By Esther Onyegbula

For the parents of 20-year-old Olawale Kareem, a cancer patient, who is lying critically ill at the private ward of Good Tiding Hospital, Lagos, the quest for medical care for him has been a long and wearisome two-year journey with no end in sight.

From the time Kareem was diagnosed of leukaemia (blood cancer), precisely in October 2013 his parents have known no peace. The journey which began from a private hospital in Ikotun area of Lagos from where he was referred to Isolo General Hospital has taken them to several hospitals in the state.

Olawale Kareem on his hospital bed.

After several diagnostic tests, Olawale began his chemotherapy which went on for months in different phases, at a point he went into remission.  Just last month, he has done five-day chemotherapy and expected to do one day chemotherapy this month.  Today, the bad news is that latest test conducted before the five-day chemotherapy session showed that his condition has relapsed and the cancer was back in full force. With the latest discovery, unless something urgent is done, the dream of Olawale to become a human kinetics may not come to pass.

Olawale, a final year student of Physical Education Biology at the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin, before he was diagnosed of cancer.  To remedy the situation, the medical doctors handling his case said at this stage, the only option is to perform a stem cell transplant  which will cost between 9 to N10 million. Unfortunately, the procedure will not be done in Nigeria. Narrating their ordeal, Olawale’s mother, Folashade, who said the doctors have advised that the only option for his treatment was a transplant said: “My husband and I have spent over N5 million for his chemotherapy. Initially, we thought it was something that we could take care of but right now he needs help and he needs it urgently. We need assistance from the good people of Nigeria, the Federal government and the State governments to rescue my son.”  Folashade, a fashion designer added that “I can count the number of times I slept in our house at 19 Otitokoro Street,Ikotun since he was diagnosed of  cancer., the agony and misery of watching him pass through so much pain has been very frustrating.”

If you are touched by the plights of Olawale Kareem, you can  reach Kareem on 08023330350 or GTB account details: Kareem Olawale, Acct  Number: 0171294409.