Nigerian actress, producer and pastor, Eucharia Anunobi, has opened up about the painful circumstances surrounding the death of her son, revealing that she believes it was caused by medical negligence.
In a video shared online, the veteran actress explained that her son’s health struggle began when he was about one year old. According to her, he fell seriously ill and was rushed to the hospital where doctors checked his genotype and confirmed that he had SS, meaning he was living with Sickle Cell Disease.
She said the diagnosis pushed her to do everything possible to keep him healthy. The actress explained that she searched for medications, researched herbal remedies, and worked hard to understand how best to care for a child living with the condition.
“So my son died out of medical negligence. Just before my son turned one, he fell ill and I took him to the hospital. They checked his genotype and said he was SS. I started going everywhere to look for medication and herbs to boost my son’s immune system,” she recounted.
The actress also spoke about the careful lifestyle she maintained for her son because of his condition. According to her, children with SS must avoid extreme heat, dust, dehydration and mosquito bites, as these can trigger serious health complications.
She revealed that she made sure her son stayed indoors in the evenings, drank only bottled water and ate healthy meals to keep him strong. She also said she spent large amounts of money on his healthcare and remained in constant contact with him whenever she travelled.
“I spent millions just to ensure his well-being. I was always on the phone with him when I travelled or was outside the house, just to make sure he was fine and safe,” she said.
Eucharia explained that from the age of seven to fourteen, her son remained stable and rarely needed hospital treatment. However, when he was 16 years and five months old, she took him to the hospital for a routine medical check-up even though he appeared healthy.
During the visit, the doctor asked if he had previously received a blood transfusion. After confirming that he had, the doctor recommended another transfusion to boost his blood level.
According to the actress, tragedy struck when she returned with the blood needed for the procedure and discovered that a student doctor had mistakenly removed three pints of her son’s blood instead of giving him the transfusion.
She said her son later developed jaundice and his health quickly worsened after the incident, eventually leading to his death.
Source: Vanessa Elizabeth Nkum
