We Lost A Wonderful Beneficiary!!!
We wish to announce, with great sadness, the loss of a beloved friend, brother, son and beneficiary, Mr. Jude Ikegwuonu, who painfully passed away on September 14th, 2018 after a long battle with Quadriplegia.
His remains were buried on 17th September, 2018 in his home town, Ogidi, in Anambra State.
Left to mourn him were his mother, Mrs. Caroline Ikegwuonu, Nnenna Brown (Fiancée) and six siblings.
We appreciate you all for your support, prayers and good-wishes while he battled with his afflictions.
May his soul find lasting rest in God’s Kingdom!
ee below for his story.
I was involved in a car accident on the 4th of July, 2013, which fractured my spinal cord(C5/C6) and compressed my nerves, leaving me paralysed on all four limbs(Quadriplegia) till date. Since I was practicing broadcasting (as a Newscaster) before the accident, I now refer to myself as a ‘Quadriplegic Broadcaster’, hoping to be the first in this part of the world.
I underwent a surgery(Anterior Cervical Dissectomy Fusion, ACDF) on the 8th of July, 2013 in Nigeria and was subsequently flown to India for a seven-month intensive physiotherapy and occupational therapy programme in 2015.
According to recent Doctor’s report, my health is stable and i’m advised to resume work and other social activities accordingly, as these will help me re-integrate into the society, thereby improving me psychologically, even as my fingers and legs are yet to pick up.
In achieving these, considering how almost impossible it is for someone in my state to gain access to about 98% of (both public and private) structures in Nigeria without a ramp, as well as the need to move from one point to another, it is pertinent that i get mobility aids such as:
*Stairs-climbing wheelchair
*Mobile Ramps
*Wheelchair Van
It was actually during one of my quests in raising funds towards acquiring these mobility aids, as published in the Monday edition(20th February, 2017) of GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER, that i was contacted by BERNADETTE EYISI FOUNDATION(BEF) on the phone. ‘Hello, is that Mr. Jude Ikegwuonu?’ The voice echoed. ‘Yes, Goodafternoon ma!’ I retorted almost immediately. ‘Ok’, the voice continued, ‘I was touched by your story on Guardian Newspaper and I’m calling to confirm it isn’t fraud’. ‘It is real ma’. I replied with a smile ‘And i’m glad you called…’ That was how it started and the support has continued amazingly, till date.
I am thankful to God and indeed grateful to BERNADETTE EYISI FOUNDATION for this noble initiative, aimed at putting smiles on the faces of people in pain and giving them yet another reason to feel alive again, even at this time when the country’s economy is in recession.
Although, I am yet to raise US$50,000 needed in acquiring the mobility aids towards getting back to life as a ‘Quadriplegic Broadcaster, I am very hopeful that God will make it possible and I WILL BOUNCE BACK!.
Below is my contact details for your assistance;
Mobile Numbers: 08033710933, 08028294451
…because ‘IT’S NOT ABOUT THE QUESTIONS LIFE THROWS AT US, WHAT MATTER ARE THE ANSWERS WE GIVE IN RETURN’. So, GIVE RIGHT ANSWERS TO LIFE’S CHALLENGING QUESTIONS! – Jude Ikegwuonu