After Mysterious Fire: Family Seeks N5m To Settle Medical Bills

           THE Onyeanube family is currently in dire straits following a mysterious fire that engulfed Chinyere, and her five children in their home in Ikotun, a Lagos suburb last December 23.
The victims who were badly burnt in the inferno, were rushed to a nearby hospital where despite spirited efforts by medical personnel, the only son of the family died of his wounds.
The 6-year-old boy gave up the ghost following excruciating pains from severe burns few days after the incident even as the mother and one of the sisters are still battling for life.

Ever since, Desmond, 45, husband and father of the victims, who was not at home at the time the unfortunate incident occurred, has been living out the agony as members of his entire family languish helplessly in hospital, amassing bills running into millions of naira.
Desmond has been running from pillar to post to salvage the situation but he is now heavily in debt and unable to settle the huge hospital bill.
Worse still, indications show that the Onyeanuibes may remain in hospital for a long time yet because their wounds are far from healed. The family of seven that has been reduced to six is in a quandry.
Even as you read, the family has an outstanding debt of N5 million excluding the total amount required to obtain compete treatment for the over 90 percent burns.
Narrating his plight to Health & Living Features, embattled Desmond said the fire erupted from a kerosene lantern that exploded as Chinyere attempted to refill it. The incident occurred around 9pm on the fateful day while she and the children were having their dinner.
Strangely, nothing in the apartment, including the lantern was affected by the fire, except Chinyere and her children.

Chinyere on admission after the fire incident.

One of the daughters on admission after the fire incident.

In tears, Desmond said he had no premonition of the disaster, rather, was basking in the euphoria of the yuletide. “Little did I envisage that all members of my family would end up in the hospital with varying degrees of burns.”
Desmond who narrowly escaped the fire, was on his way home from work when it happened. “Life has not been the same again. The fire caught my wife, daughters whose ages range from two to nine and my 6- year-old son.
“While others were struggling to put out the fire, my son who was completely engulfed, sustained fatal injuries. The doctors have been treating them for over two months and my wife and second daughter are still nursing severe burns, but the medical bill is in millions. We have spent over N1.5 million.”
Desmond who hails from Imo State is pleading with the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, corporate organisations, NGOs, and good hearted individuals to come to his aid. “These are children under nine years, what sin have they commited? The first, Nneamaka is 9; second, Chianamerem, 8; third, Chimzuruoke, was six (late); fourth, Ifeyinwa is four, while the last child, Oluomachukwu, is two years old.
“I need help from the good people of Nigeria. I appeal to the Governors of Imo and Lagos States to help save my wife and children. All that I have worked for all these years have gone down the drain.
Also speaking, the kind-hearted Medical Director, Angels Hospital, Coker, Orile Igamu, Lagos, Dr. Alex Okonkwo, confirmed that it was a miracle his team was able to stabilise the burnt victims. Okonkwo who related the event, said it happened within the period public hospitals were on strike.
“We accepted them on humanitarian grounds. We were able to stablise them but unfortunately, the only son who had over 90 percent burns died two days later.”
Okonkwo disclosed that two of the children had been discharged but still remained in the hospital. In fact the whole family now lives in the hospital.
“We have gone past trying but lack of funds has been a major problem. Currently, the wife and second daughter who have 60 percent and 70 percent burns respectively are responding to treatment but there are no funds to continue treatment. Their bill has run into N5 million but he (Desmond) cannot afford it.
“The dead child alone incurred about N950, 000. The wife and daughter have about 70 percent recovery. So apart from this bill, they require minor surgeries to correct the contracture under their armpits to allow their hands swing very well. They also need other surgeries to guarantee quality of life.
“We have continued to treat them on humanitarian grounds and that is why we are appealing to good spirited Nigerians to assist,” he explained.
If you are touched by the plight of the Onyeanubes, kindly send your donations to Onyeanuibe Desmond, Account No. 6007554674, Keystone Bank or call 081813784806 or 08055251071 for more details.