It was in the afternoon of Wednesday, 13th April, 2011 when the duo of Tijani Musibau and Alade Tajudeen brought Hikmat Tajudeen to the Tribune House and told Taiwo Olanrewaju how she was diagnosed with a hole in her heart and their appeal to Nigerians for financial assistance for the little girl.Although Hikmat was born like any other normal child, yet, his parents, Mr. Alade and Mrs.Adiat Tajudeen knew that something, which they could not pin-point, was amiss. Initially, they thought she had cough or that the nurses who took her delivery at the government owned Maternity Centre, Ighoho, Oyo State on 11th October, 2004, did not clear her nasal cavity well enough.So, when the problem persisted, she was taken to the General Hospital, Ighoho, where some drugs were recommended for her. Hikmat got some temporary relief. Whenever the cough related problem wanted to start, Hikmats father, Mr. Alade Tajudeed, a 43-year-old panel beater said, It usually starts with cough and high body temperature as if she has malaria. When the problem persisted, we took her to a hospital owned by one Dr. Ayoola at Ilora and he it was, who suspected that she had a hole in the heart and referred her to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.Going down memory lane, Mr. Tijani Musibau, Hikmats uncle, said when his younger sister, Adiat, a sweater knitter, gave birth to Hikmat, her fourth born, the baby was very small in stature. And because of her stunted growth, she breast-fed the baby for three years. Hikmat is, presently, a Nursery 1 pupil of AUD Primary School, Modeke, Ighoho.Picking up the story again, Mr. Tajudeen said his daughter was reffered to Bethesda Heart Centre, Old Bodija, Ibadan for the echocardiography test as the machine needed to carry out the test at the UCH was faulty.The result of the test, signed by Professor Omokhodion on 30th March 2011, confirmed the Tajudeens worst fear. Indeed, little Hikmat has a hole in her heart and she would need Two Million and One hundred thousand naira (N2.1m) for the surgery in India.That is a lot of money which my family cannot afford. I, therefore, appeal to all Nigerians to please come to the aid of my daughter, Mr. Alade solicited.Corroborating him, Mr. Musibau, a civil servant with the Ogun State government, who resides in Sagamu said, I also seize this opportunity to appeal to the kind-hearted governor of Oyo State, Otunba Christopher Alao-Akala to help us save Hikmats life. I have also heard a lot of good deeds of the Kessington Adebunkola Adebutu Foundation (KAAF), I want them to please come to my nieces aid, he pleaded.Nigerians who wish to assist Hikmat financially should send their donations to:-Bank: First Bank of Nigeria PlcAcct. Name: Tajudeen HikmatAcct. No: 5753160000526
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