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SIMEON SAMUEL AN OBSTRUCTED HERNIA
PATIENT BECOMES NORMAL AGAIN THROUGH THE ASSISTANCE OF LIFE COMPANION INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION
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| Simeon Samuel Before Operation |
Simeon Samuel is a father of five children, who has neither
formal educatiion or a skillful training. He ekes out a living for his family through menial jobs picked up now and then.
MEDICAL HISTORY: Sometimes
in early 1999,Simeon developed a tumour on the left handside of his abdomen. He went to the hospital and was diagnosed of
suffering from hernia. He managed to undergo an operation through the kind support of relatives. Later in 2000 the hernia
resurfaced and went for a second operation. The operations seemed not to be successful. In late 2000, the hernia resurfaced
again but this time in a protruding form in the abdomen. He wanted to ignore it but the pains forced him to go for another
medical check up. This time, he was diagnosed of suffering from an obstructed hernia as a result of badly treated previous
hernia cases. He was told thet if the hernia is not properly treated or handled on time, he will stop passing faeces in the
normal way (that is through his rectum). The cost of surgery was put at #125,000.00. Simeon has neither the money nor any
person(s) to assist him raise such lump sum of money for his treatment as he has exhausted avenues of such assistance. In
addition, his ailing health do not allow him to pick up the menial jobs that sustains his family. Faced with stavation for
his family and death for himself, Simeon took to street begging. The money received from begging helped him to sustain his family
and to purchase his drugs to lessen his pains. During this period the obstructed hernia developed to the stage where Simeon
could not pass faeces through his rectum but through the aid of a tube.
A RAY OF HOPE: Simeon
was on one of his begging spree in a MOLUE (a poopular commuter bus in Lagos and commonly patronized by the lower class living
in distance areas in Lagos metropolis) in Oshodi Park in early 2001. As usual, he related his medical history to the people.
In a bid to prove his sincerity and show concrete evidence of the suffering he has been undergoing, he raised his shirt to
show the people the offensive sickness. At that time the Resident Controller of Life Companion International happened to be
standing very close to the bus. He heard Simeon' story and saw the offensive sickness. He then beckoned on Simeon to follow
him. Simeon initially hesitated but the passengers compelled him to follow him.
He was then taken to the Organisation's office and into its
care. In line with the Organisation's policy of treating helpless abandoned sick people, he was taken to one of the Organisation's
hospital - EKO Hospital. He was tested and the result read obstructed hernia as a result of badly treated operation cases
thereby confirming earlier diagnosis. Simeon has to undergo surgery fast to save his organ and life. The cost of surgery was
put at #255,000.00 this time around.
CAMPAIGN FOR FUND RAISING TO SAVE SIMEON
SAMUEL'S LIFE: Fund raising campaign was mounted for Simeon by the Helpless People's Committee of Life Companion
International. The General Public, Corporate Bodies, Parastatals, Charity/Donor/Funding Agencies, Churches/Mosques, Philanthropists
and well meaning Nigerians were appealed to come to the aid of Simeon.
ASSISTANCE: Rhythm 93.7fm,
DBN Television became awere of Simeon's case and showed interest. Both Media Houses in collaboration with Life Companion International
mounted a save Simeon Samuel Campaign. Their campaign attracted the attention and sympathy from the people. TOMBRA LIFE SUPPORT
SERVICES LIMITED and the General Public came to his aid. A major donation of #255,000.00 was received from TOMBRA.
TREATMENT & CONVALESCENCE:
In June 2001 barely 5months after his encounter with the Organisation, Simeon was admitted at EKO Hospital for surgery. The
operation was successful and Simeon was completely cured. All his medical expenses were settled accordingly. After the operation,
Simeon stayed with the Organisation till he was strong enough to take up his life again. He requested for rehabilitation in
terms of assistance to secure meaningful employment to help him sustain his family and his health. He found it difficult to
start learning a skill at his age when such an issue was broached to him by the Organisation.
Nevertheless, the Organisation in collboration with DBN Television
mounted campaign for job hunt for Simeon. However, his poor educational background did not favour him. Simeon is still looking
forward to getting a job. But the Organisation was able to provide shelter for his family at SHASHA area of Lagos State.
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| SIMEON SAMUEL AFTER OPERATION |
IFEOMA OKORIE A "GANGERENE OF THE FEET" SAVED
BY LIFE COMPANION INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION
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| IFEOMA OKORIE BEFORE OPERATION |
BACKGROUND: Ifeoma Okorie
is a young girl of 20 years old. She is a native of Ogberu in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. She is born
into a family of seven children of three boys and four girls. Ifeoma is the first of the children and her young mother of
35 years is likely to have more children.
Ifeoma's parents have neither skill training nor formal education.
They are poor peasant farmers whose produces are mainly for subsistence. The couples strain themselves to provide the basic
needs of their family.
Ifeoma is an unusual person based on the primitive tradition
of her people. Her birth was an omen as she was born on an EKE MARKET DAY which is a taboo in her village. The nature of her
birth earned her the wrath of her people and her family. She is looked upon with disdain by all and sundry. Happenings in
her life are been attributed to the nature of her birth and wrath of the gods. Her people's attitude towards her seemed to
help to form her character trait.
MEDICAL HISTORY:Ifeoma
Okorie developed a disease (a swell) on her toe. She was undergoing severe pains and the disease was gradually getting bigger
and threatening to spread to the rest of the toes. Her constant complains was rebuffed by her parents who though do not have
the means to cure her used the excuse of her condition being the wrath of the gods to cover their inability to secure a cure
for her
Faced with death threat and with no one interested to help
her, she drifted to Lagos in search of survival. On arrival in Lagos, she stayed in the street since she does not know whom
to stay with. She was on the verge of death when the Resident Controller of Life Companion International found her.
HELP:The Life Companion
International took up her case. She was diagnosed as suffering from "GANGERENE" of the foot, a condition which the doctor
said that the patient may gradually die from the toe due to blockage of blood supply to the rest of the toes and finally the
body. The case needs urgent surgical operation to save the affected area and stop it from spreading to the rest of the toes.
The cost of operation was put at #.5million. The hospital was given her temporary treatment to control further spread while
awaiting money for major treatment.
FUND RAISING:The Helpless
People's Committee of the organisation embarked on fund raising campaign to save Ifeoma's life. The general public, corporate
bodies, donor/funding agancies, philanthropists, churches/mosques and well meaning Nigerians were called to help save the
life of the young girl.
ASSISTANCE: During the
course of the campaign, Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu the Asiwaju of Lagos State heard of her case and came to the aid of the
Organisation. He accepted to take up the bill of the patient.
TREATMENT&CONVALESCENCE:Ifeoma
was admitted at Ikeja General Hospital. Her surgery was successful and she was completely cured. Governor Ahmed Tinubu settled
her hospital bill. After the surgery she stayed with the Organisation till she was strong enough to take up her life again.
REUNION:Ifeoma desired
to go back home to share the good news of her recovery with her parents, to prove that her birth was not an omen and
her sickness was not a wrath of the gods since she was not consumed by it and to enlighten her people on the importance
to discard old aged beliefs, traditional norms and taboos.
Ifeoma was re-united with her family. Her recovery and good
health through the kind assistance of the humanitarian organisation brought joy to the heart of her parents and dissolved
previous inhibitions of her family and people against her and brought unity among them and happiness in their hearts.
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| IFEOMA OKORIE AFTER OPERATION |
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