Mr Babatunde Babajide, a photojournalist with the Nigerian Tribune, is currently receiving treatment at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. He needs financial help to battle an advanced stage of prostate enlargement. Ruth Olurounbi, who spent an emotional afternoon with him, brings the report of his struggle for survival.IF the situation had been different for him, Babatunde Babajide wouldn't have remotely considered the idea of being in the news to appeal for money. He would quietly go into a hospital, paid for whatever service was required to get him well and be done with it. But, Babajide doesn't have the luxury of that choice, at least not anymore. He has been robbed of that choice by a ravaging disease called prostate cancer.Babajide works as a photo journalist with the African Newspaper of Nigeria Plc, publisher of the Tribune titles. Problems started sometimes last year December as a discomfort in urination. Babajide said he noticed that he had burning pain during urination and later developed to difficulty in starting or stopping the urine flow. His wife, who he said was a gift to him, most especially during this critical time of his life, urged him to go to the hospital for medical checks. Initial reports indicated that Babajide has an enlarged prostate, which was operated upon at a private hospital.It was later discovered that what was initially thought as an enlarged prostate was actually an advanced stage of prostate cancer. Dr Ayorinde Folasire, Consultant Radiation Oncologist, who is handling Babajide's case, explained symptoms of the disease as a weak or slow urinary stream, a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying, difficulty starting urination, frequent urination, urgency to urinate, getting up frequently at night to urinate, a urinary stream that starts and stops, straining to urinate, and continued dribbling of urine. Dr Folasire, who refused to talk specifically on Babajide's case due to the binding doctor-patient confidentiality clause, also said that advance prostate cancer usually spreads to the bones, bladder, lungs, liver, the rectum and other parts of a patient's body.Before an unconscious Babajide was taken into UCH, he had initially got better after he was discharged from the private hospital in which the surgery was carried out. At that time, everyone heaved a sigh of relief. However, everything suddenly took a turn for the worse. 'At that point in time, hell broke loose,' a friend of the family said.A visit to Babajide at the radiotherapy division of the University College Hospital (UCH), revealed Babajide's emaciated form. At a point however, he sat up and was able to make some conversation, although in a terribly weak voice. A teary-eyed Babajide, who wondered how he could have made it alive to this point, were it not for the courageous dedication of his wife, who stood by him, said he was literally unconscious when he was taken to and admitted into UCH and had been in a coma for several weeks. Those who had paid an earlier visit reported that they feared for his life, saying that as at the time he was admitted into UCH, he looked more like a corpse than a human. Narrating his ordeal in the past six months, a barely audible Babajide said that he was rushed from his home to the UCH six weeks ago. He said he wasn't even aware of that at that time until some few weeks ago when he woke up from being in a state of comatose. His wife, who preferred that her name be kept out of print, seeing that her husband was having difficulty speaking audibly, took over from him. She said after he was initially discharged from the private hospital in which he was operated upon, he felt better and seemed to have been responding to treatments. All of a tarted getting somewhat tricky as her husband couldn't eat anymore. What was worse, she said, was that he kept vomiting what little he was being forced to eat.When the situation looked like it was on the verge of getting out of hands, he was rushed to the UCH. At that time, Babajide had lost consciousness, according to a source close to the family. It was at the UCH that it was discovered that the cancer had metastasised into other parts of his body. The doctors had to start treatment all over again. The treatments, according to the family, have gulped several thousands of naira.It is very likely that Babajide may go for chemotherapy. His doctor verified that patients with advanced stage of any form of cancer would most certainly go through radiation and chemotherapy treatments. A friend close to the family, Mr Lanre Obisesan, who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune, said he had it on a good authority that Babajide would require chemotherapy sessions, while Babajide himself said that the doctors have told him of a likely trip to Eko Hospital for a radiation treatment.As part of signs of advanced case of the ravaging disease, Babajide currently suffers from bone pain especially in the back, hips, thighs and neck, weight loss, fatigue and low red blood cell count (anemia). He said although his health is improving, he still feels numbness in his legs.The Babajides do not have any idea when he will be discharged from the hospital although they wish it could be soon. Still, they are in dire need of financial help as medical bills keep piling up. Babajide's projected radiation treatment would cost as much as N150,000 aside some other expenses. Patients who had been to the Eko Hospital told the Nigerian Tribune that they had spent over N200,000 for radiation treatment.But that is just the tip of the iceberg, since there is a possibility of a chemotherapy treatment. On the average, depending on the type of treatment, a chemotherapy session takes eight sessions, costing an average of N300,000 per session. Chemotherapy alone may cost N2.4 million or more, depending on the course of treatment required for Babajide's case.The wife, who expressed appreciation to the medical staff of the UCH, the members of staff and the administrators of her workplace, the Tribune management and her family members, said being a care giver to her husband had taken an emotional and financial toll on her.Despite the challenges, which brought Babajide's wife to constant tears, she however, thanked God that her husband was responding to treatments. 'It has not been easy but I thank God for hearing our prayers,' she said.Still, the family needs a lot of financial help. They need help offsetting loans that they have incurred and of paying medical bills. A source close to the family said the family currently has a debt of a million naira, just as they are facing an impending financial burden. Another source close to the family disclosed that these last excruciating months have not only robbed Babajide of good health; they have also depleted the Babajides' not so buoyant purse.Were it not for friends and a very few family members who had supported the Babajides with some cash, people close to his family feared he might have since been dead. 'In fact, it has been God and kindhearted people that have raised money for his treatments. His wife's younger brother has spent a lot of money too. If that man wasn't there for his sister and her husband, we probably wouldn't be here telling this story today,' the source said.'These people deserve all the help they can get, most especially financial help,' the source continued, adding that 'they need to pay the mounting medical bills and they will need to buy one thing or the other. You know how UCH works now. The patients buy everything. Believe me, those things aren't cheap. I will therefore, appeal on their behalf that the good-hearted individuals who will read this painfulstory should help them out.'The worst may not seem to have been over for Mr Babajide, as he is fondly called at the office. He needs financial help to service his health; he needs money to offset some loans, and he would need money even after he gets out of the hospital.Donations could be sent to Babajide Elizabeth Yemisi with a Guaranty Trust Bank account number: 0029794880 or come to the Tribune Features desk.
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