By Omotayo Obe
Ms. Remilekun Kode, a 43 year old mother of two and trader is appealing to the general public to help her raise the sum on N1, 500, 000 for the cost of surgery for a disorder called necrosis of her hip bone. Necrosis is the premature death of cells in living tissue; in Kode’s case the cells in her hip bone are dead thus causing her painful movement. At present, she uses crutches to ease her movement and to walk again, a surgery must be performed on both legs. The surgery itself will cost N500, 000 while the prostheses to be used on both hips will cost N1 million. The surgery is to be performed at the Orthopedic Hospital, Igbogbi, Lagos.
According to her, the condition started over 18 years ago after she got pregnant with her first baby and financial support has come from family and friends through the years. So much has been spent that the 1993 Computer Science graduate of the University of Lagos had to close down her shop, her only source of livelihood as her condition grew worse.
Dr. Femi Thompson, Project Director of Edensfield Health Foundation, (an NGO chaired by Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, Senior Pastor of Trinity House, Lagos, the NGO helping raise awareness for Kode’s condition) said the aim of the foundation is to “help people with medical challenges raise funds and rehabilitate them after surgery.” She pleaded with the public to help save Kode’s life and help the foundation as well. According to her, Kode’s case is one of the very many cases they have at present and help is needed urgently to save her life. Speaking on Kode’s case, she said “she needs a replacement of the femoral head on both hips. The surgery is a major one that will take about a year as both hips cannot be operated upon at the same time”. She added that the N1, 500, 000 being requested for is the baseline and more funds may be required depending on what happens at the surgery. She said Edensfield will also assist in raising funds but needs the help of the general public as well. Payment to save Kode’s life can be made through: GTBank Account: 0002103566 OR Access Bank Account: 0016318685 in favour of Edensfield Health Foundation. For more information on Edensfield Health Foundation, please visit www.edensfieldhf.org or call 2347028025585.
