A medical doctor has called for a reorientation of the working class not to neglect their parents after the son of one of her patients spurned a request for N90k to assist his father walk again.
Dr Ola Sandra Ndukwe took to her Twitter handle to narrate how a man was brought to the hospital where she works after he suddenly lost the use of his legs.
According to the doctor, they examined the man and called for imaging to be done to enable them to know how to assist him.
Unfortunately, he did not have the funds. He sent a message to his son who lives abroad with his family, intimating him of his condition and the need for urgent medical intervention beginning with imaging costing N90k.
The doctor said the man was at the facility for one week without the son responding to the messages and calls.
She recalled that the man upon discharge broke down in tears as he tried to understand where he had gone wrong after sending his children to schools and abroad for further education.
Some readers of the doctor’s tweets have now reached out to her to offer financial assistance to the old man.
Read the doctor’s full tweet below:
“So I once had a patient some months back that required urgent imaging for his sudden inability to walk. The cost of this was 90,000. For him to be able to walk again, he needs this imaging.
He messaged his son based abroad, who neither acknowledged the text nor called.
1 week into admission, no response. 2 weeks same. For a man that was walking a day prior to this, he needed urgent intervention.
2 weeks into admission, no response from the child. Not even a text.
We had to discharge him cause we couldn’t do anything much for him.
On the day of discharge, he broke down in tears and said “HE WENT THROUGH HELL TRAINING HIS CHILD, sent this child for masters abroad. Paid through his nose. Did same to enable him leave this country after master’s.
What wrong did he do as a father? Guys, this man was crying like a baby. I couldn’t even stand the agony. The hurt. He said “I’m not crying because he couldn’t send funds, but he refused to at least call to check up on him” How did he become an ENEMY TO HIS OWN CHILD?
We tried to pacify him, he insisted the child is doing well abroad evidenced by his/her lifestyle and he recently relocated his whole family to the US.
I don’t know what to say, but please TAKE CARE OF YOUR PARENTS. Many of them sacrificed everything for us to be better.
PS: The information I’ve is only from the father. If there’s more to it, I’ve no idea. But no one should let his relative (parent) remain in such condition if he/she can help salvage it. My only concern is the man’s health. Thank you”
Dr Ndukwe provided an update later. She wrote:
“Thanks for reaching out to support the man.
This wasn’t my intention, I only wanted to reawaken our conscience to help our vulnerable parents.
However, most people have volunteered to help. This will require his CONSENT. I will have to contact the family first for permission.”
