By  CHARLYN IKPE & RACHEAL OLAYIWOLA

The birth of Destiny a little over a year ago was heralded by frenetic celebrations in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Aboh Godwin. He is their third son and was simply adorable. But, barely six months into his life, Destiny began to show worrisome signs. He was not growing, did not eat enough and  tired too easily. His breathing was rather rapid and he seemed to sweat too much.

Mrs. Godwin, a full-time housewife noticed the signs, and alerted her husband.

“At first we thought it was an ailment that could be treated immediately. When we got to the hospital we were told that he needed an ECHO to reveal the status of the heart and treatment required.

The result showed Destiny had two large holes in his heart. It was like a death sentence had just been handed to  their adorable son who was just seven months old.

“I just began to cry. The child was too young to have this kind of problem. He did not do anything to deserve that. Why two large holes? Many with only one hole in their hearts ended up dead. How much more a little child with two large holes in his tiny heart? I just couldn’t take it.” When they were done with crying, the Godwins asked the doctors what could be done. And their heart sank further as they were told it was only a very complicated surgery requiring sophisticated equipment that was not available in Nigeria. They said the child’s best option was to be flown to India for the corrective heart surgery.

“Somehow, we found the courage to fight for the life of our precious gift. The challenge however was money. The couple started running from pillar to post to get the required funds to take Destiny to India for the surgery that he sorely needed to live. The child seemed to be getting weaker  every passing day, and the couple were under pressure to do something before it was too late.

“We went to many foundations but help was not forth coming. While waiting, hoping and praying for God to spare little Destiny’s life, a friend of Mr. Godwin’s told the couple that MTN Foundation could actually help them with the surgery of their son abroad.

“My husband’s friend said he knew that MTN Foundation had helped many people in the past. So my husband and I decided to try it out. We wrote an application to them and to our greatest surprise they called us to inquire from us all the information concerning our son. We were particularly surprised because we did not know anyone at MTN. After they verified all our hospital documents they gave us the sweetest message we have ever received: They would bear the cost of our son’s surgery in India!” Mrs. Godwin recounted emotionally.

The Foundation’s support extended beyond the actual surgery and medication, to cover related expenses, such as the cost of obtaining passports and other travel documents, accommodation and feeding of the child and another person accompanying him. It was only by sheer providence that they arrived the hospital right about the time that it decided to pack up.

“Destiny was placed on a series of medications for a week with extensive monitoring and constant examination to ascertain the best time to open him up. On the first signs of strength and stability, Destiny was wheeled into the theatre for the operation. Then wait began.

The surgery reportedly took hours. An exhausted doctor later walked in to inform the distraught mother that the operation had been successful and Destiny was going to be alright.

“I thank God because MTNF came at the right time. First, we would not have been able to pay for the surgery on our own. Secondly, if the Foundation hadn’t intervened when it did, Destiny woul;d have had heart failure here in Nigeria where there would have been no expert care to revive, stabilize and operate him. I am sincerely grateful to MTNF.” she said.