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Hole In The Heart: Nine Month-Old Needs N5.6million For Surgery

Doctors give two months timeframe

For Mr and Mrs. Olarinde Alo, these are not the best of times, as their nine-month-old, Adeshina, is critically ill and needs N5.6million to undergo two surgeries to stay alive.

According to Olarinde Alo, a graduate of Computer Science from the University of Abuja, who currently ekes a living as a printer, their son, currently suffers from holes-in-the-heart, a complication which doctors fear may have affected his lungs.

Born on January 8, 2021, Alo says they suddenly noticed that little Adesina’s breathing was abnormal, five weeks into his birth.

“In fact, his breathing was rather too rapid; afterwards, he started coughing. So we took him to our private hospital, where they treated him for pneumonia. He was there for about three days, but the situation persisted. So the doctor recommended us to Lagos State Teaching Hospital at Ikeja. At the paediatric unit, we saw a doctor who asked us to go for some tests, including an x-ray. It was from the x-ray that they detected that he was suffering from a congenital heart disease. Thereafter, we were referred to the cardiologist, who in turn asked us to go for echocardiography and ECG tests.

“It was from the cardiography test that we got to know that he had two holes in the heart: one, large; the other, moderate. Thereafter, they referred us to LUTH (Lagos University Teaching Hospital), Idi Araba. We were going there until a parent whose child had suffered the same condition advised us to take him to Babcock University Teaching Hospital. They said they have very good facility for the condition.”

At Babcock, Alo said they did a full evaluation of the boy’s condition on August 7: “It was from the result of the evaluation that the cardiologists recommended an urgent surgery. She told us his lungs are also failing and gave us two months time frame to take action. The institution also sent us a medical bill of N5.6million.

“They said two surgeries would be performed on him. The first one is to be sure that his lungs are in good order. The name of that surgery is catheterisation. It costs N600,000; while the second one is the VSD closure. That will cost N5millionn. Both surgeries will be done at Babcock University Teaching Hospital.”

Olarinde is appealing to well-meaning Nigerians to come to their aid and help save their son.

“I would even be glad if we can get an individual or organisation to help underwrite the bills.”

Donations can be made into the following account:

Alo Adeshinaola F., FCMB ACCT No: 8438080013

GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-keep-baby-adeshinaola-alive

Editor’s Note:

PLEASE NOTE, THE STORY WAS REPUBLISHED FROM THE NATION WITH THE INTENTION OF APPEALING TO OUR KIND READERS TO HELP THE LITTLE BOY GENERATE THE REQUIRED AMOUNT. KINDLY ASSIST THE FAMILY IN ANY WAY YOU CAN. THANK YOU.

Angela Davies