Atiku Abubakar Sponsors Surgery For A Terminally-Ill Nigerian Teacher
Zaharaddeen Balarabe, a 25-year-old Kano State-based computer
instructor and volunteer teacher, tells his story of being saved by
Nigerian politician, businessman and former Vice President Atiku
Abubakar.
Atiku Abubakar; inset: Zaharaddeen Balarabe
On June 4, 2014, his story, entitled HELP! Save Me from the Hands of Painful Death – Zaharaddeen #Balarabe, appeared on Abusidiqu.com newsblog.
In his second year in the university, Mr. Balarabe started suffering from
palpitations (irregular heartbeats) which he initially ignored. Eventually, he saw a number of doctors who misdiagnosed him, and eventually he even went through tuberculosis treatment prescribed by a doctor at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.
A thorough examination, however, revealed that Mr. Balarabe had a bad aorta and would need a valve replacement. While on drugs, he continued his daily activities with symptoms that got only worse (chest pain, dizziness, finding it difficult to walk and weakness), managed to graduate from the university and ended up in Katsina State for his NYSC service.
When his condition worsened significantly, doctors told him he had about three months to live unless he had had the surgery which would cost at least two million naira.
It was then when Mr. Balarabe made his condition public and begged people on social media to help him fund the treatment. In late May, he tweeted at Atiku Abubakar, asking him for help, and then his friends persuaded him to make his story public.
On June 9th, Mr. Balarabe received a call from a man who spoke on behalf of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and informed him Mr. Abubakar had provided a certain amount of money to "cover all expenses, hotel bills, transportation and medical bills."
Atiku Abubakar; inset: Zaharaddeen Balarabe
On June 4, 2014, his story, entitled HELP! Save Me from the Hands of Painful Death – Zaharaddeen #Balarabe, appeared on Abusidiqu.com newsblog.
In his second year in the university, Mr. Balarabe started suffering from
palpitations (irregular heartbeats) which he initially ignored. Eventually, he saw a number of doctors who misdiagnosed him, and eventually he even went through tuberculosis treatment prescribed by a doctor at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.
A thorough examination, however, revealed that Mr. Balarabe had a bad aorta and would need a valve replacement. While on drugs, he continued his daily activities with symptoms that got only worse (chest pain, dizziness, finding it difficult to walk and weakness), managed to graduate from the university and ended up in Katsina State for his NYSC service.
When his condition worsened significantly, doctors told him he had about three months to live unless he had had the surgery which would cost at least two million naira.
It was then when Mr. Balarabe made his condition public and begged people on social media to help him fund the treatment. In late May, he tweeted at Atiku Abubakar, asking him for help, and then his friends persuaded him to make his story public.
A sentence in ur book motivated me 2 seek 4 ur help. Pls Sir @atiku, I want U 2 help pay 4 my heart surgery. :’( pic.twitter.com/n41VVPyGmj
— Servant of Allah (@zbalarabe) May 25, 2014
On June 9th, Mr. Balarabe received a call from a man who spoke on behalf of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and informed him Mr. Abubakar had provided a certain amount of money to "cover all expenses, hotel bills, transportation and medical bills."
@zbalarabe …today’s tears is 4 d joy i feel in my heart knowing that a Allah has answered our prayers through Atiku. Alhamdulillah!
— Queen meenah (@Meenahgee1) June 11, 2014
May Allahu reward Alhaji @atiku 4 payn 4 my surgery, Ameen! Sir, I’ll be leaving 4 the surgery mid-july. Thank U 4 making us all smile.
— Servant of Allah (@zbalarabe) July 2, 2014
"Alhaji Atiku Abubakar paid for my
heart surgery without asking who I am, without an application, without
even setting his eyes on me or my picture, without asking me to open a
file, without asking me to get a photocopy of my entire hospital folder,
without asking for my indigiene certificate, without any questions,
without any strings attached," Mr. Balarabe says in his emotional follow-up to the heartbreaking narration of his ordeal.
No less emotionally Mr. Balarabe thanks his family and online friends for their tremendous support and well-wishing.
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