My Son’s Poor Health Has Put My Life On Hold –Stella Monye

Veteran singer, Stella Monye, is not a happy woman. She hasn’t been in the best of moods for over a decade due to the ill health of her son, Ibrahim. He currently needs over $100,000 to carry out corrective surgery to his damaged urethra which has led to other complications including kidney disease. Ibrahim had an accident which pierced his scrotum.

Speaking with Sunday Scoop about the weight of the burden on her life, she said, “That ugly incident has had a huge impact on my career. This has been on for over a decade and most of the times, I have been in one hospital or the other, while also carrying out research on where he can get good care anywhere in the world. The bill, right now, has become enormous and I am praying seriously. Even after this call with you, I am going for a vigil and I will be there for a week to pray for help to raise the funds.

“The matter is complicated and they need to do a comprehensive surgery for him to get his life back. The estimate for his treatment has gone up to $120,000. The bill I was given three years ago has increased exponentially. I have gotten estimates from three different hospitals in US, Russia, Germany, and the cheapest is $100,000.

“The father of the boy died many years ago, even before the accident happened; so, I am the only one that has been bearing the burden. It’s always difficult to fall back on relatives because they also have their own issues too. The only person you can rely on is Jesus Christ.”

Blaming the health care sector in the country for compounding her son’s case, she said, “For a long time, I avoided saying that the mess started from Nigeria. It was a technical surgery and if I was around when the accident happened, things wouldn’t have gotten this bad because I would have taken some steps from the beginning.”

On whether the government had ever offered her help in any form, Monye said, “Even though I was on a national assignment when the incident happened, the government has not even said a word and that is surprising because I have been on many assignments for the country. Some of them may say what will be will be! If I was at home on that day, my son wouldn’t have stepped out of the house. Apart from the fact that there has been some publicity in recent times, which I’m sure some government officials are aware of, I have reached out to different government authorities but I have never gotten any response. I just want to appeal for assistance; I cannot force anybody to help me. Right now, my career and so much that I have inside me have been put on hold. I want to appeal to the authorities to help give my son his life back. We have lived but he still has a lot of years ahead of him; it is not just because he is my son. If he was a stranger, I would do the same thing I am doing now. Despite my problems, I still try to help people in my own little way and I know that because of that, God will not turn His back on me.”

Explaining how she has been able to draw strength over the years, the singer said, “It has been trial and error all the way though I have also always believed that somehow, we would get results someday; it would only cost money. This is the first time I would be coming out boldly to the public to solicit for funds. I tried to raise the money by working but what I got could only sustain our basic needs.”