Please help! Journalist diagnosed with failed kidneys

Nurudeen Jewoola

by Comfort Oseghale

Two months ago, when Nurudeen Jewoola, aka Astro, a journalist with Newswatch Daily, began experiencing constant fatigue, he naturally blamed it on the hectic schedule of his job.

It was a near-death experience that brought to light the condition of his health and the state of his kidneys.

“I had no inkling that my kidneys were failing. The only symptom I had at the time was constant fatigue and I didn’t know it had anything to do with my kidneys. Then one day, I went to OPIC office at Gateway Building along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to make enquiries about a story I was working on. All of a sudden, I came down with an intense cold; I was shivering.

“Thinking I was coming down with a fever, I found somewhere quiet where I rested a bit and afterwards called my editor to inform him that I would not be at the office that day,” Jewoola said.

The following day, Jewoola was back on his feet; this time he went to OPIC Plaza at Ikeja to source for documents for the story he did not complete the day before. To his embarrassment, Jewoola was assailed by a sudden urge to throw up and defecate at the same time.

He said, “I was just defecating and vomiting; I couldn’t understand what was happening to me. Luckily for me, the security men at the Plaza came to my aid and gave me water to clean myself up. When I was through, I decided to go home and rest.

“Less than 10 minutes after I got home, I became cold, lost my hearing and could not talk for about ten minutes. Although I was sitting outside my house, in the midst of my neighbours, they had no idea I was in pain.”

Finally, when he was able to muster some strength, Jewoola told a neighbour that he was dying.

The neighbour, who is also a nurse, administered sedatives to calm Jewoola down. By this time, everyone around him had known Jewoolan was ill but none still knew how ill he was.

It wasn’t till the next morning that Jewoola’s neighbours began to fret; it was 9am and he had not woken up. Jewoola lived alone and there was no one to tell them if he was okay.

Jewoolan said, “They kept banging on my door to wake me up. When I eventually did, they told me they were scared I was dead.

“They called my daughter to take me to the General Hospital at Marina. It was like I was in a trance throughout the period. At first, I was told my blood level was low, about 17 per cent, but I still went on to have more tests.

“Eventually, I was told that my two kidneys had failed and that I would need a kidney transplant. I had to be referred to Rivate Specialist Hospital at Ajao Estate for my dialysis because the General Hospital had no functional dialysis machine,” Jewoola said.

A copy of the referral letter from the General Hospital Marina made available to PUNCH Metro stated, “The above named patient is a 50-year-old, recently diagnosed hypertensive who is being managed as a case of decompensated CLD, with chronic glomerulo nephritis. In view of the above investigation results, patient will require urgent haemodialysis.” The letter was signed by the consultant nephrologist, Dr. Ohihoin.

“Each dialysis session costs me N45,000; already, I have had five sessions and have depleted my savings. I need money not only to continue my dialysis but also seek a kidney transplant in India. My treatment has been estimated at N7m. This is something I cannot afford and that is why I am crying out for help. I need all well-meaning Nigerians to help me,” Jewoola said.

Editor’s note: Those who want to help should contact PUNCH Metro for Jewoola’s number.

Culled from PUNCH