Lower Limbs Deformity Patient Seeks N1.8m for Final Surgery

Godwin Ifijeh

Miss Ijachi Blessing Maria, a lower limbs deformity patient, who had had two successful surgeries at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, in an effort to correct her severe bowing of both limbs and deformities, is again appealing for support to enable her to undergo a final surgery that would put an end to her travails.

Blessing had her first surgery at the hospital in August’ 2019 in a bid to redress her situation, using Ring Fixator/Taylor Spatial Frame due to the grotesque nature of her deformities and a second surgery in July’ 2020 to effect some adjustments, arising from the first operation on the legs to make it possible for her to walk.
All made possible through public support, Blessing, who has been having physiotherapy sessions and receiving other treatments at the Orthopaedic Hospital, said during the week that her doctors have assured her of becoming fully restored after the next major operation to gradually correct her deformity with Ilizarov leg device at a cost of N1.8million.

The 19-year old Benue State born Blessing, who now looks more resplendent and cheery but still held down with the apparent deformities on both legs, said the doctors have done wonderfully well and have assured her that once she is able to raise the N1.8million and successfully go through the surgery, she would have put paid to every form of deformity left of the legs and walk normally.

She expressed unreserved appreciation to Nigerians for the mercy so far showed her in their unqualified financial and moral support, praying to God for His blessings and glory on all who have supported her so far to see that she fully get restored, appealing once more for more assistance to see that she is able to get the N1.8million needed for the final surgery slated for June’ 2021 to completely see her out of retardation.

“The doctors are saying that irrespective of the efforts we have recorded so far in arriving at the level I am today, unless I undergo this operation to carry out a ‘Gradual Deformity Correction with Ilizarov device of the leg,’ I will go far worse than I was before, go down crawling on my buttocks, this should not happen to me again, I beg in the name of God that this money is raised for me to see that I don’t become a liability, that I am able to undergo this operation, move beyond the stage I am now and don’t put to waste the over N3million people have already invested in my treatment through donations and other public support and become fully well, go back to school to complete my education and live responsibly,” Blessing said, pleading that donors make their contributions to her account, John Blessing Maria, GT Bank Account No. 0468466784 to save her life.

Blessing experienced a 12-year unabating harsh pains from severe bowing of both limbs and dropped out of school in the Senior Secondary School (SSS) Form 1 in 2016 as she could not walk to and fro to school any longer.
She developed problems with her legs at age two and half and was taken to the General Hospital, Ikeja, from where she was first referred to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos.

“Igbobi prescribed a surgery for me at that age, my dad was to raise the money for the operation but he became sick and died. We couldn’t get the money for the surgery after my dad’s death, so, it became impossible for us to go back to Igbobi for the operation,” Blessing said the mother told her of the beginning of what has become a threat to deform and make her life meaningless.

She managed to go through elementary school and then Junior Secondary School (JSS) at the Ikeja Junior Secondary School, Oshodi, Lagos. But with the pains and her level of deformity worsening as she grew older, it became impossible for her to walk to school daily, sit all through in the class and walk back home.
Described by her teachers as good and brilliant, Blessing painfully dropped out of school in Form 1 at the Ikeja Senior Secondary School in 2016.

“It was a very painful end to the education of a most academically promising child,” one of her teachers then, remarked of Blessing, who remains committed to returning to school once she fully recovers.
The hope-raising medical report for Blessing signed by Dr. Izuagba Emeka B., Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Padiatric Orthopaedics and Limb Reconstruction Unit, NOHIL, dated March 26, 2019 and entitled: Re: Medical Report on Ijachi Blessing Maria/ Female/17years, Hospital No. 639273, reads: “The Above named patient of our hospital was first seen on 17/09/2018 with complaints of severe bowing of both limbs of 12years duration. There is associated knee pains, difficulty in walking or running.

“She initially presented to the hospital 7 years ago for treatment but defaulted as she could not afford the cost of the required surgery. The deformities have since progressively worsened up to the present state.
“On presentation, she was thoroughly re-examined and a diagnosis of severe Bilateral Infantile Blounts disease to rule out skeletal dysplasia was made following clinical assessment and X-ray imaging studies.
“She requires a surgical treatment of gradual correction of lower limb deformities, using Ring Fixator/Taylor Spatial Frame due to the grotesque nature of the deformities.

“A surgical assessment has already been given to her detailing the cost estimates required for the surgery.”
Now in her last stages of treatment, she stands to lose all the gains she has recorded in her treatment so far and relapses badly into crawling on her buttocks if for lack of funds she is unable to carry out the operation and complete her treatment.
Pix: Miss Blessing Ariah.jpg