"Help Save Regina": Department of English Seeks Financial Support For Regina In Need of a Kidney Transplant

By
By Taiwo Oyedeji 
Regina Abosede Babalola, a first-year student from the Department of English at OAU, has recently been diagnosed with a severe kidney disease. Her condition has been described as critical, and she is currently admitted to Purplemed Kidney Centre in Ibadan.

According to a voice note Regina sent to her brother, Joel Boluwatife Babalola, on May 20, the illness began with her vision becoming blurred and difficulty seeing, which prompted her to visit the Health Centre. After a check-up conducted at the Pharmacy, it was discovered that she had high blood pressure.

In an interview, Joel shared how Regina's condition has rapidly worsened since then, as she has been in and out of hospitals, including Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), Seventh Day Adventist Hospital in Ile-Ife, and is now currently admitted to Purplemed Kidney Centre in Ibadan.


On Tuesday, June 10, Regina was transferred to Purplemed Kidney Centre, where she began undergoing regular dialysis. Last week Friday, July 6, her condition took a turn, with her kidneys confirmed to be damaged, necessitating internal surgical access, as she has reached end-stage kidney failure. This stage has also led to her experiencing seizures and requiring oxygen since then.

Today, her treatment was halted as hospital bills increased to nine hundred and twenty-two thousand naira (₦922,000). Income has not been forthcoming, as both parents are unable to work. “The doctor explained that the only way to help her is to start preparing for her transplant,” Joel further narrated. 

The family has been managing the bills since her illness began. As the cost of the transplant exceeds the family’s capacity, they were prompted to reach out to Moses, a student close to the family and Regina's class representative.

“We, the family, are very grateful to everyone who has involved themselves in the effort to save her life and improve her circumstances. We sincerely appreciate the support and pray for a successful outcome,” Joel concluded.The National Association of Students of English and Literary Studies (NASELS) OAU and the Students' Union have issued an urgent appeal to the university community and the general public to come to the aid of Regina, whose journey has unexpectedly taken a challenging turn, as the estimated cost for the transplant is forty million naira (₦40,000,000).

To help raise this amount, NASELS, in conjunction with the student body, has begun mobilising resources and creating awareness campaigns across social media platforms to draw the attention of students, public figures, influencers, charity organisations, and the general public willing to support financially.

In an interview with the Financial Secretary of NASELS, Francis Ohacho, he mentioned the steps the department has taken to rally support and generate funds. “We have started working immediately to coordinate the department in collectively supporting the fundraising,” he said. “We have also drafted letters to send to media outlets for publicity.”
Additionally, the students have taken the campaign public, with an awareness rally scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, July 11, to further gain mass support. “We believe that it is through our personal efforts that people will be motivated to support. So, we want to push ourselves out of our comfort zones until we start seeing tangible results,” Francis stated, further emphasising the importance of persistence in inspiring others to contribute.

“We do not ask for illness, but it comes anyway. That time when we are in our darkest hour is the one chance for the world to show they care and that we matter. Today, it is Regina; let's not leave her in the hands of death," Francis pleaded.

With time ticking and Regina in serious pain, family members, friends, and supporters continue to plead with the public to contribute through donations and by helping to raise awareness across various platforms.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Breaking Barriers: Exclusive Interview with the Only Female Bus Driver on OAU Campus

By
Image
By Esther Ademola The Icons Organization, in collaboration with Great Ife Network, recently conducted an exclusive interview with Mrs. Elugbaju, the sole female driver on the OAU campus. Standing out as the only woman among the Towngboro drivers, Mrs. Elugbaju has sparked curiosity about her motivation. During the interview, she shared insights into her experiences and shed light on her journey as a female driver in a male-dominated field. Question : Can you introduce yourself? Mrs Elugbaju : My name is Mrs Elugbaju. I am one of the driver of buses in the campus, I'm the only lady. Question : How did you become a bus driver especially in a University like Obafemi Awolowo University? Mrs Elugbaju:  I'm a civil servant. This is just a part time job for me. After office hour like 5:00pm, I do bring my bus and I will be loading from campus to gate and from gate to Campus like around 7:30pm-8:00pm then I will go back. READ ALSO: OAU Secures Two Gold Medals in Judo at FA...
Read more

Fresher's Week'24: Students' Union Holds Freshers Inter-Faculty Debate

By
Image
By  Adetunji Oluwafemi The Great Ife Students’ Union on Monday, 3rd November 2024, held its planned inter-faculty debate for freshmen. The debate is part of the events that have been prepared for Fresher’s Week 2024. The event experienced a slight delay, as the venue was moved from the 1000-seater to Oduduwa Hall by the order of the school management, which requested that the initial venue be vacated because the office of the Vice President, responsible for the event, failed to seek permission before using it. The event began at 12:35 PM. Faculties were paired and assigned topics: the Faculty of Administration and Science had the topic "Corrupt Democracies are Preferable to Dictatorships"; the Faculty of Agriculture and Dentistry debated on the topic "Subsidy is a Necessary Compromise of the Government, and Should be Implemented in Areas of Essential Public Domains"; the Faculty of Arts and Technology had the topic "Civil Disobedience is a Moral Wea...
Read more

SPECIAL REPORT: Inside UI and OAU Public Hostels

By
Image
By The Icons Organization and Indy Press  For Deborah, a 100-level student and resident of Obafemi Awolowo Hall of residence, University of Ibadan, staying in her hall of residence was a choice she made because she was in her first year of study. She believed this choice was the safest way to get familiar with the school and its environment. Posi, another student, on the other hand, resides in a school hostel due to proximity. “I stay in Obafemi Awolowo Hall of Residence because of its proximity to classes; the fact that it is cheaper, it is less stressful than house hunting, and much safer than staying outside school,” Posi explained.  Posi's reason for staying in Obafemi Awolowo Hall is the same as that of many students who find themselves in public hostels — it is often cheaper and closer to school. This goes to show just how important hostel accommodation is for students in any university, as it affects both their academics and overall wellbeing.  Unfortun...
Read more