Abudu — In a bid to save the life of 12-years old Nephtali Oghali who stopped walking at the age of 10 due to a yet-to-be diagnose ailment, the father, 58-years old peasant farmer, Justice Oghali has appealed to well-meaning Nigerians for medical support to save his son’s life.
According to the father, the condition started when Nephtali was six years old.
Oghali explained that they noticed the child’s gastrocnemius muscles which forms major buck at the back of the lower legs were swollen, and they assumed the condition was normal then as it did not “in anyway” affect the son’s physical activities.
However, Oghali said when he turned 8, the muscles which is fundamental for walking as well as posture began to affect the boy’s body movement forcing him to “easily fall” whenever he goes out especially to school.
“At a time, when he don dey 8-years, any small thing he go fall. Me go com dey vex because the thing com turn embarrassment, to the extent people go help me carry am come back from school whenever he fall, until 10-years wen he finally stop to the waka. He no come dey go school again since then. We don try, spend wetin we get take dey find solutions to the problem, but no way”, Oghali lamented in pidgin to The Nigerian OBSERVER at Abudu, administrative headquarters of Orhionmwon local government area of Edo state.
Oghali who hails from Iyede community in Isoko-North local government area of Delta state further narrated, he had lived in Abudu in the last 25-years, noting his wife, mother of the child had died (2-years ago) in the process.
Oghali said they tried various traditional medication, but the condition did not improve rather detiorates, adding he recently took Nephtali to a private medical facility in the state capital, where they referred them to University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) for diagnosis.
The widower who now caters for three children left behind by the late wife stressed that he could not raise money for the test to ascertain his son’s ailment let alone for the treatment.
Though, he was full of life when our correspondent visited the house last Thursday, it was observed, Nephtali who will turn 13 on 1st of November 2022 could barely raise his hands nor hold firmly things, as he struggled to even squeeze juice out of an orange.
“people dey mock me with my son condition. Wen i no dey house; i go far farm, other children go come and dey make jest of am because na only me dey care for am. Dem go take wetin he take dey play, even dey konk am for head and even push am to fall sometimes.
“my wife wen bin dey join me dey carry am waka go everywhere for treatment com die join inside the matter. I tire; i no know how i go waka again, abeg we seriously need help for Nephtali”, Oghali further lamented
He appealed for support from well-meaning individuals for Nephtali’s deteriorating health condition, even as he express fears that the boy “may later be paralyze”.
