Baby with ‘hole-in-the-heart’ needs N17m for surgery

Baby Jason who has been diagnosed with a hole in the heart needs N17 million to undergo corrective surgery abroad.

A medical report seen by The Nation from the Paediatric Cardiology unit of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) confirmed that Adekunle is being managed for Ventricular Septal defect (VSD) which is a type of congenital heart defect that is due to an abnormal connection between the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles).

The surgery is expected to be done in the United Kingdom (UK).

The mother of the baby, Mrs.Shola Adekunle said: “My baby was diagnosed with a hole in the heart with the primary effect being “pulmonary hypertension” at about five-month-old.

“The situation made him have difficulty breathing as he breathes very fast like one exercising and he sweats profusely, causing the heart to do more than what it meant to do. This has led to a very slow developmental process which makes him look like a five-month-old while he is 12 months old.

She continued: “He is yet to stand nor walk, cause 50% of food intake goes to waste as it is passing through the wrong channel, all effort on drugs is abortive as it is not curable, except he undergoes an open heart surgery for him to live a normal life. We have spent so much from hospital bills to expensive formulas in order to manage this condition.”

“Good people of Nigeria, we are pleading for financial support as this surgery requires about 17 million naira to take place in the UK. We will be truly grateful for your kind financial assistance.”, She pleaded.

Dr Davis Izekor of the Department of Paediatrics, UCTH, who signed the report: “The child needs open heart surgery to enable him to live a normal life. Our faculty does not offer this treatment, hence his referral to a centre where this can be done.”

The mother said the family could not afford to pay for the surgery and appealed to Nigerians to come to their aid.

Donations for Imisioluwa’s treatment can be sent to:

Account Name: Adekunle Oluwatosin Jason

Account Number: 0782865247

Bank: Guaranty Trust Bank (GT BANK).

The mother can be contacted via 08061484509.