16 Apr 2008 |
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The
centre had wanted to make a big noise, to throw a big party and
probably go to the airport with lots of praise singers to make the
whole of
The signal sent form the hospital was like an epilogue to some best seller that leaves you craving for a Part II of the story; that was just the feeling on the mind of everyone as they waited for Baby Andrew to arrive
Going back to the beginning, it started with a story that touched the heart, an appeal that got people from all over the world interested in a child of a missionary in Sagbama, Bayelsa state. Their interest in the child was not due to a sermon the father who is an Anglican reverend give, neither was the love shown to the 14 month-old as a result of how popular the family is; the interest, love, prayers and concern shown to the child who is a Down Syndrome (DS) baby was due to his shining star, his innocent heart that was diagnosed as having a defect and needed a cure otherwise, the child that was born on Christmas day may not be alive to see his second birthday. Already, some few months back there were fears that if a quick action was not taken to remedy the situation, the result might be disastrous. Andrew’s story which can make a best seller if written and as well win an Oscar if put on screen started by accident but today, he is not only a celebrity that has people from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australian, South Africa, Kenya and so on asking after him, he is being looked up to as a very special child. His father, Rev. Anthony Duku just got informed that his first child had DS, a condition he had never heard of. He had earlier noticed that little Andrew’s growth was somewhat not normal. With
the unpleasant information which shook his fate and made him ask God
what might have been the cause of what befell him he went to a friend’s
house to lament his predicament and receive little words of comfort but
there, he saw the activities of the Down Syndrome Association of
Nigeria (DSAN) who were celebrating their annual Awareness Week which
comes up in September of every year on the Nigeria Television Authority
(NTA) programme, Newsline. Quickly, he got the phone numbers on the screen and put a call to the Ogunlana Drive office of the association. The National President, Mrs. Rose Mordi advised him to bring the child over to
That invitation resulted in another news that startled the young missionary who left a job in an oil company to become a missionary; Andrew was diagnosed with having a defective heart. He was recommended for urgent surgery. The association assured the couple that Baby Andrew will be taken to India for the necessary surgery though the funds for the surgery was not available, they held on to fate. The
Little by little, like droplets of water that makes a mighty ocean, the funds needed for Andrew to go for his needed life saving surgery was realized. All the government agencies lent their support, the Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS) issued baby Andrew’s international passport within hours of application and financial institutions like First Bank PLC; Haggai Community Bank; Bank PHB; Punuka Legal Firm; Millenium Oil’ African Oil; Abbey court Ltd, lots of religious bodies as well as individuals helped in their different capacities. By
He arrived the Narayana Hrudayalaya Institute of Cardiac Sciences in
The whole world prayed, fasted and kept vigil for Baby Andrew. His friends at DSAN never forgot him in their prayers as they took turns praying for him everyday. On
Andrew remained in intensive care for another 12 days and was discharged to the wards and on the 10th of April 2008, Andrew was certified fit and discharged to go home with a heart that now looks up to the future without any fears. Back at the
“Baby Andrew must be a very special person because all that happened did so within a twinkle of an eye,” Mohan Kamat, a member of DSAN pointed out and he was not far from right. As the flight arrival was announced, anxiety came over everybody. The expectations were high; how would Baby Andrew look like? Would he have started sitting? Can he raise his hand now? Will he walk? Those were some of the thoughts going on in our individual minds but then, we all cared for him. It took close to an hour and half for them to clear from immigration and get their luggage though communication by phone commenced immediately the plane landed. When they did appear, he made an entrance; a grand one at that. Baby Andrew was dressed up in a yellow warm clothes and a matching winter cap; he looked very beautiful and at peace. The shouts and sounds of joy drew the attention of everybody there waiting fore their loved one. Many recognised Baby Andrew and whispered while pointing to him. One look at Andrew and you would shout a big Thank You to the heavens like I did. He was looking big, strong and ready to move with life and had started doing things he could never do before like sitting down and talking without pains; he can even give a Hi Five if a palm is raised to his face. Anybody that knew Andrew will notice the difference between the Andrew that looked pleading at people to help him and a present Andrew that is determined to live an independent life. He depicts the picture of somebody that would stand up one day and lend a hand to another person in need just as someone pointed out during his departure. The
journey continued amongst the pictures and general happy mood of
everybody as the car went to the centre where Mrs. Rose Mordi, the
President of DSAN was waiting; Andrew’s father was held up on his way
coming to
At the centre, more rejoicing started as Mrs. Mordi could not help but dance and dance and dance. Amidst that happy mood, everybody held hands and gave a thanksgiving prayer to God for making Andrew return back safely; Mrs. Duku added a special prayer for NVS. Having been in a part of the world were beef cannot be served due to the cultural perception of animals, the crew from India wanted to have a fully Nigerian meal so were taken to Tantalizers at Ogunlana to eat their fill. It was very emotional when father, mother and child were united again at the very place they were separated; the reunion this time had a cause for celebration and that joy was Baby Andrew. When he gave his Daddy a Hi-Five, he almost cried. It was in that happy mood that they paid a Thank You call to the premises of National Daily in Ikeja, a renewed Baby Andrew, a happy mother and a grateful father could not show their gratitude enough. The father used the opportunity to thank everybody that have been part Baby Andrew’s story. “We can only pray that God will pay you back for all you did for my son,” he said. They departed for
As they boarded the plane back home to
Meanwhile, the Down Syndrome Association of Nigeria (DSAN) will soon announce the day that a grand reception and Thank You party will be held for baby Andrew Duku. When this happens, The
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