Okikijesu Olawuyi: The Update on baby born with at least 50% of her skull unformed!

Staff of GIPLC, Okiki's parents, Dr. Ben Carson and Nuhu Kwajafa

 

 

On May 13, 2010, a baby girl; Okiki(Jesu) was born to the Olawuyi’s in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria, with a rare medical condition subsequently diagnosed as ‘Congenital Cranial Deficiency’. In other words, she was delivered with at least 50% of her skull unformed. For the Olawuyi’s, that day marked the beginning of a 3 year struggle against stigmatization, discrimination and near hopelessness.  Worthy of note is the fact that of the 7billion people on earth, Okiki is the only human alive with this condition, on this scale.

After rejections from several hospitals around the world, renowned neurosurgeon at the Johns Hopkins Medical International hospital, Baltimore, Maryland; Dr. Ben Carson agreed to lead a team of surgeons in performing a skull reconstruction surgery on 3 year old Okiki. After a review of her case history, the tentative cost of Okiki’s surgery was put at US$234,000 (Two hundred and thirty four thousand United States dollars). On receiving this estimate, GIPLC reached out to her local network of donors and phenomenally raised this sum of money in approximately 72hours.

3 year old Okiki and her parents under the stewardship of Coordinator and Program Director of GIPLC journeyed to the US on May 4^th 2013 to undergo her skull reconstruction surgery which was scheduled for the 22^nd of May 2013 at the Johns Hopkins Medical International. However, complications have occurred following her over 14 hour’s initial surgery, as a result of inconsistencies in her medical history, in addition to the fact that it was a maiden attempt in paediatric neurosurgery. This has led to a further accumulation of medical bills totalling over US$500,000 (Five hundred thousand United States dollars), a figure that increases with each passing day Okiki spends at Johns Hopkins.

Prior to the complications which have arisen, what made a determination of the full cost of Okiki’s surgery difficult is that in modern times, it is an extremely rare (perhaps singular) medical condition with no precedence to draw indicators from. This latter fact also means that it is equally difficult to tell what other medical complications may arise; just like the fluids that were retained in her cranial cavity has posed an unforeseen challenge and may have led to a fatal infection.

As Okiki may not be released from hospital until all outstanding bills have been paid on one hand, and as we and her parents are desirous of her condition being fully remedied before she does leave the hospital on the other, we would like to appeal to the global public to support our cause in ensuring that Okiki gets a full chance at life.

All donations go directly to Johns Hopkins Medical International (Details available on request). You may find attached a copy of the bill, for your perusal & action, please.

Meanwhile this Sunday, 30th June iblog will be hosting GIPLC at a fundraiser and social media awareness campaign

 

 

For more info call GIPLC 08089693240, 08163183797,  07063252573. www.giplc

 

 

Want to make a real difference? You can! Be at iblog this June 30th.

 

 

 

 OkikiJesu Olawuyi is a 3yr old Nigerian girl born with extreme Cranial Defeciency, meaning she was born with up to 40% of her skull missing(the first to be recorded on this scale,in medical history).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even at her age,speech,sight and limb movements are highly impaired, if functional at all. She has lived on liquids and semi-solids all her life.

 

 Through the intervention of Nuhu Kwajafa and The Global Initiaive for Peace Love & Care (GIPLC), a non-governmental organisation(NGO) working with orphans & vulnerable children based in Nigeria, an estimated bill of $234,000 (37.4 million naira) from John Hopkins hospital, USA to commence treatment/surgical procedures was raised in 72 hours.

 

This in itself is a feat for which Nuhu and his team should be celebrated. 

 

The first surgery took place on May 22nd, and due to medical variants occurred, charges have been incurred of over $300,000 and rising. This is not inclusive of charges her cleft pallette procedure will incur as a result of the cranial deficiency.

 

Since there is no precedence, there's no telling what other complications may arise on the road to wellness for this child, like the fluids that were retained in her cranial cavity posed a challenge that wasn't envisaged and may have led to a fatal infection. From All indication the hospital might not release her until the outstanding amount is paid.

 

Dr Ben Carson, Okiki's doctor and Nuhu Kwajafa at John Hopkins

 
Iblog is interested.

Social media is interested.

In this June edition tagged Social Media's Social responsibility, join me and Nuhu to talk about what we can do to help! Part of the proceeds from ticket sales at this event will go to Okiki's surgery so plan towards it and be there!




Source: GIPLC
08023550822 for inquiries.

Keeping perspective

 

 

Last month iblog didn't hold. It started from my guest cancelling and I had 12 days to redeem the situation. I wrote down all the ideas that came to my head and even brain stormed with a few people about a possible way out. I also came to terms with the possibility that the event could very well get cancelled from the way things were going.

I made sweet peace with that outcome if it were to happen, thankful that it would give me an opportunity to save the money I would have shelled out to do another edition. It would also afford me the chance to rest. The last event had taken alot out of me emotionally, I came away from what my friends hailed as a successful event feeling spent and discouraged, so I needed space; space to hug myself and heal.

One week to the would be date, I sat in church listening to a message by Pastor Sarah, she talked about striking over and over until you win. I flagellated myself each time she hinged on the dangers of starting something then stopping. But I hadn't stopped, had I? I hadn't stopped trying at least.

I had come up with a plan B and settled for taping a May special. It would feature someone important to social media in Nigeria. I set the ball in motion and at the last minute the guest cancelled. I called everyone involved and called the whole thing off. Again.

So I spent what would have been iblog evening in a dank, dingy studio editing the video from the last event. At least I could catch up on iblog related work I hadn't been able to keep up with. By that day's end, I had two 15 minute long videos edited from almost two hours of tape and during the week I got some much needed iblog PR done on social media.

By this time, I was not only in terms with the situation but I was also happy with the way it all panned out.

Fast forward to a few days ago, I was at an event where someone asked me why iblog hadn't held last month. It wasn't criticism or scolding, it wasnt just a question either. It was advice. "You should have simply shifted the date by a week than not have it". It was comparism. "I wish I could call off my event too but I can't afford to, even with the challenge of a possible drop in attendance, I still payed for the hall and had the event". More conversation followed and someone dropped the word "consistency". Consistency was important to steady growth. And keep your name out there. Your customers have short attention spans, the minute they don't hear from you, they move on to the next thing.

They were right!

But they weren't seeing the whole picture.

Did not holding iblog mean failure? Not at all.  I didn't think I had failed. Taking the long term view, that incident will turn out to be a mere bump in the road not the end of the road. The final outcome not the process will determine the success or failure of iblog.

Did it mean I wasn't consitent? I would disagree. From trying to salvage the situation, to knowing when to retreat, to working on iblog behind the scenes is all a part of keeping at it.

Did it mean I was stopping and starting? Not in my view. I didn't think I had started and stopped. I have already started, there is no stopping, there is no restarting. I am just continuing what I have started. 

They meant well!

But it was my decision.

I earned the right to decide whether to cancel or to shift the date by a week, along side all the decisions to pay the bills, cope with the disappointments and do all the work behind the scenes.

Later after the incident i reflected on how people are quick to remind you of what you have not done. Why didn't they congratulate me for what I had done?

Only days before I had participated in President Goodluck Jonathan's mid term report and had experienced a peak moment in my career- interviewing the Coordinating Minister of the Nigerian economy, Ngozi Okonji Iweala (who I had last watched on CNN being interviewed by Amanpor) and interviewing one time American presidential aspirant, Rev Jesse Jackson. That came about because I consistently kept at showing up, pushing a foot through closed doors, and looking out for opportunity.

Which was greater? Hosting iblog in May or hosting the president's red carpet in May?

They had a point! But I have the facts, so it is my job to keep perspective!

 Iblog continues. See you at this month's edition.

Date: June 30th 2013
Venue: Juice place 2. 25b Libreville street. Near old DSTV office. Wuse 2. Abuja
Time:5pm
Theme: Social Media's social responsibility
Guest:Nuhu Kwajafa , GIPLC

Guest profile: Nuhu is helping Okikijesu, the only baby in the world to have been born without most of her skull, raise money to complete surgery at John Hopkins hospital, USA. Her surgery will be the last by Reknown Dr Ben Carson. Social media is interested, be there!)

Ref. Posts:
Seth Gordin's view

The bloggers take on the broadcasters, who won? WATCH

Two months ago I was having a discussion with two young men about iblog. They seemed slightly resentful of the feeling of entitlement assumed by bloggers. I quickly understood it to be a deeper issue than surface scratching comments like “Bloggers are not journalist” or “bloggers are over rated”. Did they feel bloggers who are not bound by any ethics of broadcasting or regulated by any body of repute were posing as credible news sources worthy of the public’s followership?

Thinking about it, I could see their point. While broadcasters go to school to learn their profession and the ethics of their trade, bloggers with little or no training compete to break news and inform the public about events as they happen, posting gory pictures online without discretion, carrying stories without proper fact checking and breaking rules of professional broadcasting.

Case in point is the infamous ABSU gang rape case which allegedly took place in Abia State University according to reports widely spread by blogs in 2011. According to the police’s recent findings, the incident actually took place in Obite town in Etche Council Area of Rivers State.

This poses many questions.  In the eyes of the law, are bloggers considered journalist? Can bloggers be sued for reporting false information such as the above?

On the other side of the divide, some broadcasters maintain blogs to cultivate engaging interactions with viewers as they break stories on more traditional media. Comments and tweets are aired with news reports which need to be substantiated with public opinion. Broadcasters have even admitted to surfing blogs for trending news covered by bloggers in the locality making the news. So maybe both sides need each other and then the question becomes what the best way to engage is.

In this edition, iblog tackled the debate between bloggers and traditional broadcasters!

Are the lines blurring and should they be encouraged to blur? Should bloggers comply with broadcasting ethics? Should broadcasters embrace bloggers as colleagues?

SEE the photos, WATCH the video, JOIN the conversation!




Nancy Illoh (The money Show)AIT, Omonaikee(Exec. Director,Iblog), Elshammy abdullah(Aljazeera)

 

Omonaikee, Nancy

Meka, Jemima (Krump studios), Rahima Gambo

Uduak akpan

Seun

Good people, good food, great conversation!

Farnem

Taopheek Babayeju

 

Nneka Egbuna of Venussbay.blogspot.com

Everyone wants to be the next Linda Ikeji, so who wants to post peotry when they can load up sensational stories to attract readership!

Standards are neccesary for both bloggers and broadcasters

Total freedom is total nonsense, my freedom stops where yours begins

Rapt attention

Linda Auta and Jenny Chisom of Logosandaudibles.blogspot.com

Bloggers being regulated is going backwards on freedom of speech

Bloggers should take responsibility, just because you have the right to drive your truck on the road doesn't mean you should if your truck would cause damage to the road

Bloggers should carve a niche for themselves and not be try to blog about everything

Even if you are the last blogger or broadcaster to break a story, make sure you verify your information and you are reporting an accurate story.

Rather than pass lewd videos along, pass the message to discourage the posting of such videos, if you pass it on, it can be passed down the line to a child, your child even, who can be influenced by it. It should stop with you.

It's not about the form, whether the information is passed across on a blog or on the radio, its about the content.

This conversation between bloggers Vs. broadcasters is very important.

 

 

No winners in this debate. We can work together.

Business and Financial reporting in Nigeria, is not a male dominated field

I just handle the male attention, Nike!

                                                          SeeYOU next month!

 

 

 

WATCH THE VIDEO

 

 

 

Credits

Makeup: Belleza faces

Photography: Cognito Studios

 

I pray for you.

It was a year yesterday since the dana aircraft crashed killing all passengers on board. For everyone who lost someone they thought they could not bear to lose... I pray for you. May God's peace and comfort rebuild your life, renew your joy and help you see beauty in the ashes of your pain. #Rememberingdanaair