He was born in September 2009 a twin. A ruddy child he was. Like his brother, he grew strong and displayed traits of a promising child.
But fate unexpectedly played a major role in his life which appeared to have put his destiny on hold.
Eight-year-old Kehinde Yusuf, at the age of six months, that is in the month of March 2010, suddenly developed temperature and was attended to by his parents who administered the first aid on him.
Observing that his temperature did not subside while he had also lost appetite for food and was weak, they sought for medical attention at the hospital.
At Ado Awaye General Hospital, under Ado Awaye –Iseyin Local Government in Oyo State, he was diagnosed as having fever and was placed on admission in order that proper examination could be carried out on him and necessary treatment given him.
A drip was prescribed, but the vein through which the needle would be passed in either of the hands was not found, which spurred the decision to have the drip passed through a vein in his head.
“He responded well to treatment and having been certified as medically fit, was discharged on the third day.
Kehinde’s ordeal started three days after he left the hospital.
His parents observed that his head had grown than its normal size and he was unable to sit. He displayed a sign of discomfort.
He was brought back to the hospital, but it was deserted because a strike was on. Confused and at a loss on what to do, they hung around the hospital premises until they got the attention of a medical officer who was on skeletal duty. He prescribed for the boy multivitamins.
Since no referral letter was given them due to the on going strike, Kehinde’s parents resorted to seeking medical assistance outside this government hospital.
Mr Isiaka Yusuf, Kehinde’s father narrates to Saturday Tribune the family’s experience:”Since we were not sure of the length of the strike, my wife and I saw the private hospital as next option.
“We moved from one hospital to another seeking solution to our son’s predicament. By the end of three months, we had visited 10 hospitals, both private and trado-medical.
“At each hospital, we spent nothing less than N20, 000, but this brought no succor to our son.
“At the last trado-medical hospital that we visited, we were given a referral letter to the University College Hospital (UCH), where we were finally told after series of tests and examinations were carried out that Kehinde has hydrocephalus (water in the brain). This was January 26, 2011.
“At the UCH, we were given a bill of N175, 850 which was required to be paid before treatment commenced. At the end of the day, we paid N500, 000 because there were hidden bills covering drugs, bed space and the likes.
“By April of that year, a successful surgical operation referred to as EVT was carried out on Kehinde.
”He paid regular visits to the hospital for checkups and was expected to go for a post surgery test in 2014. Unfortunately, UCH embarked on a strike two weeks before the test was to be carried out, “he stated.
He went on, “During this period, Kehinde was stooling and vomiting . We were at a fix as to what to do next until we were counseled to go to Unilorin Teaching Hospital (UTH), Ilorin.
“There, three tests were carried out to determine what the problem was. At the end of the day, another surgery referred to as SHUNT was carried out on him after which he could talk and eat, but his head was still big.
“All the expenses at this hospital was to the tune of N430,000.
“We were given a referral letter to any available hospital which could offer physiotherapy treatment and we chose UCH.
“We were again handed a bill of N115, 300 which was to cover three years. We were informed he may require surgical intervention during the course of the physiotherapy treatment which cost they might not be able to estimate.
“Kehinde’s neck swings under his head because of the weight of the head while he’s unable to sit down. At age eight, he’s fed by his parents who also aid him when it’s time to toilet. Going to school for now is practically out of consideration.
“This year January, another surgery was advised on the leg and a special chair prescribed to enable him sit comfortably.
“This operation which has been delayed because of paucity of fund has been reschedule for September 5, and this will cost N400,000,” Yusuf stated.
Yusuf who sells recharge cards and whose wife is an uxillary nurse, thus sought help from the kind hearted public.
“It’s a harrowing experience watching our son waste away. We believe he can still make the best out of life if given a chance.
“Your widow’s might will go a long way in making this dream a reality, “Yusuf pleaded.
You can reach Yusuf on these phone numbers- 08022300344, 08059001989.