By 
It was like a dream that turned reality for the family of an Electrical Engineer, Tola Ayodele who lives at Emirs Road Ilorin Kwara state capital whose son, Kehinde’s right eye was poked with a thick stick and it has become a heavy burden for them.
Kehinde a JSS 2 student, a talented footballer and athlete representing his school C&S Grammar School, Sabo Oke, Ilorin in competitions on a fateful day was resting putting his head on the table during break period when the rough play and the disturbing noise of his colleagues forced him to stand up and walk out of the classroom.
Speaking in an interview Kehinde said, “As I was walking out of the class I just felt a thick stick thrown by one of the students violently hitting my left eye, and blood started coming out.”
The father for his part said that since last year when the incident occurred, the family has sold all its valuable items in ensuring that the affected eye that has become impaired does not affect the second eye.
The father Engr Tola Ayodele who described Kehinde as a brilliant and easygoing son recalled that “On March 14, 2021, they said they were playing in class and he was sleeping. He stood up to go outside and someone threw a stick and it entered his eye.
“He was rushed to Civil Service Clinic in GRA, Ilorin. Instantly I left where I was and went to the clinic. I met people there. It was around Ramadan fasting, so we had to plead with the Doctors to conduct the operation and he was operated on. We spent about#68,000 on the surgery.
“The parents of the boy that threw the stick were able to source for #5000 out of ₦68,000. The operation was done and his eye was plastered and they asked us to come back after some weeks so that they can tell us the stage of the eye.
He added that,”By April when we went back, they said he’ll go for another operation. They later referred us to two other hospitals because they couldn’t handle it.
“We were referred to Eye Foundation in Lagos and another hospital in Kaduna. We were referred to UITH before we went to eye foundation. We used a month in UITH and few months in Eye Foundation in Lagos.
“We were asked to bring #3million for the surgery and we tried our best to get it.
According to the letter by UITH, Ilorin, dated 8th June 2021 by the Consultant Opthalmology in Charge of the treatment, Dr Olokoba. L.B titled, “Re: Ayodele Kehinde, 12 years old male, Hospital no 743221.” which refers the patient to Eye Care Foundation, Ikeja Lagos, reads,
“The above named patient presented 3 days ago with injury to the left eye and associated reduction in vision with loss of jelly like material.
“On examination, the visual acuity of the right eye is No Perception of Light (NPL) and intraocular pressure is 02mmll LG. globe is ophthalmic and there is sutured wound on the cornea (done from the referral centre).
“Funds copy revealed a detached retina Given the above, he is referred to you for possible pars plan vitrectomy and secondary intraocular lens implantation.” said the letter.
Kehinde’s father said that part from that, “We spent about #62,000 every two weeks on drugs before we went for the operation.
He also explained that the essence of the bi-weekly drugs is to prevent the damage from affecting the second eye but that the permanent solution would be to fly him to a hospital in the UK where it’s confirmed that they have the necessary equipment to permanently correct the damage.
On the effectiveness of the drugs being purchased bi-weekly, he said, “The Doctors said that the stick affected the third and fourth Layers of his eyes and those places are too delicate.
So we were asked to keep using the drugs so that it doesn’t affect the second eye.”
On whether he has tried contacting those who’ll help fly his son abroad, he said, “I’ve been making contacts we were asked to look for #25 million for all the expenses.”
He also said that the teaching hospital in Ilorin has contacted the hospital abroad and they’ve been assured that if he’s flown abroad for the treatment, he’ll be okay, stressing that his medical reports have been mailed to them.
“We were referred back to UITH Ilorin. We were told that we’d need to fly him abroad.”He said.
The referral letter by UITH, Ilorin to the UK hospital with ref no UITH/OPHTH/34/V.2/58. dated 7th November 2022 addressed to MOOREFIELDS PRIVATE EYE HOSPITAL, LONDON, 9-11BSTH STREET, LONDON.
PHONE:+442075662803.
ECIV9LF. Email..Moorfields private enquiries @nhs.net, jointly signed by the Chief Medical Director, Prof A.D Yussuf and the Consultant-in -Charge Dr Mrs Olokoba.L.B respectively titled,”Medical Report in Respect of Ayodele Kehinde/Male/74322/12 years reads;
“The above named patient presented to our clinic a year ago on account of injury to the left eye of three weeks (3)duration. There was bleeding and loss of jelly-like material from the eye.
“Examination at presentation showed visual acuity of 6/6 in the right eye,light perception in the left eye. Grossly normal globe on the right, left globe appeared enophthalmic with hyperemic conjunctiva and sutured wound at 6 O clock on the cornea, pupil was irregular with lens opacity.There were features suggestive of left retinal detachment, IOP RE-11 mHg LE 03 mHg.
“An assessment of LE retinal detachment was made
“He is being referred to your facility for possible pars plan vitrectomy and secondary IOL implementation under guided prognosis.” Concluded the letter
Mr Ayodele noted that,”the need to save Kehinde’s future has prompted the family, friends and relatives to try all we could but we have been pushed to the wall.
“We are therefore pleading with our amiable Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and other philanthropists to come to our aide, we need N25M to treat him in an hospital in United Kingdom, referred to us in University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital.”He stressed
Currently, Kehinde has been studying with one eye.
He said,”I have been studying with one eye and its not easy,aside that I can no longer play football and other athletes like i used to do and it saddens my heart.”
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