at a reputable hospital in India, as soon as possible. The estimated cost of the operations, payment for the donor or for the donated kidney, drugs and posttransplant check-up is N10million.”
Her husband disclosed that one of the major complications occasioned by her current condition is the frequent pain his wife goes through every day owing to the palpitation of her heart arising from shortage of blood and loss of appetite for food, which has resulted in her loss of a tonof weight.
Asibe’s husband said that inspite of all the drugs, blood injections and supplements given her, her blood supply has continued to diminish on a daily basis, a situation he described as life-threatening.
“In view of the cost outlay, the family has been able to raise some amount, which is still a far cry, by all standards, from what is required.
In this regard, we shall be forever grateful if you can kindly assist us with your prayers and financial contributions to enable us to set out for the transplant as advised by the consultant in charge of her.
“We pray that as the Lord touches your heart to give, He will never forget your labour of love and reward you glowingly. The account number for payment is: Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, 0026594876, Doreen Onyinye Kenine,” he said.
