Woman 35, in dire need of funds for dialysis, surgery

Name: Mrs Ugbede Kehinde Oluwatoyin

State of Origin: Ogun

Age: 35

Dependents: Mother and three siblings

Occupation: Trader

I deal in eggs and foodstuffs at App market, Abuja. Before I ventured into this business, I worked in the bank having graduated from University of Abuja where I studied Economics.

In 2008, I was employed at Oceanic Bank (now Ecobank) where I worked as a teller before I was moved to the customer service desk. I served in different branches of the bank before I was relieved my job.

From App market, I moved to Kubuwa where I was trading until I was diagnosed of kidney failure in 2018.

How did it start?

It started in August, 2017 but like malaria and typhoid. I had the same experience every two weeks.

By November, 2017, we were treating ulcer but unknown to us, what I had was bigger than ulcer. I was short of blood and was given two pints of blood.

Before I got married in December, 2017, I was referred to Maitama Hospital for endoscopic but my fiancé did not allow me to go because of the cost. Two months after the wedding, my condition deteriorated and that was why I was diagnosed of kidney failure.

The situation got worse in January, 2018 when I started bleeding through the nose and vomiting two or thrice a week.

Second week in January, I was at Kubwa General Hospital. I asked the doctor the result of the general tests carried out on me and she said they were all good. But, I wasn’t getting any better. The bleeding and vomiting still persist. I also lost appetite, had sleepless nights and coughed profusely. I was given antibiotic, malaria drugs and cough syrup. With the medication, it even got worse.

On February 23, 2018, I was diagnosed of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) at Kubwa General Hospital. I was referred to Gwagwalada Teaching Hospital for further treatment and dialysis.

I spent six weeks at the hospital before I moved to Zenith Medical and kidney centre in Abuja, where I have been receiving treatment till date.

What is the cost implication?

I was told the best treatment option for my condition is kidney transplantation and it would cost about N13.3m.

This sickness is really capital intensive. My husband and I cannot bear the cost. I do dialysis twice a week and the treatment drugs cost N110,000 per week. On every dialysis, I take injection for blood because I’m anaemic and infusion because I lack vitamins and glucose.

How have you coped so far?

We get assistance from family, friends and good spirited individuals. This sickness is really capital intensive. A plea for help

My husband work is a mathematics teacher at ElisAngel model school. From the time I was diagnosed of this sickness till now, it has not been easy for him.

My husband’s salary couldn’t take care of the sessions of dialysis in a week. Since I was diagnosed of this disease, I couldn’t do any work to support my husband and the family.

On monthly basis, I spend N1m dialysis, drugs and admission. The doctor said the lasting solution is the kidney transplant.

N10m is required for the transplant but I sincerely do not know where or how to get that kind of money.

I am calling on Nigerians to come to my aid and help me raise the funds for my kidney transplant.