Date: 2017-06-27

In this report, City Rove Editor, AHMED 'LATEEF, writes on the plight of a 14 year old spinal cord victim, who had since been confined to bed because of inability to raise fund for his medical bill

Looking calmly on a mattress where he reclined and believed to be convalescing after previous surgeries carried out on him by a team of medical experts for spinal cord injury, a 14 year old Garuba Ibrahim would not forget in a hurry January 11th, 2017.

In a hushed but sympathetic tone, the lad narrated to City Rove how he was mysteriously hit by a log of wood after regular school environment sanitation exercise.

On the fateful day, Ibrahim, a Junior Secondary School Student II of Cherubim and Seraphim College, Ilorin alongside other classmates, were asked to drive the log of wood to a particular spot within the school premises as part of activities in the exercise, oblivious of the trouble in the offing.

As instructed, the students pushed the wood to the spot but that was all the victim could recall after he collapsed like a pack of card.

"We drove the log of wood to the place we were asked to dump it in company of some of my mates. I didn't know what really happen. As we were about turning back, the log of wood fell on me.

"On that spot, I went into a comma. In fact, people thought I had given up the ghost given the fact that foam was gushing out from my mouth. It was a terrible moment that I wouldn't want to remember in my life. I was rushed to a hospital after which doctors confirmed that I had spinal cord injury.

In an emotional laden tone, Ibrahim told City Rove that since that incident occurred, he has remained in a reclining position on bed.

At the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital where he was taken to for quick medical attention, a particular doctor, who operated on him, prescribed some drugs and other facilities to be used for the surgery.

The victim specifically disclosed that he undertook at least three different surgeries throughout his stay at the hospital.

Beside the spinal cord that had confined him on the bed, Ibrahim is also battling with urination as his pelvic region was said to have been blocked. Thus, he could only urinate on the spot with the aid of tube fixed around the lower part of his body.

As part of measures to ease the burden of Ibrahim, whose father died some years ago, the Kwara State government upon the receipt of information about the victim's deteriorating health condition, assisted him with a sum of N1million.

But the money could only take care of the preliminary stage of the surgery and the victim had since returned to his mother's rented apartment at Sabo-Oke Area of Ilorin, the state capital.

His mother, Mrs Kafilat Garuba, a tailor, looked bewildered when our correspondent visited her residence during the weekend.

Attempts to persuade her to comment on the incident proved futile as she was in pensive mood. She only said what she needed presently was help from individuals, corporate organizations and spirited Nigerians on how to restore the health of his son and back on his feet.

The widow told City Rove that she has been the only person fending for Ibrahim and his two siblings since her husband died few years ago.

She noted that due to the unavailability of some medical facilities in hospitals in the country, the victim would need to be flown abroad for adequate medical treatment.

Mrs Garuba said the ailing Ibrahim required physio-therapy for him to regain his health and back on his feet.

The mother, who thanked the state government for the assistance rendered to her at the beginning of the incident, appealed for more help.

She said financial assistance can be channeled through the following Bank Account details

Kafilat Garuba

Fidelity Bank

6235000799

Savings

And Mrs Kafilat Garuba can be reached via this mobile number: 08032235365