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A PhD student in the Department of Zoology, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Mr Oluwaseun Adegbola, who cried out to Nigerians for help to have a kidney transplant has successfully done so after a story by Saturday PUNCH.
The story published on July 9, 2022, was headlined, “PhD student battling kidney disease begs for help.”
According to Adegbola, the story made a tremendous impact as donations poured in from Nigerians both home and abroad.
Thirty-seven-year-old Adegbola told City Round that it was like a dream when he was diagnosed with kidney disease in July, 2020.
He said, “I felt depressed when I was diagnosed with kidney disease because I was the breadwinner of my immediate family so I was worried about how they will cope without me, especially my three kids.
“I kept thinking about what it was I did to deserve such a problem because I neither smoked nor drank alcohol. I was so worried that I became so ill and sad. I felt bad and my blood pressure rose to a very high level when I heard the huge sum required for the surgery; over N15m for the transplant.’’
Adegbola noted that he was a teacher before the issue started since he had his BSc in Zoology; MSc in Entomology and was about to defend his PhD thesis in Medical and Molecular Entomology.
“When the disease started, I couldn’t go around teaching so I could get money. It greatly impacted my life and well-being. I had to resort to crowdfunding because there was no way I could raise the money. I was on dialysis three times in a week which cost more than N100, 000. I needed to also raise N15m for the surgery. There was no way I could raise the money even if my entire family joined efforts with me to do the fundraising,” he said.
He, however, noted that he felt a ray of hope when his story was published in Saturday PUNCH.
He noted that the N19m was raised in a space of weeks.
“The report gave my plight a lift. It validated me. People started donating. I was able to raise the money for the surgery and did the surgery at the Zenith Medical and Kidney Centre, Abuja. This couldn’t have been made possible without the help of PUNCH,” he added.
Speaking of his life after the transplant, Adegbola said life had not been easy as he had been advised by his doctors to always avoid crowds, strenuous activities, noting that he had not resumed work as well.
He also stated the cost of the required antibiotics and other medications were expensive, noting that more donations would be welcome to perfect the process.
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