‘I sleep and wake up in pains’

                                  

A 200-Level University of Benin (UNIBEN) student, Ndubuisi Igwala, may have his arms amputated because of a festering ulcer. The sickle-cell anaemia patient needs N1 million for a plastic surgery to stop the decaying tissues on his arms. EDDY UWOGHIREN (500-Level Medicine and Surgery) and EZEKIEL EFEOBOKHAN (600-Level Pharmacy) report.

On a warm Friday afternoon, our reporters received a distress call from University of Benin (UNIBEN) student living at Ekosodin, close to the campus.

At the entrance of 42, Edo Street, where the caller lives, a young man with festering ulcer on his arms was waiting for us. He smiled when he saw our reporters. But, his countenance changed as he led our reporters into his room.

One could tell all was not well with Ndubuisi Igwala, a 200-Level student, as he struggled to sit and rest his swollen arms on a pillow. The 29-year-old is a sickle-cell anaemia patient. He is the only surviving child of his parents’ three children.

The disease, which he got from his parents, has broken him, physically and psychologically. He learnt about his sickle-cell condition when he was 11, following a life-threatening crisis in primary school.

Since then, he has been having bouts of crisis. The festering wounds on his arms are evidence of his crisis, which could lead to amputation, if something is not done fast.

As he relived his story, Ndubuisi fought back tears. “I feel pains all over my body. It is like a fluid of fire running through my body and this is the reality I have to deal with daily,” he said.

He added: “I was 11 years old when I was told I am a sickle-cell victim. It never made any sense to me, because I was in primary school then and I barely understood what that statement meant. I returned from school one day and I felt great pains all over my body. My parents gave me some drugs, then the pain subsided. When I asked them why I always felt such pain, they told me I was a sickle-cell victim.”

Ndubuisi’s two siblings, who were also victims, died at the age of 12 and six months.

When he became aware of his sickle-cell condition, Ndubuisi vowed never to allow it  limit him in life. He said he would fight the disease with all he has and also champion a cause to help other sickle-cell patients cope with the disease.

His determination led him through secondary school, where he finished among the best graduating pupils.

He got admission into UNIBEN in 2008 to study Agricultural Economics and Extension. Ndubisi was among the best students in his first and second year.

“I studied hard, despite my regular sickle-cell crisis,” he said.

Things, however, turned sour for his family when his father lost his job.

Ndubuisi said: “The whole story changed for us when my dad was sacked. Because, we all had to depend on mother’s meagre income to survive; there was no money for me to buy drugs to manage my sickle-cell condition and also to pay my fees. I deferred my admission. I couldn’t write the exam the following year, because I didn’t prepare as a result of my crisis. Then, the university advised me to withdraw.”

Determined to continue his education, despite his challenges, Ndubuisi sought  admission into UNIBEN’s school of part-time, where he is now studying.

Describing how he feels whenever he has crisis, he said: “The pain is something I will not wish for my enemy. I sleep and wake up with severe pains. It is more like a fluid of fire running through my veins. Without the necessary drugs, the pain could last for days.”

To stop the festering ulcer on his arms, Ndubuisi must undergo a plastic surgery. The ulcer, it was learnt, developed because of excessive injections and incisions. If the surgery is not done on time, Ndubuisi risks losing his arms to the bacteria-infested wounds.

His father, who now does menial job to sustain the family, cannot afford to pay the N1 million for the plastic surgery at the UNIBEN Teaching Hospital (UBTH).

Ndubuisi said: “Aside the severe pains I deal with, I am at the stage of losing my hands. I have had too many injections and incisions, which have resulted in these wounds on both my hands. They became infected months ago, bringing out pus with bad smells.

“My hands are gradually becoming weak; I can barely use them. I depend solely on friends and neighbours, who come here to help me with basic chores daily. There is a friend who helps me in cleaning and covering the ulcers.”

Ndubisi believes he would survive and live long, unlike his siblings.

In an emotion-laden voice, he said: “I have hope. I have faith and I believe in God, who has brought me this far. I believe God will see me through to the end of this crisis. God possibly brought you (CAMPUSLIFE reporters) around to help me put my story to the public to read. I believe there is someone who will come to my rescue and help me overcome this pain.”

When our reporters visited the UBTH, the medical personnel in Burns and Plastic Surgery unit of the Department of Surgery, declined to speak. They said they needed a directive from the hospital management to talk.

However, Dr. Joseph Okonkwo of Excellence Medical Centre in Benin City described Ndubuisi’s story as “heartbreaking”. He said it was the outcome of people’s reluctance to go for medical test and counselling when choosing life partner.

He said: “This is why people should not be blinded by love. Many have refused to go for genotype check and counselling. I meet prospective couples with as genotype and after counselling, you find them still going ahead to get married, with the belief that God will perform a  miracle. They end up coming back with sickle-cell children. People are ignorant and stubborn.

“Ndubuisi is possibly suffering hand-and-foot syndrome. The pains he goes through are component of the vaso-occlusive crisis, which results from severe hypoxic injury and infraction that cause pain in the affected region. That is one of the complications of sickle-cell anaemia. The solution is to undergo reconstructive surgery as soon as possible to save his hands.’’