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Mary At The Mercy Of Paralysis

By Laolu Adeyemi
10 October 2015   |   5:04 am
MARY Nkoko, a 28-year-old indigene of Akwa-Ibom State has been battling with paralysis for over 20 years. According to her mother, Patience Nkoko, Mary’s ordeal started at age eight when she took her home to visit her mother-in-law in Akwa-Ibom State.
Mary

Mary

MARY Nkoko, a 28-year-old indigene of Akwa-Ibom State has been battling with paralysis for over 20 years. According to her mother, Patience Nkoko, Mary’s ordeal started at age eight when she took her home to visit her mother-in-law in Akwa-Ibom State.

Patience said Mary fell down and became paralysed a day before they were to return to Lagos. Since then, she has been taken to different places for both spiritual and medical solution all to no avail.

Patience who spoke to The Guardian said Mary her first child, was in Primary IV at Afolorunsho Primary School, Afariogun, Oshodi, Lagos when the unfortunate incident occurred. And the paralysis has prevented her from furthering her education.

“We took her to Igbobi Orthopaedic Hospital where she received medical attention and did physiotherapy work for about four months, until we could no longer pay for her treatment. We had to stop going after four months without any improvement”, Patience bemoaned.

When Mary spoke with the reporter, her voice sounded like that of an aged woman. Although she is conscious of the plight of her family, she wishes to delve into business despite all the odds.

Asked what she wants from government and well-meaning Nigerians, she said: “I want Nigerians and government to empower me so that I can start selling cooking materials or clothes to make a living. I currently buy liquid soap from Oshodi and I resell to people for little profit. I also want proper medical attention”.

Her mother who accompanied her to The Guardian told the reporter that death of her husband in 2006 has thrown the entire family of seven into abject poverty. “I have been taking care of my children from the proceeds from my fairly-used clothes popularly known as ‘Okrika’ since his departure for the world beyond,” she lamented.
Readers who wish to help Mary who lives at 13, Ijaiye Street, Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos can reach her on 08105391776 or pay into her mother’s

account:
Bank details: Patience Nkoko, Union Bank: Account number: 0005490168
Diamond Bank, account number: 0018332185

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