Twenty-two-year-old Miss Joy Nwakire, battling a tumour in her mouth, has called on good-spirited Nigerians and government agencies to assist her financially to enable her to remove the unbearable tumour through surgery.
Speaking to The PUNCH through her sister, Gift, Joy, who lives with her family in Ofunama Injaw in Ovia South Local Government Area of Edo State, said she needed N450,0000 and seven pints of blood for surgery so that she could lead a normal life again.
Gift, who said her sister’s condition had put the family, who are farmers, in a dire financial situation, noted that her sister’s travail started seven years ago with what the family thought was a tooth problem, which became a tumour within a short period of time.
Gift said, “The problem started seven years ago like a tooth problem. She was always writhing in pains and she took painkillers at that time. The tumour started very small, like a pimple, but it started growing rapidly. We were advised to take her to an herbalist so that she would get a cure. But the tumour growth never stopped.
“The next thing we did was take her to one hospital where they carried out a successful operation on her. But after one year, the tumour came back more devasting. We took her to another hospital, where we were told that the surgery was not properly done in the first hospital.
“We are farmers and most of the money we made was expended on her medical care. The only thing we make provision for his food. My father is dead and my mother is the one who coordinates our farming activities.”
Gift stated that the experience had been a harrowing one for the family who lived far away from the city centre where medical help was readily available.
She stated, “It has not been easy for us. We are farmers, and it is difficult to use most of the money we make for my sister’s treatment. We can’t feed well because we have to get drugs for her.
“We live in the village, and sometimes the tumour will bleed, we have to trek a long distance to look for cold water to apply on the affected area before the bleeding stops. She loses a lot of blood, so much that the floor will be covered in blood. She will be rolling on the floor. If we do not get cold water to apply on the area that is bleeding, it takes a longer time for the bleeding to stop.
“We have not had help from anyone and it has been difficult getting one. We have met people who have promised to help but have failed to do so.
“We want people to help us so my sister can get medical attention and live a normal life again. In the village here, people have shown concern by asking what type of ailments she has. Two weeks ago, I met someone with the same condition, and I asked him what he was doing to get treatment, and he told me it had not been easy. He also knows that my sister has the same condition.
“This year, we were at the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, where we were told to do a test, and it was decided that she must have another surgery which will cost N450,000 while she will also need seven pints of blood, four to be given before the surgery and three to be given after the surgery.
“We have been able to save N70, 000 so we are calling on good spirited people for assistance.”
Contributions can be made to the account below:
Account no: 3178805266
Name: Nwankire Gift Nneoma
Bank: First Bank
