‘They need N11m for kidney transplant’

[Mirror]

Before 2009, Mr. Adebiyi Melvin Adediran was a lively and hardworking young man who had a bright future stretched in front of him. He was happily married with two lovely young boys and owned a security system and installation business he was tenaciously growing until he was struck by an ailment that took him to the hospital where he was later diagnosed as having kidney failure.

According to Adediran who graduated in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Lagos, he was never a sickly person until 2009 when he fell ill and was hospitalised. "This ailment started since 2009 when I fell sick and went to the hospital for treatment. After a series of tests, it was revealed that I had high blood pressure. Initially, it was not discovered that the blood pressure was affecting my kidneys. During the course of the sickness, I did not even know that I was hypertensive. I am 45 years old so I felt I could not have high blood pressure. But along the line, the hypertension led to kidney failure. It has caused a lot of damage to my kidney. During those tests, it was discovered that the Urea and the creatinine level was very high and these are signs of a failing kidney," he said.

That was when the horrific nightmare of living with a damaged kidney began for Adebiyi. He started his unending journey of going in and out of hospitals virtually every week for treatment and dialysis. "When I discovered I had a failing kidney, I started treatment and dialysis immediately at Dialyzer Medical Centre Oshodi, Lagos. I did dialysis about 18 times in 2009 before I was stabilised. I got back myself after about the 18th round of dialysis and constantly being on Epogen injections which are very costly injections. One of the injections is about N9,000 and I take almost twice of that injection in a week. Dialysis then was about N45,000-N50,000 per session. I spent so much during that period and it looked as if I was better. I picked up my normal life again and tried to revive my business which was greatly affected by the expenses from my sickness," "he lamented.

That was not the end for the travail of the Ogbomoso- born Adediran as this sickness came back again in October last year.

His words: "I thought the sickness was gone but all of a sudden last year October, I fell sick again, not knowing that this sickness was something that could recur. When they tested my creatinine and urea level again, to my surprise it was very high. The urea was almost about 350 and the creatinine was about 7.5. That was when I was taken to my nephrologist where I receive treatment for kidney at Dialyzer Medical Centre, and started another dialysis and thinking that after a few sessions that I'll be alright. But I've been on this dialysis now since last year and no cure is in sight. The least I do dialysis is twice in a week and you know how expensive it is. I've spent all the money from my business and all the things I have laboured for have all gone into this sickness. Everything I own has crumbled. I've sold all my cars and everything I have just to stabilise this ailment to no avail. These dialyses have to be done just to survive, stabilise and help the work of the kidney. They remove up to six litres of water from my body on each dialysis I undergo. I cannot even drink water like a normal human being or else there will be too much water that will swell up my whole body, especially my legs and movement becomes very difficult. If I don't undergo dialysis, the water will accumulate all over the body and this can kill. It is these injections and the dialysis that are still keeping me alive today. I spend nothing less than N100,000 every week just to do dialysis and stabilise myself. I have done the best I can with the little left with me and the help from my family and a few friends but it is still not enough," he said.

According to the medical experts taking care of Mr. Adediran's ailment, the only permanent solution that will ease his pain will be a kidney transplant. They revealed to him that he needed to undergo a transplant or else he would be on permanent dialysis for the rest of his life if he even survived the pain he passes through on daily basis Adebiyi said, "I have been advised by my nephrologists that the only solution that will keep me alive is to go for a kidney transplant. They advised that the best thing to do is to go for a kidney transplant abroad preferably in India. I don't have the money for this transplant. I was able to talk with the hospital in India which promised that the whole cost for this treatment is about N6 million which has the donor price inclusive. I am soliciting the help of well meaning Nigerians to please come to my aid to raise money for this kidney transplant because I don't want to die. I want to be alive, work and be able to train my two young children. All the money I have laboured for is gone.

I used to pay my children's school fees even ahead of time, but right now I can't do that. I owe their school fees of almost three terms now and this is something I pay even ahead of time before this sickness started. I am appealing to people to come to my aid and assist me so that I can go for this kidney transplant and live my normal life again," he pleaded. Also in the same situation is a 32-year-old mother of two, Mrs Olawumi Gbadamosi. Her husband, Mr Alade Gbadamosi, told journalists in Ado Ekiti that it was discovered three months ago that his wife was suffering from chronic renal failure, which he said has now reached the final stage.

According to the husband, who is an applicant, medical doctors at the Federal Medical Centre, Ido Ekiti where she has since been undergoing dialysis said, kidney transplant would cost N5 million in Nigeria and about N10 million in India. He said his wife, who is a native of Ikoro Ekiti in Ijero council area of the state, is an ad hoc staff of National Population Commission in the state. The elder brother to the ailing Olawumi, Mr Lawrence Babatunde Alo, a civil servant at Ado Ekiti LG, who has been responsible for her medical expenses, appealed to well-meaning and kind-hearted Nigerians to come to the aid of the woman whose life hangs in the balance if not attended to urgently.

Alo, who said the family had spent all it had on the dialysis, said N5 million was urgently needed for the kidney transplant, adding that, already, over N400,000 had been spent on the dialysis sessions she had been undergoing twice per week and other expenses.

A medical doctor with Military Hospital Ikoyi, Lagos and member of Doctors Reach-Out Initiative, a non-governmental organisation that gives free medical education and public health campaigns, Dr Obiora Oji said: "Usually a normal kidney has the function of filtering the blood and removing the toxics from the blood and when this function is tampered with, it will be said that the kidney has failed.

"There are two types of kidney failure: the acute and chronic failure. The acute kidney failure is like a rapid decline of the functions of the kidneys while a failed kidney is like a chronically failed kidney. It is unable to filter blood the way it ought to be."

The expert explained that the causes could be external or internal. The external causes could be as a result of an accident where the muscles could be crushed and this will release toxins into the blood stream that will go and affect the functions of the kidneys. Excessive usage of drugs will also affect the function of the kidney, he added.

For the chronic kidney failure, he said, it takes time before they start manifesting and they are more dangerous. These ones are caused by either diabetes miletus or long standing hypertension. These are hypertension that has been there for years and unnoticed. Also, excessive use of certain drugs such as steroids and even taking excessive dosage of drugs like Paracetamol can also lead to it.

"Taking of excessive alcohol and tobacco smoking also has long adverse effects on the kidneys. Also excessive drinking of herbal drugs can also have an effect because you do not know the chemical content of these herbs if they are good for the kidneys or not.

"The symptom is when the organ no longer has the ability to filter blood and pass out the toxins. So when you notice a reduced urine flow, it is an indication that there is a problem with the kidney. Normally, there is a volume of urine that one is expected to pass out everyday which is about 1.5 litres. But when it drops down to 400ml a day, then there is a problem.

If there are excessive electrolytes, it can make the person to have changes in the body system. He/she begins to have muscle cramp and in the end stages of the sickness, they could have blood being passed out in the faeces or the urine.

The kidney is responsible for the hormones that we use to produce blood. When the kidney is failing, that hormone is unable to produce blood adequately. If there is inadequate production of blood, the person will be anaemic, breathless, and the swelling of body parts such as the legs and hands," the doctor added.

The medic says the solution is to see a doctor immediately if you notice problems, especially in the passage of urine and if the quantities you normally release on daily basis have reduced drastically.

TO SUPORT THE VICTIMS, SEE THE ACCOUNT DETAILS BELOW:

Account Name: Adediran Melvin Adebiyi;

Account Number: UBA: 1012216515

Account Name: Babatunde Lawrence Alo

UBA: 1010407579

08034755313 (email: alolb@ yahoo.co.uk).

National Mirror

[Folami David]

That's why we all have to be very careful with our health because health is wealth.  Hospital bills are on the high side now...