By Aderonke Adeyeri & OLAYINKA AJAYI

Until he was diagnosed  with chronic kidney disease, Ojeawere Tunji Stephen – a worker in a paint manufacturing company, a father of two and doting husband; a healthy and vibrant forty seven  years old, ready to face the challenges of life while helping out whoever needed his help.

But, unexpectedly, out of the blues, fate  dealt a cruel blow on Tunji who hails from Owan West  Local Government Area of  Edo State.

At the moment, he is engaged in a do-or-die battle to save his life from the clutches of a potentially fatal kidney  failure.

Ojeawere Tunji  presently undergoes dialysis  at the Healing Stripes Hospital owned by the City of David  Lagos.

In his  narration to the media , Tunji stated: “this still remains a nightmare to me. I started feeling pains in my body early  July last year. I thought it was malaria.Later, it graduated to typhoid and then I was  told at the hospital that I had kidney problem.

On the first of July, I was on admission at FMC Abeokuta, Ogun state where I was told  that my case  had deteriorated to the level of kidney failure and I needed a  transplant.

Then I began my dialysis and things began to fall apart.  My blood pressure was sky rocketing and my PCV was at a reducing percentage.

I was very close to the end of the road. From FMC Hospital, I moved to  St Nicholas Hospital in Lagos and continued with the dialysis. Initially, the doctors felt the kidneys will be restored but it did not after many tests and dialysis .

‘’Some times, a dialysis costs N70,000 to N100,000 depending on the cost of drugs prescribed and I will have a blood transfusion and I have to undergo this at least twice a week, otherwise the story will be different.

I have spent  all my life earnings but because of this sickness, I am left with nothing to cater for my wife and beautiful kids of four and two years old respectively. Doctors said I need a kidney transplant because I suffer a chronic kidney disease.

Now, I need a total of N7 million for  the kidney transplant in Vickran Hospital, India. Please help me. I am  pleading to  Nigerians to come to my aid so I can live a normal life again.

“The bitter truth I have been made to understand is, one can continue with a dialysis only to stay alive without having to live a  normal life and the kidney problem remains. I want to live again. I want to cater for my family and not be a liability to them and everyone around me, he lamented.’’

His young and  pitiable wife, Funke also appealed to generous Nigerians amidst tears to save her husband from untimely death.’’Please Nigerians, save the life of my husband.

I am too young to become a widow. We have two kids  who are yet to enjoy their father. I do not have a regular job. Life has been so tough for us. Please help me”.

Also, Tunji’s  pastor, Pastor Joseph Ebata of the Redeemed  Christian Church of God alongside some other pastors of the Church said Joseph and his wife were very active in the Church before this incident and .’’

we woke up one morning to this sad news of kidney failure around July and as a Church, we have been supporting him alongside some other people for his dialysis because Joseph and his wife were active members the family.  For the dialysis, we have spent over  N2million and we will still spend more pending when the transplant will be done.

I think what he needs is a permanent solution that will require N7million and that is why we are appealing to Nigerians. Tunji needs your support to live a normal life again”.

According to a medical report signed on the 30th of January 2014  by Dr. Rosemary Chiejina, a medical officer of the Healing Stripes Hospital, Lagos, “Tunji is a known patient in our facility and is currently being managed for Chronic Kidney Disease. He receives dialysis treatment thrice weekly. Kindly accord to him the necessary assistance”.

Another medical report signed by Dr. Ogidigben Oghenekevwe,a medical officer and Dr. E.L Bamigboye, a clinical director at St. Nicholas hospital Lagos said the patient is  hypertensive.

“He was presented on the 21st of August, 2013 for the purpose of effective haemodialysis and work up for renal transplantation.  After review by consultant nephrologist, an assessment of end stage renal disease was made.  Estimated cost for each dialysis session is N38,000 and patient is to have three sessions a week.”

Please call Tunji on 08029493233 and forward your contributions to save his life  toTunji Ojeawere, First Bank, Account number 3075796472