By GABRIEL OLAWALE

Helen Ohazurike is  fighting the battle of her life with Chronic Kidney Failure, CKF.  The ailment has caused the 34-year-old to be a shadow of her once vibrant self. Her marriage to Isaac, has become a trial of faith in the last five years since she took ill. In a chat, she told Good Health Weekly how she was first diagnosed with acute high blood pressure at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ikeja. For months, she was being managed there until her condition degenerated and she developed stroke. Thereafter she was referred to the Neurology Department of the hospital but her health kept deteriorating. Following series of comprehensive checks, a diagnosis of acute renal failure was prescribed.

Doctors described the condition as a chronic kidney disease associated with reduction in urine output. The only solution is kidney replacement through transplant surgery.

Currently, Helen who is in dire need of N7 million for the surgery is presently in a critical condition that has denied her optimal quality of life. She is restless and weak, cannot eat well and is permanently short of blood.
Isaac, her husband, is crying out for help to Nigerians about the plight of his wife and mother of three children.

Narrating her agony, he said following the dreaded diagnosis last year, she was referred to the Dialyzer Specialist Medical Centre, Oshodi, for haemodialysis. ”We could not afford the money immediately. We ran about to raise money to begin the haemodialysis because she couldn’t produce urine anymore and couldn’t go to the toilet either. She was uncomfortable. She had to start dialysis as soon as possible. On each visit, we spent N50,000. There were times she required a pint or two of blood. This process she must undergo twice every week.”

Dialysis

Helen has been on dialysis since August 2013 and six months after, she was advised to go for a kidney transplant because her body had become too weak to cope with the constant dialysis.

A medical report signed by the Centre’s Medical Director, Dr I.T Olaoye, noted that the patient is a known hypertensive diagnosed five years ago with symptoms of reduction in urinary output, increased salivation, vomiting of recently ingested feed and hiccups.

Confirming the diagnosis of chronic End Stage Renal Disease, the medic said the patient  was commenced on maintenance haemodialysis with anaemic therapy and had so far had 10 sessions in the facility.  “Helen will benefit from renal transplantation in a hospital in India where she would be in need of N7million for the surgery.”

In his plea, Isaac lamented that all his earthly savings from his business had been pumped into his wife’s health. “ I am appealing to all kind hearted Nigerians to please help save my wife so that she can live to take care of her three children.