A man, Okechukwu Odika, whose daughter is paralysed, has appealed to Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano for help.
Odika’s daughter Chinyelu, paralysed from the waist down, needs N20 million for surgery.
Odika who hails from Neni in Anaocha Local Government Area of the state, said Chinyelu’s ailment has traumatised his family.
He is begging Governor Obiano, his wife Ebelechukwu and other public-spirited individuals in the state to help the family raise the money to send her to the United States.
He said his daughter was suffering from birth asphyxia, a medical condition resulting from deprivation of oxygen to a newborn infant that lasts long enough during the birth process to cause physical harm, usually to the brain.
Odika was in tears as he spoke, saying he had spent over N6m treating the child in Nigerian hospitals.
He said, “This condition has traumatised my family for seven years. My daughter was paralysed from head to toe from birth, a form of child stroke.
“The University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital has managed her condition from birth and has been able to normalise her situation from head to hip.
“But her legs are paralyzed; and because of that she doesn’t go anywhere, and she seven years.
The young man said he had secured an appointment with Washington University Physicians who had assured to heal his daughter with a condition for him to pay about $54,000, equivalent of N20m.
“The above situations pose serious challenges to the plan of independent standing and possible ambulation.
“The family wishes to seek for further intervention abroad, hence this appeal”.
A letter from the US physicians made available to reporters read,” Thank you for sending Chinyelu’s video and medical information for evaluation for selective dorsal rhizotomy surgery.
“If she has the surgery we expect her sitting and standing postures will improve. Her balance and level of comfort will improve.