By Mustapha Usman, Kano
If anyone had before 2015 told citizen Nayif Ismail, an indigene of Fagge Local Government Area of Kano state, that at 22 he would have his two kidneys damaged, certainly, he wouldn’t have taken it lightly with such a person.
But sadly, as you read through these lines, citizen Nayif Ismail is struggling to live, as he battles multiple health challenges as revealed by outcomes of series of medical diagnosis conducted at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, AKTH, Kano.
For Mr Ismail, life has been very tough, difficult and quite challenging. What began like an ordinary fever in 2015, has deteriorated that young Ismail’s hope of survival hangs in the balance.
But even in excruciating pains, Ismail hasn’t given up on hope. He is optimistic about his lofty aspirations and remains hopeful.
Mr Ismail’s health predicament started with an intermittent stomachache which took him to the famous AKTH for medical attention. He was initially treated for stomach ulcer, and as usual went home to recuperate.
Strangely, Mr Ismail’s condition wasn’t showing signs of improvement even while he was on medication, a situation that prompted him to return to the hospital. However, further examinations revealed that he had developed high blood pressure, a development that called for close examination by his handlers.
In the course of routine medical checks and follow-up on both ulcer and hypertension, the doctors at the AKTH noticed that the patient’s BP was steadily rising and in an effort to control it, they discovered that he had a kidney dysfunction.
As shocking as this news was to both Ismail’s family and medical workers, young Ismail, a budding Quranic scholar, was full of hope. It is this sheer courage that has kept him alive.
He said, “though I am presently down, but not done with life”. He has been bedridden since January 2016 and has been undergoing routine dialysis – twice in a week amidst excruciating pain.
Unfortunately, despite the routine dialysis, the doctors eventually discovered that Mr Ismail had to undergo transplant, preferably outside the shores of Nigeria in order to save his life as his both kidneys had been completely damaged.
For his parents who have had to spend all their earnings on Mr Ismail, seeking medical attention for their ailing son wasn’t on their agenda at all. Should they fold their arms and watch their son die? Certainly not, but the family’s current financial status cannot afford to foot the bill of the kidney transplant. To salvage the situation, family members and well-wishers opted to help in whatever way possible.
Mr Ismail’s family eventually heaved a huge sigh of relief when the emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, pledged to sponsor the transplant surgery after one of his palace servants saw a Facebook post by one Aisar Salihu, requesting for assistance for the surgery.
The philanthropic gesture of Mr Sanusi boosted the hope of Mr Ismail’s parents after they began to give up on his recovery following the deterioration of his health condition.
The emir, who was moved by the patient’s severe condition, directed the management of the hospital to ensure his immediate transfer to AKTH where he had already arranged for the transplant surgery.
At the AKTH, after series of tests, the Head of Renal Team of the hospital, Aliyu Abdu, said Mr Ismail had to wait for 3 months before undergoing the transplant.
He explaining that because he had undergone blood transfusion, the patient had to wait until he regained his natural blood for the surgery to be successful.
Unfortunately, as Mr. Ismail waited for the surgery time after spending about 2 months before the time, his health condition took a major twist as he was affected by anemia as a result of shortage of blood in his body.
The situation put his family in dilemma because they were warned by the doctors not to undergo transfusion again until reaching the 3-month transplant period.
But Mr Ismail’s condition further became critical to the extent that he could not even move his body parts, a situation that prompted his parents to take him back to the Abdullahi Wase hospital where he was diagnosed with anemia as his blood count, PCV, was less than 14%.
Worried by the patient’s predicament, two of his brothers, Anas Salafy and Aisar posted his health condition story again on their respective Facebook pages.
This time, the post caught the eyes of Saddiqa, Emir Sanusi’s daughter who swiftly drew her father’s attention to Ismail’s story.
Mr Sanusi therefore summoned the patient’s family and the doctors to his palace where they had a parley on how to end Mr Ismail’s suffering.
DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that Mr Sanusi had expressed concern over the health condition of his subject.
It was gathered that the monarch even likened the patient to his first son, saying “I am concerned about Nayif’s life just as I have concern on my son, Chiroma Baba’s life.”
“Therefore, doctor, do your best to ensure that this boy has successful surgery. As long as we are here, we will not afford to let our children suffering from these kinds of diseases provided we know the situation,” said the emir.
Commenting on the matter, a medical doctor, Mustapha Hikima, said the 3-month period earmarked for the surgery was perfect for the patient to have a successful surgery.
According to Mr Hikima, after a patient had blood transfusion, it was scientifically proven that he has to wait for 3 months before undergoing transplant.
He added the 90-day period would enable the patient develop a natural blood that would enable his body accept the kidney.
Mr Hikima, a Consultant Radiologist at the Abdullahi Wase Hospital, also said that “if the patient awaiting transplant did not wait to that 3-3-month period, he will have a wrong Human Leukocyte Antigen. Again his body will not accept the kidney to be replaced and if care is not taken, that rejection of the kidney could lead to death.”
He called on Mr Ismail’s parents to be calm and strictly follow the doctors’ directives.
DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that the doctors have increased the dialysis session from twice a week to thrice a week.
