A 15-year old Senior Secondary School I student, Nike Adewumi, has appealed to Nigerians for N2 million to enable her undergo a Scoliosis surgery at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine that occurs most often during the growth spurt just before puberty.
Nike, a student of Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Omu-Aran, Kwara, is suffering from Idiopathic Scoliosis, a disease which prevents her from walking straight.
She said that doctors at the National Orthopedic Hospital told her that the surgery should be done before her 16th birthday in October 2021.
Nike, in company with her mother, Mrs Funke Adewumi, told NAN in Ilorin on Monday that she was diagnosed of the ailment in 2019.
Her medical report dated Feb. 20 and signed by Dr A. M. Toluse, a Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon at the National Orthopedic Hospital, stated:
“Nike Adewunmi presented at the spine clinic on account of painless back deformity.
“The deformity was observed by her mother eight months prior to presentation. It has been worsening progressively.
“Clinical and radiologic evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of adolescent idiopathic Scoliosis.
“On account of the severity of the deformity, she has been counseled to have spine surgery to achieve correction.
“Meanwhile, she has been placed on a brace to deter further progression of the deformity.”
Nike told NAN that when she came home on holiday after her final JSS3 examination in 2018, her mother discovered that the way she was walking was not normal.
“My mother took me to the Kwara State Civil Service Hospital, Ilorin, and after undergoing some tests, the doctor referred me to University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) where I also did some tests.
“I was referred to the National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos from UITH where I also went through several tests. Doctors recommended that I should be placed on brace for six months.
“I have been on the brace for over one year now and doctors said that the only solution to my problem is to undergo surgery which would be performed at the hospital and would cost N2 million.
“The doctor also said that the surgery should be performed before I clock 16 years of age.
“My parents have spent so much money on the various tests and treatment recommended by doctors in the various hospitals that I was referred to.
“They have tried and cannot raise N2 million. I’m now appealing to Nigerians to come to our aid.
“My mother is a petty trader and my father is a civil servant, there is no way they can raise the money,” Nike said.
According to Nike’s mother, her daughter could not go to school throughout last year because of the Scoliosis which was diagnosed early in 2019.
“She has been on brace for more than a year now and doctors at the National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi, said the only solution to her problem is to undergo surgery which would cost N2 million.
“We have spent all what we have on her treatment and we don’t have the means of raising money for the surgery.
“I am a petty trader while my husband, Mr Samuel Adewumi, is a civil servant with the Kwara State government.
“We are appealing to Nigerian philanthropists to come to the aid of our daughter by donating toward the surgery.
“She has been on brace for over one year now and the doctors advised that the surgery should be done before she clocks 16 years. She was born on Oct. 25, 2005.
“My account details are First Bank account number 3058717968 with the name Popoola Funke Christiana, while my phone number is 08036456607,” the elder Adewumi said
