Mrs. Sarah Adeyemo, 62, was active in her modest charcoal and firewood trade when she fell in the farm. She didn’t know that she had injured her spinal cord. The innocuous injury festered and has now confined the widow to the bed. She speaks on her predicament with SAM NWAOKO and cries for help.
What happened to you that led to your injury?
I fell at the farm sometime ago. I trade in firewood and charcoal. Following the accident, I went to the General Hospital in Asokoro, Abuja. There I was treated for regular injuries. I was given drugs and discharged. There was an X-ray and so on but the doctors didn’t say anything about spinal cord.
But as I began to age, I found that there was this persistent pain in my back. I initially thought it was either arthritis or rheumatism. I returned to the same hospital Asokoro Hospital and each time I went to the hospital, they prescribed pain-killer drugs which I used as prescribed.
However, rather than get better, I found that the pains got worse. I was still going to this same hospital. Soon, I could barely walk and I began to stagger and wobble. This was early this year, around January. I was still going to the hospital but the treatment was routine; sometimes I would be on the wheelchair nearly till evening before I could see the doctor. Sometimes, it was one doctor to hundreds of patients.
This continued for about three months until I could no longer walk. One day, while sitting at home, I slumped and I was taken to a private hospital where I was told that I had spinal cord injury.
What was the actual diagnosis?
The language is technical. All I was made to understand is that the injury for which I was treated at the government general hospital affected my spine. They recommended surgery and I now require a surgery to bring me back on my feet. I’ve not been able to stand or walk since around April this year. Now, I’m helped to do most things. My son has left his calling to be with me. It’s so painful that this has tied me down and also prevented him from pursuing his career.
What did the doctors now say you should do?
The hospital billed me N6million for the surgery. I had to return home from the private hospital because I could no longer sustain the hospital bills. I’ve been told to come for the surgery when I raise the money.
How do you intend to raise the amount?
I possibly cannot afford the amount. That is why I am calling on Nigerians for help. My ailment has stretched my children to the limit. I have been grounded and can no longer ply my trade. So, I rely on miracle from God to be able to pay for this surgery. I therefore plead with Nigerians wherever they are to come to my aid. I am crying in pain, hoping that God will raise a helper.
If there are Nigerians who may want to reach you, how can they do that?
I could be reached through my phone number is 0812 548 7444.
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