NIGERIAN JOURNALIST’S KIDNEY FAILURE UPDATE: IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO HELP
‘I’m ready to Donate my Kidney’
–Osebby Bade, Meka’s younger sister breaks silence
*Says: “I can give my Life to save my brother, even though I die in the process”
*Confesses: ‘We’ve no parents to help us. We’ve only raised N1.5million’
*Explains: ‘My brother is undergoing excruciating pain daily. We are begging CNN to assist us’
*Laments: “Silverbird/Rhythm FM–my brother’s employer has not given us a cent yet’
* PLUS: ‘Mini surgery performed around his neck for dialysis passage’
HER name is Osebby Bade, a biological younger sister to Meka Akerejola, the once bubbling and lively Nigerian radio journalist working with Silverbird/Rhythm 94.7FM in Abuja whose kidney developed a chronic failure, had been undergoing dialysis daily at Consultant Medical Clinic and Dialysis Center, Wuse Zone 6, in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, FCT. Several Save-Our-Soul (SOS)platforms were created on Facebook for this traumatic journalist by friends and admirers, just to ensure the continuous campaign to keep this journalist alive is sustained. In this exclusive phone interview with Osebby, she took CNN iReport through the challenges, pains, regrets and determination to even lay down her life for her immediate elder brother. Such an emotional and touching story. Enjoy it:
BY GEORGE ELIJAH OTUMU, CNN iReport North America & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF,NAIJA STANDARD
Can you give us an update on state-of-health of Meka, your brother?
It has been really tough for us. Now, the medical doctors just finished a section of dialysis on my brother, presently running once a week. And it is very costly because the dialysis is paid for and it is from the little donations we have been receiving that we are using pay for this dialysis to keep my brother alive.
How much have you raised so far?
As at today, we have raised the sum of N1.5million. We need help. We need financial assistance from all over the world. My brother must live and not die in Jesus Name. We are all praying and believing God that Meka will survive. Unfortunately, like I said, as donation is trickling in, so are we paying for dialysis regularly at Consultant Medical Clinic & Dialysis Center, Wuse Zone 6, Abuja.
Can you briefly describe state-of-mind of Meka presently?
Meka has a strong spirit and conviction he will survive. You need to see the excruciating pain daily. Due to the earlier passing of fluid through his veins which is gradually becoming weaker, a mini surgery was performed around his neck for dialysis passage. And most times, crises arise after he undergoes surgery, but God has been faithful. God will never and can never fail those who put their trust completely in Him.
How about his wife, Christy and 3 year old son?
Their permanently by his bed side, praying, fasting and trusting God to send us financial helpers to help my brother. She has been a good wife, adviser all the time.
What has been your greatest challenges in helping Meka medically?
Fund has been our greatest challenge so far. Like I explained earlier, we have only raised N1.5million out of N7million to N10million needed for the surgery and post surgery treatment to have him back on his feet again.
What assistance will you want CNN to do for you?
(Sobs) We are begging CNN to kindly assist us in passing this information to the world, because we know when CNN beams my brother’s serious health issue to the world, surely, help would come his way quickly and faster through godly people that are willing to help us pay this huge bill.
Have you seen anyone willing to donate kidney for Meka?
I am ready to donate my kidney to my brother to save his life. We no longer have parents. He is the first born, I am next to him as his immediate younger sister in the family. I am willing to give my life for my brother. I have no fear in my heart about this operation, because I know I will live and my brother will be alive after the operation.
What if something goes wrong and your brother alone is alive after operation?
I am not entertaining any fear, since I have made up my mind to give my life out to save my brother. In case anything goes wrong and I die in this process, I have no regrets to have laid down my life for my brother.
