Again, Ebuka in pains
By THERESA ONWUGHALU
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
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•Ebuka,
before the surgery
PHOTO: The Sun Publishing |
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For Ebuka Anene, a four-year-old pupil of Hopefield Nursery
& Primary School, Ijesha, Lagos, it would only take the
grace of God and the contribution of Nigerians for him to
return to normalcy. He had not only lost his left eye to a
deadly tumour but is also on the waiting list for another
operation to save his life.
Last January, Nigerians had responded to his parents’
public appeal for financial assistance and contributed money
to enable the little child to undergo surgery to remove the
tumour that grew out through the eye socket, leading to the
loss of the eyeball which was cut off along with the tumour.
As would be expected, the prompt response of Nigerians gave
his parents so much joy, especially as little Ebuka felt immediate
relief following the surgery. But that joy has now been cut
short by the reappearance of the tumour, barely three months
after the operation. To make matters worse, the tumour is
threatening the child’s life.
Since it re-appeared, the tumour has grown so rapidly that
the mass is now resting on the child’s nose.
The distraught father, Charles, explained that the doctors,
after examining Ebuka again, concluded that another operation
should be done immediately.
The sad man is worried that he had spent all he had on this
matter including the donations made by public-spirited Nigerians.
The first operation, he said, gulped up over N800,000.
Recalling how Ebuka’s problem started, Charles said:
"I noticed, on November 11, 2006 that Ebuka’s eyeball
was bulging out from the socket. Initially, I thought that
the child fought with his school mates. My private inquiries
revealed that he did not fight at school."
Mr. Charles bought Chloraphenicol eye drop and applied it
on the child’s eyes. Two days later, he couldn’t
bear it any longer as the eye continued to bulge out. Charles
took Ebuka to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi
Araba, where it was diagnosed as a tumour. Eventually, he
took the boy to University College Hospital, Ibadan.
"It was there that operation was carried out when the
people responded to our plea of raising N403,000," the
heartbroken father said.
Continuing, he said: "After the successful operation
on the affected eye, we were all very happy. We were all happy
that the child will continue his education which he stopped
and begin to live a normal life among his peer group. But
here we are again, the tumour has rapidly grown pushing out
the flesh of the child’s socket," the sad man lamented.
"I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what
to do about my child. Since this problem started I have not
been myself. My wife is a petty trader and still nursing our
third child. Ebuka is the second child and has an elder brother.
I am a clearing agent, but the business has not been moving
well. I hadly have time for myself because I am always in
the hospital for his treatment and dressing of the wound.
Please, tell Nigerians to help me save Ebuka’s life.
Each time I watch him, tears roll down my cheeks. He is even
too innocent to understand what is going on. He is active
and plays despite the fact that he is already handicapped,"
he said.
Confused and emaciated, the distressed man made a plaintive
appeal to Nigerians, saying: "Please, help save the life
of my son."
Editor’s note:
Donations can be made directly to Charles Anene’s through
his UBA account number : 01620520089867, Wharf Road Apapa,
Lagos, branch. Or reach him on this GSM number: 08023217402. |
