HELP! This doctor who has saved many lives needs you to stay alive
Donald Nwosu, a 36-year-old medical doctor, who has been battling cancer for the past five years, is calling on the public for financial support for a bone marrow transplant.
Despite a series of chemotherapy to keep the disease at bay, Nwosu needs a bone marrow transplant as a permanent cure to ‘Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma cancer’.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a group of blood cancers that includes all types of lymphoma (blood cell tumors that develop from a type of white blood cell).
The symptoms include enlarged lymph nodes, fever, night sweats, weight loss, and tiredness.
Nwosu, a public health specialist, was first diagnosed of Lymphoma in 2012. Back then, he was working as a medical officer at FSP Clinic, Daudu, Guma local government area of Benue state.
From there, he became the state clinical coordinator for AIDS Healthcare Foundation in Anambra.
In a bid to help the promising doctor stay alive and live his dreams, seven of his colleagues have launched a fundraising campaign.
One of his colleagues, Adanna Chukwuma, a health specialist at the World Bank in Washington DC, told TheCable that she has known Nwosu since 2001 when they all joined the College of Medicine in the University of Nigeria (UNN).
According to her, Nwosu had to give up his desire to take on a residency in obstetrics and gynaecology because of his illness.
She added that last week, he had surgery for a skin lesion that needed to be reduced in size to respond to chemotherapy.
Chukwuma said out of the estimated $86700 (N31,558,800 million) needed for his treatment, only $25000 (N9.1 million) has been raised.
A letter from the hospital
“He is recovering from surgery at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital. His managing physician officially recommends that he seek a bone marrow transplant as a definitive treatment option,” Chukwuma said.
“The group hopes to send Donald to India for the Transplant soon after July 31, 2017.
“Finance is the principal issue. Years of chemotherapy have drained his family and our medical school class of financial resources as we have taken up multiple contributions for his care with each round of chemotherapy.
“After the initial diagnosis in 2012, he had four courses of chemotherapy. Now, after his relapse, he has had five courses of chemotherapy so far.
“So, our medical school class decided to form a group of seven to coordinate wider fundraising for a more permanent solution, the Bone Marrow Transplant.
“We have also conducted research on effective options and decided on the lowest cost alternative, from Apollo Hospital, totaling $86700.
“As of 10th July, we have raised about $25000 of the $86700 needed for his treatment.”
She said the victim has not been able to get married because of the challenges of his medical condition.
Chukwuma added that the present condition has not stopped Nwosu from attending to patients in the hospital.
“Donald is not married in part because the diagnosis of Lymphoma came five years ago – he has been in and out of treatment since then,” she said.
Nwosu with friends
“Despite the tough times he has been through, Dr Donald has maintained a positive outlook on life and when he is not receiving chemotherapy, he has continued to perform his duties as state clinical coordinator.
“We are grateful for everyone that has contributed and will contribute from the little or much they have to save Donald’s life. God helping him, after this transplant, Dr. Donald will go on to save many more lives.”
Donations can be made through these platforms:
Nwosu needs the assistance of public spirited individuals or agencies willing to assist him to keep his dream of a more fruitful service to the health sector.
You can make your contributions through these platforms:
GoFundMe: http://bit.ly/SaveDo naldNWOSU
Paga for Naira domiciled cards: http://bit.ly/SaveDonal DNwosu
Direct Bank Deposit: Nwosu Chinedu Donald
Account Number: 0028219856, Naira Savings Account, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB).
