BABY TREASURE NEEDS N3 MILLION FOR HOLE-IN-THE-HEART AND HERNIA SURGERIES

Grace Omagiate and Treasure

Grace Omogiate looking distraught. Protectively cuddled in her arms was her baby, Treasure, whom you’d immediately assume shouldn’t be more than three months old. It was therefore a shock when her mother introduced her as an eight-month old.

The last and only male of four children, Treasure was in November of 2015 born with two critical medical conditions: symptomatic congenital heart disease (hole in the heart) and inguinoscrotal hernia.

Worried about the two month-old’s frequent crying and refusal to be breastfed, his parents, Festus and Grace Omogiate had taken him to the Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital, Lagos, in January this year, from where he was referred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and eventually the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idiaraba.

Clinical evaluations, according to a medical report issued by the Paediatric Cardiology Unit of LUTH, indicates that little Treasure has symptomatic congenital heart disease (hole in the heart), which was confirmed by echocardiography as large perimembranous ventricular septal defect, small patent ductus arteriosus and dysplastic pulmonary valve.

As a result, he needs to undergo two urgent surgical procedures: an open heart surgery to forestall irreversible and life-threatening complications; and another one to remove the hernia.

The paediatric cardiologist in charge of Treasure’s case said the surgery is the only way the heart problem can be corrected, and that only then will the little boy be able to develop at the normal rate.

To underline the importance of the surgery, the baby has not been taking medication since April, as his doctor has insisted that the surgery is the only solution in sight.

The Omogiates are therefore calling on well-meaning Nigerians to come to their aid, and help give their little boy’s life a meaning. Festus and Grace, who are both civil servant and teacher, respectively do not have the wherewithal to raise the three million Naira (N3,000,000) required for both surgical procedures and travel expenses for mother and child to India where the surgery will be carried out..  

Grace Omogiate, who said she has had to abandon her teaching job since giving birth Treasure wants to see her little boy alive and healthy again, and developing like every other child his age.

They say every donation will be deeply appreciated, as it will go a long way in saving their son’s life.

Donations can be made into: UBA Account Number: 2071065382; Account Name: Omogiate Grace Oluseyi; Phone number: 09097976381/08062501099

Treasure