But until some weeks ago, her case seemed hopeless. She was like a shipwreck victim on the high seas, buffeted by the ocean waves threatening to draw her to the depths.
She had been forcefully discharged in controversial circumstances by doctors at the UCH where she had been denied further treatment since 2006.
Although, she eventually got referred to John Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A, her parents are too poor to afford the bills for her care, having exhausted all their life’s savings on her and her other two sisters. Thus, they had taken her home, ostensibly awaiting her death.
But, the lass has since clung to life, as if certain her much needed help would come.
Well, God seems to have answered her prayers. Following the publication of Prudent’s pathetic story in the Daily Sun on August 11, 2010, some kind-hearted individuals and organizations in Nigeria and abroad who read the story have risen to the challenge of restoring her back to good health.
More importantly, UCH authorities, who hitherto had been reluctant to readmit her into the hospital’s care have graciously placed her on admission following interest shown by the philanthropists and groups to take up the responsibility of having her treated abroad.
The hospital is making effort to review the patient’s case, stabilize and recommend her for treatment at the John Hopkins University Hospital.
This became imperative as it was discovered that the girl suffered from severe malnourishment, multiple bedsores and infections as a result of her long stay on the sick bed.
The patient’s father, Kendrick, explains why this is so. “We were thrown out of where we lived before by the landlord, which resulted in our taking her to a good Samaritan, who accepted to keep her with him in his one-room apartment, but where we were unable to reach her for regular check and feeding. We stay in the small shop with her two sisters. The place is not conducive for her to stay. Most of our belongings are outside”, he told Daily Sun.
Among those who responded to Prudent’s need is a lady from Lekki, Lagos who insisted on her names not being mentioned in print.
But Daily Sun learnt she is floating a yet to be registered non-governmental organization (NGO) Save A Child Foundation, to help the cause of needy kids.
She was instrumental to getting Prudent back into UCH by offering to pay for her brain scan and referral package which would be sent to John Hopkin’s University. She then hopes to lead a fund-raising campaign for her to be treated in the American hospital, reputed to be one of the best in the world.
The good Samaritan dispatched a medical doctor to follow up on the series of tests and further diagnoses by the UCH doctors.
Apart from her, a California-based Nigerian couple sent a donation through a professor of medical sciences at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). The token went into settling unforeseen expenses that the family has been incurring since October 7 when Prudent was admitted into ward.
But a more cheering piece of news is the interest that a United States-based group has shown in the case. The group sent down a representative, one Dr Uche, to assess Prudent’s situation in September. The representative met with the family and saw the girl in the sorry condition.
Daily Sun gathered that the group has opened up discussion with the John Hopkins University Hospital for a possibility of the patient being treated there. But not much has been heard from the end so far.
Prudent’s father says the immediate challenge is how to settle the medical bills which keep mounting everyday his daughter spends in UCH.
He told Daily Sun: “The process is ongoing. The child is under the care of three departments: the paediatrician, dietician and Neuro- surgery people. And she is being seen by physiotherapists also. Now, they say she has high blood pressure and respiratory problem. They say they want to stabilize her. But all this meant money and we have exhausted all we have. The mother is staying with her in the hospital and that means she’s not working. Please help beg Nigerians to assist us.”
Prudents’ dad, Kendrick can be reached on 080-3363-4675, and her mum, Nkechi on 080-5137-9874.
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