UNTIL some people lose a part of their bodies either to an accident or due to a disease, they would never appreciate what God has given them let alone know the importance of being alive. Her heart ached, as Raji Tawakalitu Temitope narrated her own story, which had forcefully made her seek the help of Nigerians to put an end to her suffering.Tawakalitu is a 25-year-old ND graduate of Accounting. When she was at the age of seven, on her way back home with her siblings from school, Chief Agbaje Memorial School, Ibadan, she detached herself from her three siblings and attempted to cross the road alone. She was knocked down by a car and was unable to come out until the car was lifted up to rescue her. She was immediately rushed to the hospital to save her life, she had a cut on her forehead and her left leg. The leg was stitched and she was discharged from the hospital.She continued with her life after the treatment which made her walk well again. She finished her primary education in 1996 and her secondary education at Adekile Goodwill Grammar School, Ibadan in 2002 and proceeded to The Polytechnic, Ibadan where she did her National Diploma in Accounting. A boil appeared on her left ankle in 2008, exactly on the spot that was affected when she had the accident. The pain was quite much as she was taken to a private hospital where she was treated after which she felt better.Soon after the treatment, she could not walk well because the stitched leg opened up. She was taken to Oluyoro Hospital in Ibadan where she did an X-ray and was told that she had had a dislocation of her left hip. She was transferred from Oluyoro Hospital to University College Hospital (UCH) where she did a lot of tests.According to her, her family had spent over N500,000 on her treatment. She has to dress the wound regularly which makes her go to the hospital twice a month. At UCH, she was told that she had to undergo an operation which would cost her a total of N1,498,300.00.All her efforts to seek for people's assistance since she was told the cost of the operation were to no avail as all members of her family could not fund the operation. Her mother, Mrs Raji Sidikatu is a trader while her father, Raji Atanda is a nightguard whose salary can only feed the family.She went to the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State, (BCOS) in an attempt to seek for help on August 22 where her phone number, pictures and projected cost of treatment were collected. She went back there on November 14 and was told to keep praying and look for other means through print and electronic media because they had a lot of cases that were similar to hers at hand.Tawakalitu, in an attempt to seek the help of Nigerians, did not sit back home wetting her pillow with tears rather, she went with her mother to the Oyo State governor's wife's office for assistance on 29th September, 2011 but was not allowed to see her excellency. She was asked to come back while her letter and pictures were collected. She went back to the Oyo State governors' wife's office on October 16 and was still not allowed to see her excellency.According to her, 'my family members have really tried. They give me money for drugs, tests and some other necessary things but they have nothing to give me again. They have really tried.'Tawakalitu told the Nigerian Tribune that 'I want Nigerians to help me as no amount is too small or much. I am in pains and I can't walk well. People should please in their mercy help me with whatever amount they have to get the operation done.' She made this appeal for help as tears rolled down her eyes.The Bible has encouraged us to give as it shall be given back to us in many folds. The Quran also has not neglected the preaching of this act, Almighty Allah has encouraged his believers to give to the needy and poor as they shall be rewarded for the act of worship, not only here on earth but also in the hereafter.Her telephone number is 08076775496 and her account number is 6018782818, Fidelity Bank Plc, Idi Ape Branch, Ibadan. Account name: Raji, Tawakalitu Temitope.
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