The father of a one- year-old boy, Mr. Isaac Abba, has appealed to Nigerians to help raise the sum of N6.8 million for his son’s surgery.The boy, Gabriel is diagnosed with ventricular septic defect, also known as a ‘hole in the heart. ’

Mr. Abba explained that Gabriel was born through a cesarean session on November 12, 2022, however, started running temperature eight days after birth, leading to the diagnosis of the condition.

He said: “We decided to take him back to the hospital, when he started running temperature. The doctor administered some drugs on him and asked us to go back. But, he continued to develop a high temperature, so we took him back to the hospital. From there, the heart was beating faster, then they asked us to go for an x-ray and the result turned out to be pneumonia.

“After he was discharged, he developed the same temperature and his system became very bad. We rushed him to Gbagada hospital from where they later referred us to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.

“He was placed on oxygen and we were asked to carry out an echocardiogram and the result indicated that he has a hole in his heart. The measure was about nine millimetres and it was said that such a hole does not get filled by itself.”

Abba further said the hospital he was referred to for surgery asked them to pay an estimated bill of N6.8 million for the operation. He said: “The doctor gave me two weeks to come for the surgery and that if it exceeds the two weeks, the cost would increase by 15 per cent. Since then, I have not gone back to them since I do not have the money.

According to the estimated bill dated January 13, 2023, sighted by our correspondent, the hospital gave the breakdown of the bill as full evaluation–N175, 000; pulmonary CT scan–N130, 000; and ventricular septic defect surgery –N6.5m.
All donations can be made to Account Number: 1010648018
Account Name: Abba Gabriel
Bank Name: FCMB
Aba Isaac can be reached on 07067085635