3-Year-Old Girl Battles Rare Cancer, Mother Seeks N4.5m For Lifesaving Treatment
IBADAN — Three-year-old Rokeebat Akinola is battling rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer, as her mother, Ayishat Akinola, appeals to well-meaning Nigerians for N4.5 million to fund her daughter’s further treatment and surgery.
Rokeebat is currently receiving treatment at Crestline Hospital, Idi-Ope Bus Stop, opposite the Electronic Market, Eleyele, Ibadan, Oyo State.
According to her 36-year-old mother, a fashion designer, the family first noticed something was wrong about a month ago when Rokeebat’s abdomen began to swell rapidly.
Ayishat said the swelling became increasingly hard, prompting her to seek medical attention at Global Medical Centre, Apata.
“I noticed towards the end of last month that her belly was swelling, and I acted fast by taking her to the hospital,” she said.
“The tummy was just getting bigger quickly and becoming very hard. We went to the Global Medical Centre at Apata, where we were told that it was inside her bladder.”
Rokeebat subsequently underwent her first surgery about three weeks ago, which cost the family N500,000. However, Ayishat said the growth returned after the procedure.
“She had her first surgery three weeks ago, and we spent N500,000 on it. Unfortunately, the growth came back,” she said.
The mother said the family has since moved to Crestline Hospital for further treatment, but the rising medical expenses have become difficult to meet.
“The pain is too much for her. It is very painful for me as a mother to watch my child go through this,” Ayishat said.
She said the family needs N4.5 million for Rokeebat’s immediate treatment and surgery.
Ayishat, who is married to 40-year-old Olawale Akinola, a transporter, said the family has been struggling to meet the medical expenses.
She added that she has three other children, aged 13, 11 and seven.
Appealing for support, Ayishat said, “I am appealing to well-meaning Nigerians to please help us save my daughter’s life. We have already spent N500,000 on the first surgery, and the growth came back.
“We need N4.5 million now for her further treatment. We cannot raise this amount alone, and any amount anyone can contribute will go a long way in helping us.”
She added, “I just want my daughter to get the treatment she needs and come back home healthy. I am begging Nigerians to help us.”
How to Support Rokeebat
GTBank
Account Name: Ayishat Tijani Opeyemi
Account Number: 0549121142
OPay
Account Name: Ayishat Tijani Opeyemi
Account Number: 9033854820
For further enquiries or verification, Ayishat can be reached on 09033854820.
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