CARE AFTER CATASTROPHE
Readers rally around family
A story about the difficulties faced by an Ottawa refugee family has sparked an outpouring of support from the community.
The Citizen was inundated with offers of support for Peter Oladipo and his family after publishing a story recounting their hardships. A medical catastrophe during childbirth last September left Motunrayo, Oladipo's wife and the mother of their three daughters, fighting for her life.
Motunrayo was on life support for weeks after a blood clot travelled to her heart during childbirth, leaving her with brain damage and partial paralysis. She's now stable and not reliant on machines, but doctors have told Oladipo she isn't ready for rehabilitation and suggested she go to a nursing home. The couple's infant, Joanna, is thriving.
The couple came to Canada from Nigeria in 2017, in part so that their daughters wouldn't be forced to undergo female genital mutilation, which had resulted in the death of Motunrayo's sister at a young age.
Oladipo, who left his job in security to care for his infant daughter and his family full-time, visits his wife every day at the Civic campus of The Ottawa Hospital. He's making plans to bring his wife home from the hospital to be cared for there with the help of nurses.
One reader is arranging to bring a hospital bed to Oladipo's home to enable that to happen. Another has offered books and activities
for the family's two school-aged daughters. And many have offered financial support.
“There but for the grace of God” wrote one reader who wanted to help.
Liz Sidor was among those moved by the story and eager to assist.
“Having a baby should be the most joyful thing a couple experiences. Having it be so difficult and to have to do that all by yourself is just devastatingly sad and hard,” Sidor said.
“People want to reach out and help him with anything because he
has brought so much optimism to the table by believing that love is going to conquer this.”
Sidor set up a GoFundMe account for the family where people can support the Oladipo family. It can be found by going to ca.gofundme.com and searching for Peter Oladipo.
Oladipo said he's overwhelmed by all the support.
“Just to say a very big thank you to all individuals, groups and friends that have supported my family materially, financially and with words of faith.”