Okikijesu undergoes 6 surgeries to get new skull

Okikijesu is scheduled to undergo at least eight surgeries in one year from May, initially estimated to cost $234,000.Her first surgery in May at Johns Hopkins Hospitals in the US lasted 14 hours and complications arose as a result of inconsistencies in her medical history, in addition to the fact that it was a maiden […]

Okikijesu is scheduled to undergo at least eight surgeries in one year from May, initially estimated to cost $234,000.
Her first surgery in May at Johns Hopkins Hospitals in the US lasted 14 hours and complications arose as a result of inconsistencies in her medical history, in addition to the fact that it was a maiden attempt in paediatric neurosurgery, said GIPLC.
Without a skull, fluid has accumulated since birth in her head, held only by skin.
The surgeries were to divert the fluid from her head to her belly in hopes of reducing the mass on her head and then create a new skull from bones taken from her pelvis and rib cage.
The surgery is considered the second most expensive in the world-no child has ever had a similar condition-and could enter the Guinness Book of World Records.
In initial surgeries, neurosurgeon Dr Ben Carson drained fluid from her head. A new skull was created-a sort of helmet to be held in place using platinum screws.
Further surgeries by Dr Carson will remove more fluid and excess skin, then bring forward from the back of her head to make a normal forehead.
Okikijesu’s new skull requires 39 such screws, costing $3,000 dollars each, said GIPLC coordinator Nuhu Khwajafa at a press conferencing in Abuja on Wednesday.
 “The first bill said she would be in ICU for three days, but she spent over six weeks in ICU, and that’s four to five thousand dollars every night,” said Khwajafa.
“Every day, it keeps counting. So we had to come back to Nigeria to see how we can raise this money. She needs special therapy to talk, sit, walk, and a new helmet. It is going to be so much complication that we have to start looking for more money for her recovery.”
 GIPLC in May raised the initial surgery bill of $234,000 within 72 hours using local network of donors.
But it said it has “been difficult to get to government” for assistance.
 “For a Nigerian child to be part of the Guinness Book of World Records for a medical condition that has never existed, it is high time the Nigerian government became a part of her life.”