Veteran artiste, Stella Monye, in a new
interview with The Sun, has called out to
Nigerians’ to help with her son’s surgery.
Stella, who was popular for hit track, Oko
Mi Ye, opened up on her son’s medical
odyssey, her pains, travails and hopes
amidst despondency.
Genesis
I had been part of the artistes working on
the theme song for the Coca Cola FIFA
World Junior Championship tagged:
“Nigeria 99” held in Abuja. The theme song
eventually became an integral part of the
game. Before then, I had gone on other
national assignments including the
Horizontel World Festival of Arts held in
Berlin, German. We toured Sabrieaken,
Hanover, Bonn, Bremen, Geneva, and
Amsterdam courtesy of the Centre for
Cultural Studies, Universities of Lagos. It
was a cultural exchange programme.
Shortly after that, I embarked on another
assignment to Yamouskoro, Abidjan for the
Universities Games where I sang the
Nigerian national anthem. The next
assignment came when there was an
audition to pick an artiste to represent the
country at the 150th anniversary of
Abolition of Slave Trade in the Diaspora
held in Guyana. This also fell on my lap
and I toured the Islands of Caribbean.
Those on the entourage of that memorable
event included former Head of State,
General Yakubu Gowon (retd) and his wife,
Victoria; Prince Tony Momoh; Senator
Chris Anyanwu and Lt. Tunde Akogun. I
was the lead vocalist of a band which
consisted of Bisade Ologunde (Lagbaja),
Zeal Onyia, Peter King, Remi Kabaka and
others that performed at the event. The
Atilogu cultural group was also on the
tour.
Sad news
I was neck deep in the preparation for
“Nigeria 99” project in Abuja when the
news came to me that my son, Ibrahim had
fallen off from the top of a water tank and
landed on a sharp rusted iron, which
severely damaged his urethra. In fact, I
was on my way together with other artistes
to present the theme song to the then Head
of State, General Abdusalam Abubakar at
the Aso Rock Villa when my phone rang
and the sad news was broken to me.
I thought it was a minor accident so, I
advised that they take him to any nearest
hospital. But that was the beginning of the
drama.
Thinking it was a minor accident; I
proceeded on tour of the country with the
theme song, under the leadership of the
late Christy Essien Igbokwe who was then
the President of the Performing Musicians
Association of Nigeria (PMAN). I came back
from the tour only to discover that the first
operation had been carried out at the
General Hospital, Ikeja, which at that time
was in a deplorable condition. So, Christy
Igbokwe advised that we should take him
to Holy Trinity Hospital, Ikeja owned by
her friend, who also owned Chrisland
Primary School that my son attended.
Surgery
The doctors at Holy Trinity Hospital
performed two major but unsuccessful
operations on Ibrahim. This prompted me
to open up to the Medical Director of the
hospital who told me that I could go to
India or partronise another professional
Urologist based in Opebi, Ikeja.
At this point, I was overwhelmed and I
cried out to Nigerians. I teamed up with
my colleagues like K1 De Ultimate, Daddy
Showkey, Orits Wiliki, Pasuma Wonder,
Onyeka Onwenu and Lagbaja, and together
we walked the streets of Lagos, creating
awareness about my son’s condition, most
especially, on television. Nigerians
responded but some fraudsters, who
pretended to be assisting us to raise funds,
hijacked the exercise. So, I instructed that
the campaign should stop, but then I was
more concerned about my son’s
predicament and so we forged ahead.
More surgeries
Many more unsuccessful operations
followed at Urology Centre, Opebi, Lagos.
This made me to withdraw tactically and
re-strategize. Later, with some help and
recommendations, we headed for Medanta
Global Hospital, Gorgon Haryana, New
Delhi, India where we recorded another
failed surgery. On arrival in Lagos, I
phoned Dr Guptar and lamented to him. He
asked us to come back to India, but at this
point, I was almost giving up.
Desperation
Out of desperation, I spoke to some people
in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria. I also
went to Abuja to meet Senator Oluremi
Tinubu who said I should take Ibrahim to
LASUTH. She equally advised me to
approach the government of the day for
assistance. I took her advice; I approached
the then Lagos State government for help
but to no avail. I also spoke to other people
but eventually I took Ibrahim to LASUTH
and later Federal Staff Hospital, Abuja. The
Consultant Urologists at both hospitals
examined and referred him to Germany
and also United States of America for
further treatment.
I contacted Dr Michael Straub, Medical
Director, Rechts Der Isar Medical Centre,
Munich, Germany and I was referred to Dr
Gomih, Medical Director, Urology Centre,
Indiana, USA, because I was told he had
just handled a similar case. I contacted
both doctors and they asked me to do some
tests, which I did and sent to them.
However, I was shocked when they gave
me a bill of $35,000. I appealed to Dr
Gomih for sympathy but he said there was
nothing he could do because complications
had set in. Yes, indeed, my son had
suffered some setbacks with some of his
vital organs like the left kidney, bladder
and urethra severely damaged after
returning from India.
Appeal
Urgently now, we need about $50,000 US
Dollars for Ibrahim’s surgery. I know the
money is much or seems much but no
amount of money is worth any child’s life.
However, I am grateful to Governor
Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State who
has been sustaining my son’s life pending
when we are able to go for his surgery.
Alabatvnews.
No comments:
Post a Comment