Tricycle Operator
By Thompson Obayangbon, Accra
A 47-year-old commercial tricycle operator, popularly known as “Pragya”, urgently needs at least GH¢150,000 to undergo an emergency surgical operation to save him from total paralysis.
A group of young thugs assaulted Samuel Gbenyo and left him paralysed in all four limbs, rendering him immobile and unable to sit up in bed or walk.
The thugs, riding in another Pragya, nearly crashed into Gbenyo’s tricycle at an intersection, and the latter became a victim of the severe and incessant assault when he complained about their reckless behaviour.
Injury
Gbenyo is currently bed-ridden and on admission at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, (Ridge Hospital), in Accra, where doctors have diagnosed him with Cervical Spinal injury, which requires urgent surgery to correct the imbalances and allow blood and other fluids to flow to his limbs.
The estimate covers the cost of surgery, and medication, including the purchase of a “spondylolisthesis set” valued at GH¢41,150 and a “disc prolapse and cord contusion components” valued at GH¢51,050.
“Detailed examination and subsequent imaging revealed the diagnosis of a Cervical Spinal Injury (C4 on C5 anterolisthesis and cord compression causing quadriparesis, which has rendered him quadriplegic (paralysis of all four limbs) and resultantly unable to sit up in bed or walk,” a medical report signed by a Neurosurgeon, Dr Jonathan Oppong, states.
The report added that the patient who is “currently on admission will need a definitive surgery to correct the deformity, following which he will need comprehensive physiotherapy”.
Appeal
The family of the victim have, therefore, called on the public to help foot the medical bills and surgery cost of Gbenyo, as they have already spent beyond their capacity.
The parents are peasant farmers in a village in the Akatsi North District in the Volta Region.
From an estimated bill, shared with the SpyNews, the amount required will also cover “anaesthesia drugs and services, procedure fee, theatre consumables, daily ward charges, drugs, investigations (laboratory and imaging tests) and accumulated bill as of date.
The invoice, however, does not cover implants (surgical instrumentation). Benevolent donors who wish to help foot the medical bills of the victim may do so via the Graphic Needy Trust, GCB Bank Account 1061130003969.
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