The parents of Joseph Appiah, a three-year-old boy at Korchikrom, a farming community in the Bosome Freho District of Ashanti region are appealing for ¢20,000.00 to enable their child to undergo an urgent reconstructive surgery at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. The child had the food pipe damaged after accidentally ingesting a dry cell battery.
A Gospel Crusader by name Evangelist Luther Afawuah brought Joseph Appiah’s situation to the limelight. He narrated to GBC’s RAZAK BABA how the child accidentally ingested dry cell battery which eventually damaged his food and wind pipes.
As a result he is unable to swallow food, nor drink water. Evangelist Luther, said little Joseph was admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital to undergo a series of surgeries to correct the disorder. He is being managed as a case of Tracheo-Esophageal Fistula.
Evangelist Luther said Joseph’s parents appealed to him for financial support due to the huge amount earlier spent on the child’s condition. He said ¢20,000 needed for the final reconstructive surgery to be performed on the child will enable little Joseph to eat normally. Joseph’s mother Akosua Frimpongwaa said the family is financially stretched as a result of their son’s situation. She said Joseph’s siblings who are of school going age, have to stay home, due to lack of funds.
Touched by the plight of Joseph Appiah, the Ashanti Regional Accountant of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Mr. Kwame Owusu Agyemang and members of his extended family who reside overseas have donated ¢2,500.00 to support the family. Mr. Owusu Agyemang appealed for more support for Little Joseph.
A medical report, signed by a Pediatric Critical Care Specialist at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Dr. John Adabie Appiah said Joseph Appiah was on a life support machine for the eleven days at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Fortunately, he survived this life threatening condition but still needs to undergo a final surgery costing twenty thousand Cedis.
