Kidney transplant: 11-year-old needs N12m to live

At an age when her mate her preparing for entrance into secondary schools, 11-year-old Temitope Balogun has been diagnosed with a kidney disease and is presently battling to stay alive.

According to consultants at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), both organs have been compromised and death is stalking the little girl. The only solution is a crucial urgent treatment.

Temitope troubles started after her mother, Mrs. Kikelomo Balogun, noticed a swelling in her vaginal area. Kikelomo quickly rushed her daughter to the General Hospital, Isolo, Lagos, in September 2015.

It was a hernia contour resulting from a perforated diaphragm. It had earlier been noticed when the girl was born in 2005; however, Temitope was considered too young and feeble to undergo any surgical operation back then.

 Last year, the hospital finally recommended an operation to correct the hernia. However, the series of pre-surgical examinations and tests unearthed a more dangerous condition. Temitope had her two kidneys damaged.

The Isolo General Hospital referred her to LASUTH, for further consultations and treatment. LASUTH detected that one of the kidneys had completely disintegrated, with the urethra blocked. Even the other kidney did not offer much hope.

Kikelomo said: “They said her second kidney is cracked and would also soon pack up. The doctors said that to save her life, we must hurry up and do a kidney transplant.”

The estimates for a comprehensive treatment, including the kidney transplant, have been placed at N12 million.

Temitope has spent about six weeks at the General Paediatrics Ward B of LASUTH.

A letter dated January 5, 2017, and signed by the Consultant Paediatric Nephrologist, Dr. A.U. Solarin, states: “Her kidney working is at 9% capacity, with estimated glomenilar filteration rate of 8.6mls/1.72m2/min. Although she has a relatively good urine output, she will be requiring a renal transplant in the near future and pre-emptive transplant is advisable.”

Kikelomo, a widow, who sells fruit juice, wines and beverages in front of her home at No. 32 Liasu Road, Egbe, Alimosho Local Government Area, said she could never been able to raise the N12 million needed to save Temitope. Temitope lost her father in 2015, while she was just 10-year-old.

Weeping, Kikelomo said: “I’m pleading with kind-hearted Nigerians to assist me in saving the life of my little girl.”

Temitope is the last and only female child, among Kikelomo’s three children. Donations may be forwarded to: Folake Kikelomo Balogun/Union Bank/0039844540.