By writer to www.sharonherald.com
HERMITAGE — As a guardian of 4 youngsters and the proprietor of her personal enterprise, Stella Obiakor is used to multitasking, however now she finds herself asking for assist — for her personal mom.
On a traditional day, the Hermitage resident drops her youngsters off at college, adopted by her job as proprietor of CareCruiz Homecare Company in Grove Metropolis. However three days out of the week, Stella additionally takes her 67-year-old mom, Benedette Obiakor, to her therapies at Dialysis Clinic Inc. in Hermitage.
With the remainder of her household an ocean away, Stella is the only real help for her mom, however Benedette wants one thing Stella can’t present — a kidney transplant.
Stella is doing the following smartest thing — working to discover a appropriate donor for her mom.
“I simply hope somebody is ready to assist her,” Stella stated.
If the donor search comes all the way down to dedication, Stella already has loads of that.
Shey got here to america from Nigeria in 2010 to attend Duquesne College, however transferred to Slippery Rock College for the varsity’s doctor’s assistant program. Stella needed to drop out in 2018 after the start of her third little one, however returned and graduated from this system in 2019.
Benedette Obiakor at their dwelling in Hermitage.
Stella’s mom, Benedette, got here to the U.S. in 2015 to help her daughter. Benedette labored as a instructor and an accountant in Nigeria, however was retired for a pair months by the point she arrived within the U.S. In any other case, Stella stated her mom was at all times a wholesome, joyful girl.
That modified a couple of week after Benedette arrived within the nation. She started throwing up. Stella rushed her mom to the hospital, the place medical doctors surprised them each with the analysis that each of Benedette’s kidneys had failed.
After just a few surgical procedures within the subsequent few years, medical doctors determined that Benedette would want a kidney donor. However circumstances have thrown repeated obstacles in her path.
Stella stated she isn’t allowed to donate a kidney as a result of she has just lately given start.
Her brother, who lives in Australia, supplied to donate and visited the U.S. in 2019 to take part within the process. Shortly earlier than the transplant was scheduled, Benedette’s insurer dominated that he wasn’t coated and the transplant was canceled.
Stella resolved the insurance coverage points and her brother deliberate to return for the operation final 12 months in 2020. However the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing journey restrictions have prevented her brother from donating, Stella stated.
“Now he can’t get right here from Australia,” she stated.
Benedette has been ready about two years for a kidney donor, however medical officers say there may be at the least a five-year wait.
VIDEO: Stella Obiakor is used to multitasking, however now finds herself asking for assist — for her personal mom.
Within the meantime, Stella’s father has remained in Nigeria. Since Benedette has not seen her husband in six years, Benedette hopes she will finally return to her life in Nigeria when she is nicely sufficient, Stella stated.
Although Benedette is surrounded by her daughter and grandchildren right here within the U.S., she can’t totally take pleasure in time along with her household as a consequence of her weight reduction and shortness of breath brought on by the kidney issues. Generally, the respiration points drive Benedette to go a day or two with out sleep till her subsequent dialysis remedy, Stella stated.
“She’s too weak to actually maintain her grandchildren,” she stated.
POTENTIAL DONORS can name Stella at 412-636-6961, or e-mail her at stemasco@yahoo.com. Potential donors also can register with UPMC to donate a kidney particularly to Benedette at livingdonorreg.upmc.com. “So long as somebody is keen and wholesome, they will donate,” Stella stated.
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— to www.sharonherald.com
