11th July, 2012
Morenikeji Titilayo Ojebode, the widow of late Samuel Ojebode spoke with GBENRO ADESINA about her husband’s last days
Can you give us insight into how your husband died?
It started last year. Since last then, he could not eat very well. He throws whenever he eats. So, when the situation was getting bad, we took him to the Jericho Hospital, where they carried out series of tests and the doctors could not find anything wrong in his system. We later took him to Oluyoro Catholic Hospital, where the medical personnel also conducted tests on him and still did not find anything medically wrong with him. They gave him lots of multivitamins so that it will aid him to eat. It took the doctors time before they discovered that whenever he eats and vomit, some of the food were diverted to his lungs, where they settled. Later, it was discovered that he had congestive cardiac failure. The doctors operated him last November at the UCH. It was after that they told us that he had oesophagus polyps, and that’s why he could not eat. Having seen his lean figure, they (doctors) advised that we should take him home and feed him well for him to gain more weight and have strength to go through the next operation, which they described as a major one. He was then discharged and we took him home. On getting home, he still could not eat. They then advised that he should go through another operation, and added that once it succeeds, he will be able to eat and live well. So, on 16 April, we went back to the UCH, where the doctors ran another round of tests on him and found anything. Despite all the medication he received, he was still vomiting. He was then placed under observation, that was how he was admitted since that time.
All our efforts to ensure he lived proved abortive because he was just vomiting the food we give him. The Oyo State government really tried for our family. Infact, governor Abiola Ajimobi visited him in the hospital, and I really appreciate the state government. Although, I was paying for the drugs but the government footed the bill for the tests. (Mrs Morenikeji was in tears) So, when I got there on Monday, they told me that his breathing was not normal since Sunday night. And, in order to aid his breathing, he was supported with the oxygen machine. We bought oxygen twice before he died. We paid N5,500 for each, and he used the first oxygen between Sunday and Monday and another one between Tuesday and Wednesday. As at the time I left him at the hospital on Monday night, he was responding to that treatment and his breathing was becoming normal. But the doctors advised that we continued with the oxygen support. Unfortunately, as I was about to leave the house for the hospital around 6am, the doctors called to inform me from the hospital that he has passed on. They said he died between 3 and 3:30am.
What’s the exact support that your family received from the state government?
When Governor Abiola Ajimobi came, he promised that the state government would foot the entire medical bill, but unfortunately, UCH has no control over the drugs. The drugs are managed by a pharmacetical company,which is in partnership with the UCH. And, the UCH has no power to compel the company to give out the drugs under the condition that the bill could be settled later. So, I was paying for the drugs as they were needed. At a point, when there was no money left on me, I had to stand at the entrance gate of UCH to beg for money from many people. I disguised and begged for alms just to ensure that my husband live, but he finally left me. I feel terrible honestly. However, it was later that the commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr. Dapo Lam-Adesina promised to refund the money I spent if I could present the receipts of the bill we incured on drugs.
How do you survive before the sickness?
I am a serving secondary school teacher and I still earn salary and my husband was a pensioner. So, we were managing what comes in through my salary and his little pension.
What’s the last moment you had with him?
That was the last time we spoke. He told me he was going to die and I rebuked him. I told him to be strong that he would not die, but live to declare the glory of God in the land of the living. He said many things which were personal, which I will not like to share on the pages of the newspapers. At that point, he called on our first child, and instructed him for about 17 times, urging him to take very good care of me after his death. He told him that he must take care of me because I took very good care of him. When I heard that, I rebuked him, but he confessed that he wanted to die. When I told him that I can’t live alone in the house, he said nothing will happen to me, and added that I would be safe.
What will you miss about him?
He was like a father to me. He was so dear to me, very peaceful and gentle. You can’t be tired staying with him because he was very jovial. He doesn’t talk much but a sentence from him will make you laugh. Nobody offends him. He was kind and I will really miss him because we were the only two living in the house. All the children have gone out. I know the The Lord will see me through because my husband has assured me of that before he died. I have two children in the higher institution, one is in the polytechnic while the other is in the university, writing her final year paper.