13-months-old Elijah needs N1.9m to live

It has been a long night of pain and indescribable anguish for parents and loved ones of 13-months-old Olaleye Elijah who was presented for the first time at the University College Hospital (UCH) at five months with a history of poor weight gain since birth.

In a statement signed by Dr B.E. Adebayo, Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist, Department of Paediatric, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Elijah was acutely ill in respiratory distress, with dysmorphic features, flattened nasal bridge, short stubby fingers and hypertelorism. His cardiovascular system exemption revealed loud P2 and murmur which was loudest along the left lower sternal edge.

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He had reducible umbilical hernia and there was generalized hypotonia. Chest x-ray showed some patchy opacities on the right, upper and lower middle lung zones. A diagnosis of down syndrome, large VSD, failure to thrive and severe pneumonia in heart failure was made at the initial presentation. He was managed as such and discharged home after spending 6 days on admission.

Dr Adebayo added that Elijah “has been under the care of the cardiology unit since he was discharged and has been attending clinics regularly. He will require surgery to correct the VSD as this will help improve his growth and chances of survival.

In the hospital’s estimation, it is projected that Elijah would require N1, 908, 060.00 (one million, nine hundred and eight thousand and sixty naira) to undergo the surgery.  A caveat subsists where it is stated that the cost given above is subject to change with time and course of treatment.

Elijah’s father, Mr Tony Olaleye, as well as other loved ones is calling on the general public to come to the aid of the boy so that he would eventually be able to lead a normal life.

Mr Tony Olaleye can be reached on 09078993338 with bank details: GTBank, Account number 0461998170, Account name OLALEYE BIYI TONY.