Father seeks N19m for 10-year-old son’s kidney transplant

Daniel Paul, father of David, a 10-year-old boy diagnosed with advanced chronic kidney disease, has appealed to individuals, groups and firms to help raise N19 million for his son to undergo a kidney transplant.

In an interview with Punch, Paul said on February 4, 2024, his son was admitted and treated for malaria at the Model Primary Health Centre in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.

He said two months later, however, the boy developed a fatty body and face and was taken back to the same health centre where more advanced tests were recommended, including a scan.

“These were all carried out and results submitted to the doctor who referred us to either the RSUTH or the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital – UPTH, with suspicion of Nephrotic Syndrome,” Paul said.

“With the oral and verbal referral and doctor-to-parents counselling, we took him to the Military Hospital, Port Harcourt, when the case increased to an emergency with fear that we might lose him because he was convulsing, swollen with excess fluids in his body and had increased Blood Pressure.

“The military hospital managed him all through April and May and discovered that they could not handle the situation.

“They wanted to refer us to the UPTH, but for proximity sake, we requested to be referred to RSUTH, where he is being managed till date. But, in February this year, we moved him to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital – UUTH in Akwa Ibom, where we noticed that the process was the same with extra financial burden of having to do some of the test again under their watch, we returned him back to RSUTH to continue the management.”

Paul said his family spends N160,000 weekly on his son for a twice-daily dialysis, adding that over N4.5 million has been spent so far.

He explained that resorting to public appeal became expedient as the family had exhausted its available resources for treatment.

Paul said doctors recommended a kidney transplant, which is estimated at N19 million if carried out in Nigeria and about N30 million if he is transferred to India.

“We have spent all our meagre earnings, borrowed from friends, neighbours and church brethren, but the situation has increased to what it is now: Stage 4 CKD, TB, Heart Failure and BP,” he said.

“The recommendations of the consultants are: 1. twice daily dialysis and urgent kidney transplant, which is N160,000/week and estimated N19m respectively, and the money is not there, thereby worsening the boy’s situation even as he lies there in the hospital.

“We have borrowed N1.5 million and got assistance of N1.6 million from family, friends and even church members. Altogether, we have spent N4.5 million.”

The father appealed to Nigerians, organisations, and government agencies for financial assistance to enable David to undergo a life-saving kidney transplant.

“We are completely depleted financially and don’t know what else to do to save the boy,” he said.

“Please, we need help from philanthropic Nigerians. The cost of transplant stated up there is estimated by the consultant if it is done in Nigeria, but if it is outside Nigeria, it may be way higher because of visa processing and forex.”

Contributions can be made to the father’s account below:

Bank: First Bank Plc.

Account number: 3070035721

Account name: Daniel Paul

He can also be reached via 08064450145, 07085556206.