By creator to www.ncnewsonline.com
HERMITAGE — As a mother or father of 4 kids 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 standard day, the Hermitage resident drops her kids 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 remedies at Dialysis Clinic Inc. in Hermitage.
With the remainder of her household an ocean away, Stella is the only real assist for her mom, however Benedette wants one thing Stella can not present — a kidney transplant.
Stella is doing the following neatest thing — working to discover a appropriate donor for her mom.
“I simply hope somebody is ready to assist her,” Stella mentioned.
If the donor search comes all the way down to dedication, Stella already has loads of that.
Shey got here to the USA from Nigeria in 2010 to attend Duquesne College, however transferred to Slippery Rock College for the college’s doctor’s assistant program. Stella needed to drop out in 2018 after the delivery of her third baby, 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 assist 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 mentioned her mom was at all times a wholesome, completely happy lady.
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 docs shocked them each with the analysis that each of Benedette’s kidneys had failed.
After a couple of surgical procedures within the subsequent few years, docs determined that Benedette would wish a kidney donor. However circumstances have thrown repeated obstacles in her path.
Stella mentioned she will not be allowed to donate a kidney as a result of she has just lately given delivery.
Her brother, who lives in Australia, provided 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 lined and the transplant was canceled.
Stella resolved the insurance coverage points and her brother deliberate to return for the operation final yr in 2020. However the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing journey restrictions have prevented her brother from donating, Stella mentioned.
“Now he can’t get right here from Australia,” she mentioned.
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 be able to finally return to her life in Nigeria when she is nicely sufficient, Stella mentioned.
Though Benedette is surrounded by her daughter and grandchildren right here within the U.S., she can not absolutely take pleasure in time along with her household as a result of her weight reduction and shortness of breath brought on by the kidney issues. Typically, the respiration points drive Benedette to go a day or two with out sleep till her subsequent dialysis therapy, Stella mentioned.
“She’s too weak to essentially maintain her grandchildren,” she mentioned.
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’ll donate,” Stella mentioned.
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