You will quiver seeing 63-year-old widow, Mrs. Janet Ogbonna, an  indigene of Imo State, who is suffering from malignant cancer of the anus.

Sunday Vanguard reported the plight of the woman, some months ago, but the situation has got quite dicey for her and her family, particularly her son, Uchechukwu, who had practically abandoned his university studies to help his dying mother.

At  the time of this report, the owner of their one-room apartment  had served the family  quit notice. If leaving the apartment could solve the problem, the Ogbonnas would have gladly done that, as you will find out in the story. The one -room apartment is located on the popular Refinery Road, Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area, Delta State.

The widow, Sunday Vanguard learnt, has  been rejected by the family of her husband because of the illness. Her son, Uchechukwu, who exemplifies the Lord’s charge to children to take care of their parents, is not the one directly wearing the shoe, but he is feeling the pains her mother is going through. You can see it as he speaks to you weeping.

He wants the Imo State governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, to come to the aid of the family.

His words, “I am no longer thinking of my school; even to feed is a problem. I cannot feed in that condition that I see my mother day-in, day-out. My mother is in pains. She cannot sit down; she cannot even stand up right. Do you know how my mother sleeps, she sleep on her knees daily as if she is praying.

‘I want government at all levels to hear her case. I want my mother to live again because that is all I have. My father died at a very tender stage of my life. I do not even know him and my mother has been taking care of us. I don’t want to lose her.”

Mrs. Ogbonna,  who has allegedly been denied all forms of support since her husband died, more than two decades ago, was diagnosed of the cancer of the anus in 2008 at the Federal Medical Center, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Umuahia, Abia State.

For the past six years, she has not laughed;  sorrow has been her companion, as she moved across  the country in search of cure for the strange illness.

What is standing between life and death for her  is N10.8 million, which is what is required to take her to India for treatment.

Besides the excruciating pain, Mrs. Ogbonna is passing through an offensive odour that oozes out of her room;  she can neither walk nor stand straight because of the ailment.

On the ejection  notice to the family, Uchechukwu said, “The worst is that we have been given a quit notice to vacate the one-room apartment we are staying in, That has compounded our problem and, you know the people of this area, nobody will allow my mother to pack into his or her compound in that condition. Where do we go from here, Imo State or where?

“Even if we decide to go back to our state, Imo, where do we start from? That is the reason I am calling for help to raise N10.8 million for her treatment in India. We have gone to churches, hospitals but nothing seems to be happening.

“If my mother bounces back to life, I wouldn’t mind packing to anywhere but in her present condition, it is not possible to get a house. I want her to be treated. My mother is still a young woman.  I do not want to lose my only surviving parent now; hence I am making this passionate appeal for the public to come to our aid.

“Please we beg the public to come our aid. Please, we beg the public to help us to survive this. Now, the ailment has degenerated from the stage we were referred to India for proper treatment.”

Surely, the Mrs. Ogbonna requires the intervention of government, public-spirited organizations and Good Samaritans to restore her back to life. You can assist by paying into this First Bank Account Number: 2006458236 with name Ogbonna  Chidi  Uchechukwu  or call Sunday Vanguard directly.

– Vanguard Newspapers