UPDATES: Baby GRACIOUS In France For Heart Surgery

Gracious (Left) and Twin Sister

Gracious & French Escort

Gracious & Father

Remember the pathetic story of BABY GRACIOUS? Well here is the positive updates on the fight to save Baby GRACIOUS’S life. But before that, here is a brief history of the journey so far especially for those that has not been following the story. GRACIOUS ALUEBHOSE was born on the 1^st of June 2009 with a heart condition (Hole in the Heart). I got to know of this in February via my sister and quickly set up a blog (http://savebabygracious.blogspot.com/ ) to raise funds (2million naira) to send her abroad as suggested by her doctor. Linda Ikeji (http://lindaikeji.blogspot.com/ )Obehi Okoawo (http://obehiokoawo.blogspot.com/) and Studio90online (http://studio90online.com/)took this up and posted the story on their blogs. It was also posted on Seun Osewa’s Nairaland ( http://www.nairaland.com/ ).

As the money started tickling in bit by bit, it became very clear that the 2million naira needed for the surgery might never be raised. Things even got worse when some members on Nairaland started saying it was a scam and being old members others joined, supported them and called me all sorts of names even when I posted my identity and took time to explain what was going on, but to them it was nothing but a scam to steal people's money.

Gracious & Family with French Escort Checking her passport

It was in this difficult time that a breakthrough came from a member of the same Nairaland called Kanou (not real name). As her own contribution, she posted an NGO in France that does surgery for people that couldn’t afford it. I wrote them, got a reply and so began my communication with them. Two months later and about 80 email communication with them I got the good news, THEY ARE GOING TO PERFORM THE HEART SURGERY ON GRACIOUS for free, though this news came with conditions.

 1. Gracious will not be travelling with any member of her family, instead the NGO will send their staff to Nigeria to pick her up and later return her to Nigeria after the surgery. Also no relation or friends of the family abroad should interfere with the process.

Gracious, Father and French Escort

 2. The NGO will not be responsible for Gracious ticket. The first condition was a very tough one, but Gracious parents accepted and signed the “Release Forms” because they had no other option. The money raised from Nigeria was about  111000naira (One hundred & eleven thousand naira)  and abroad was about 1,200euros(One thousand two hundred euros). (Converted all currencies to Euro) Gracious parents used the money in Nigeria for all the Test, X-Rays, Hiv Report, Pictures, Heart Readings..etc required by the Doctors in France while part of the 1,200 was used to buy GRACIOUS return ticket to France.

Boarding Time

A friend, Nollywood Director and script writer Mr Damijo Efe Young, went to the airport today (29^th May 2012) to snap pictures of the occasion. As I write these updates, Gracious is in the air travelling to France and would have landed by the time you read this. According to Mr Damijo, it was a very traumatic experience as Gracious who is vey attached to her mum cried a lot leaving her mum and family behind. It has been almost three months of non stop work behind the scene and I thank God that there was a huge breakthrough at the end. I want to use this opportunity to personally thank everybody that donated money to support this project and also those that has been praying for Gracious. I also want to offer my heartfelt thanks to Seun Osewa (Nairaland) Linda Ikeji, Obehi Okoawo and Studio90online for raising public awareness on this issue by posting it on their blogs. Finally I would like to thank Ify Ero, Cecile Hendrix, Marjo Bombeek, Freddie Godwin, Sandra Olotu, Tony Akinyemi, Pastor Eromosele Odion Akhaine and many more for constantly checking to find out about the welfare and updates on Gracious. And to my dear sister Vivian Ajayi-Khiran who alerted me about Gracious and supported financially and morally, Mr Damijo Efe Young who took time off his work under a very short notice to make pictures, May God bless every one of you and reward you for your kindness and compassion. I also urge and plead with everyone reading this to pray for a successful surgery and if you feel like donating money to Gracious please do so here (http://savebabygracious.blogspot.com/) as I plan to raise some money for her up keeps after she returns to Nigeria.  Thanks and Godbless

  By

Lenny Ajayi-Khiran (FB = Otunba Khamileon)