Spinal cord injury patient cries out for help from Nigerians

A young Nigerian student who was involved in a terrible car accident that has left him bedridden for three years is crying out for assistant to under a surgery in India.

A young Nigerian who was involved in a near-fatal accident that has left him with a spinal cord injury has cried out to well-meaning Nigerians to come to his aid.

The 26-year-old man, Olushola Ibitayo, a Business Administration student of the Ekiti State University, was involved in the accident that occurred along the Benin-Lagos Expressway on April 25, 2013, and has been in a wheelchair since then.

However, there is a ray of hope for him with a life-saving surgery which would be done in an Indian hospital, but that will be only after coughing up the sum of N3.2 million for the operation.

Ibitayo who sent a passionate appeal to Pulse is begging kind-hearted Nigerians, governments at all levels and the corporate bodies to come to his aid.

Here is the letter he wrote to Pulse:

"My names are OLUSHOLA IBITAYO, a spinal injury patient, as seen in different photos. I am 26-year-old, a student of the Ekiti State University (EKSU) studying Business Administration.

I am pleading and appealing to you to please help/support me in raising the sum of N3.2 million required for my second spinal surgery in India at the Artemis Health Institute Sector 51, Gurgaon 122001, Haryana, India

I have been on wheelchair going through pains for the past three years since I was injured in an accident along the popular Benin-Lagos express road by Ovia River, Edo State.

I was on my way back from Lagos, going to the city of Benin in Edo State on April 25, 2013, when the car I was traveling in rolled off the road into the bush leaving me with a spinal injury and I have undergone a major surgery behind my neck down to my back.

I was first treated at Oreste Medical Center and later underwent a surgery at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH under the care of Dr. Udor and Dr. Azeez  where a screw bolt was screwed into my skull with a rope tied on it, holding a metal bucket filled with stones to stabilize my spine.

After the surgery, I stayed at the hospital for about a month and was discharged to be undergoing physiotherapy.

My father and siblings met the physiotherapy costs as well as the buying of adult diapers and weekly changing of a urinal catheter until they were unable to raise the required amount and stopped taking me to the physiotherapy session.

During the second year, I called for help from family and friends and they started carrying me to churches, herbal homes and bone setters believing God for a miracle for me to be on my feet again.

Last year, my family ran out of funds and even the extended family and friends were unable to raise more money.

My family has been struggling with purchasing diapers as my father's business has run down and my siblings who are running small businesses hardly earn enough money required for my upkeep.

We have exhausted all avenues of fundraising and have come out to ask good Samaritans to help me so that the second surgery to finally correct the wrong in my spine and help me regain my ability to move with support and at least, visit the toilet hence reducing the diaper budget.

My family has obtained a quote from the Artemis Health Institute Sector 51, Gurgaon 122001, Haryana, India, which indicates that the X-rays, drugs, tests and surgery will cost N1.5 million."

"When we calculated the physiotherapy required after the surgery plus other expenses while in India, we came to a figure of N1.7million which make up round figure of N3.2 million.

But we are still looking for a cheaper option. 

PLEASE HELP ME AND SAVE MY LIFE

PLEASE YOU CAN DONATE TO MY BANK ACCOUNT;

Account Name: OLUSHOLA IBITAYO,

Account number: 2039676241,

United bank of Africa (UBA)."

With this passionate cry for help, we hope the Ekiti State Government and other well meaning Nigerians can come to the aid of this young so that he could get back to his feet and contribute to the growth of the nation. This young man should not be allowed to go to waste.