A three-year-old girl, Rokeebat Akinola, is battling Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer, with her mother, Ayishat Akinola, appealing to well-meaning Nigerians to help raise N4.5 million needed for her daughter’s further treatment and surgery.
Rokeebat is currently receiving treatment at Crestline Hospital, Idi-Ope Bus Stop, opposite the Electronic Market, Eleyele, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Her mother, 36-year-old Ayishat Akinola, a fashion designer, said the family first noticed something was wrong about a month ago when her daughter’s abdomen suddenly began to swell.
She said the swelling increased rapidly and became hard, prompting her to seek medical attention at Global Medical Centre, Apata.
“I noticed towards the end of last month that her belly was swelling, and I acted fast by taking her to the hospital,” Ayishat said.
“The tummy was just getting bigger quickly and becoming very hard. We went to the Global Medical Centre at Apata, where we were told that it was inside her bladder.”
According to the mother, Rokeebat subsequently underwent her first surgery about three weeks ago, at a cost of N500,000.
However, Ayishat said the tumour returned after the surgery, forcing the family to seek further medical intervention.
“She had her first surgery three weeks ago, and we spent N500,000 on it. Unfortunately, the growth came back,” she said.
She said the family is now at Crestline Hospital, where Rokeebat requires further treatment, but the cost has become difficult for them to bear.
“The pain is too much for her. It is very painful for me as a mother to watch my child go through this,” Ayishat said.
She said the family needs N4.5 million for the immediate treatment and surgery.
Ayishat, who is married to 40-year-old Olawale Akinola, a transporter, said the family had been struggling to meet the mounting medical expenses.
She also disclosed that she has three other children, aged thirteen, eleven and seven.
“I am appealing to well-meaning Nigerians to please help us save my daughter’s life. We have already spent N500,000 on the first surgery, and the growth came back.”
“We need N4.5 million now for her further treatment. We cannot raise this amount alone, and any amount anyone can contribute will go a long way in helping us,” she said
Ayishat added: “I just want my daughter to get the treatment she needs and come back home healthy. I am begging Nigerians to help us.”
Those willing to support Rokeebat’s treatment can make donations through:
GTBank
Account Name: Ayishat Tijani Opeyemi
Account Number: 0549121142
OPay
Account Name: Ayishat Tijani Opeyemi
Account Number: 9033854820
For further enquiries or verification, Ayishat can be reached on 09033854820.
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