I need help to bounce back – Teen accident victim

A 19-year-old tricycle rider who is also the breadwinner of his family in Bayelsa State, Bonaventure Kosisochukwu, has narrated his ordeal in an accident that almost claimed his life while struggling to make ends meet. He is calling on public spirited Nigerians to help him finance a major surgery to get his foot back to work.

Kosisochukwu, who said he was hit by a car along Ayama-Yenagoa Road in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State in June 2022, while dodging a reckless motorcyclist, said he has been battling with getting his legs treated so he could resume his day-to-day hustling.

Narrating his predicament to Daily Trust Saturday in Yenagoa, where he resides, Kosisochukwu said he has already spent his entire savings and also borrowed to ensure that the fractured joint is fixed but medical experts told him he has to undergo a major surgery to get the broken bone fixed.

He said the estimation for the bone surgery according to the doctors is between N3.5 and N5 million, which he cannot afford, therefore pleading with good-spirited Nigerians and organizations to assist him.

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According to him, he took up commercial tricycle riding to cater for himself and family, which comprises of his father, mother and younger siblings, until the unfortunate incident happened.

He said: “On 28 June, 2022, along Ayama Road in Southern Ijaw LGA, an okada rider suddenly overtook me, and in the process of dodging him, I rammed into a stationary vehicle.

“My tricycle was folded with me inside. I immediately became unconscious, and people around thought I had died.  When they discovered I was still alive, they rendered help. My left leg was dislocated and bone broken according to the medical reports.

“Since then, I have gone to several hospitals as well as native bone setters but to no avail, I have spent all my savings to get my foot back, yet no solution. I only believe in God at the moment, because even money to eat is a problem now, not to talk of the huge amount the hospital is demanding for surgery.

“I was told that the bone inside the joint is broken. After I went for X-ray and took the result to the hospital, the doctor said the X-ray was not clear, that we needed to do MRI. From the MRI result, he said there was a crack at the cog that holds the hips, so a surgery is needed to put another cork so that they can fix the leg.

“He said the surgery will cost us N3.5m or above. As I’m talking to you, I have exhausted my little saving, and I’m left with nothing, but I pray that God will touch people to help me so that I can return to my business and help my family.

“That is why I humbly solicit public-spirited Nigerians to assist me. I took to commercial tricycle riding to fend for myself and family, and to avoid indulging in anti-social vices. I’ve been down in the house for months now, I pray God helps me,” he said.