A teacher, Mrs Rafiu AbdulKareem, has appealed for financial help for her 47-year-old husband to get a kidney transplant.
She said her spouse, a clearing agent, has been bedridden for 19 months. He is suffering from Chrome Kidney Disease (CKD).
At their llasamaja, Mushin, Lagos home, she said her husband is billed to undergo kidney transplant at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) by mid November. The operation will cost N8million.
She said the family has raised N2million, adding that she has run out of money for dialysis, which costs between N120,000 and N150,000 weekly.
She said: “On March 9, last year, he was coughing badly and we rushed rum to Isolo General Hospital, where it was discovered that he has chronic kidney problem. We were transferred to Gbagada General Hospital and later referred to the Cardiac and Renal Centre, a private hospital in Gbagada.
“We have since been on dialysis which costs between N120,000 and N150,000 per week. A doctor in Gbagada General Hospital told us that an urgent kidney transplant is the solution to my husband’s problem, which will cost N8 million. My husband has to undergo the kidney transplant by middle of this month at LASUTH in lkeja. We do not have the money. The little we have is N2million. We have also ran out of money for his weekly dialysis and this makes his body swell.”
Abdulkareem said her husband’s condition forced them to send their children to her mother’s house for good care.
She said, “Life has not been easy. My husband cannot eat nor drink much water and he only urinates like a spoon size once in three days. His body swells whenever he does not go for dialysis.
“Before the ailment, he was a gentle and easy going man that takes good care of his family and friends. He doesn’t smoke, drink nor womanise. It is unfortunate that he can no longer fulfil his responsibility as the father of the home.”
A medical report signed by Dr. Ngozi Aikpokpo of the LASUTH Cardiac and Renal Centre stated: “Mr AbdulKareem was referred from Gbagada General Hospital for Haemodialysis in April. The cause of the renal failure was stated to be long standing hypertension and he has since then remained dialysis dependent. That has been a huge financial strain on him and his family.
“He has been admitted in the recent past at another facility as a result of fluid in his lungs with consequent inability to breathe, as a result of inadequate dialysis.
“I have consulted the patient that a kidney transplant is the best option for him to ensure better quality of life. He needs to be stabilised before transplantation and this would require funding.”
AbdulKareem, who could hardly speak, managed to say that the pain in his chest was preventing him from eating and drinking water.
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