The chance to help someone out

After reading all the sad and depressing news in the two Nigerian papers, it does make me want to bring a little bright spot where I can. I’m thinking of making a donation to the parents of the premature triplets who are seeking help. Here is the text of the article by Joseph Onyekwere (it is accompanied by a photo of the young couple with three miniscule babies) in case anyone else is interested.

“When on May 23, 2009, Mr. Kehinde Onilude, a private school teacher walked the aisle and got joined to former Miss Bola Sodipo in a holy matrimony, their hearts’ desires were for enduring blessings from God, including the fruit of the womb.

Not long after, God answered their prayers as Bola conceived. But their joy was short-lived when a few weeks ago he lost his job. That however did not dampen their spirit as they looked forward to the arrival of a set of twins in their new home in May this year.

But on March 10, 2010, they got more than they bargained for. Bola gave birth to premature triplets – a boy and two girls – at New Life Hospital, Orelope, Egbeda, Lagos. Her antenatal scanning had earlier revealed only two babies.

That became the beginning of a painful joy for the young couple. “From New Life Hospital, we went to General Hospital, Ikeja. They said that the incubators are filled up. From there, we went to Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH. Also, they said the same thing and we became highly confused,” said the depressed father of three.

According to him, the little children would have died if not for the mercies of God. When the children could not be admitted to LUTH, the couple moved to Lifeline Hospital, Ogunlana Drive, Surulere. “They asked us to deposit 600,000 naira ($4,000). We said we don’t have that kind of money, that we only intended to stay for two weeks. They now asked us to pay 600,000 naira for the two weeks. So, we left the place.”

While the figure was highly exorbitant for Onilude, little did he know that his predicament would worsen at the Good Tiding Hospital, Fasoro, Surulere. Onilude said, “When we got there, they asked us to be paying 131,500 naira ($1,000) per day. At that point, we did not know what else to do. So we kept begging the doctor and he reviewed the figure to 51,000 naira ($350) per day.”

By the time the children were incubated for six days, the bill rose to 306,000 naira ($2,000) and it dawned on the couple that relocation was the only available optioin. The couple was stunned by the figure. However, through the aid of kind-hearted individuals who lent them some money, they were discharged March 16, 2010 and transferred to Ayinke House, Ikeja.

Now Onilude is appealing to Nigerians to come to his assistance to ensure the survival of the children. His words: “I am appealing to Governor Babatund Fashola of Lagos State, his wife, the deputy governor, philanthropists and other well-spirited individuals to come to my aid. We will appreciate any kind of assistance that will help us offset the hospital bills and raise these children.

Onilude can be reached through this number 08024537467 or 08051921722. Better still, payments can be lodged into his BankPHB account number 12620004814.