Grand reception for Baby Andrew Duku
By AHAOMA KANU
IT was an emotional show
of gratitude, joy and thanksgiving at the Down Syndrome Association of Nigeria
(DSAN) held a reception and thank you party for Master Andrew Duku last Sunday
at the premises of the association's resource centre in Surulere, Lagos State.
The event which was held to celebrate as well as show gratitude to the general
public for supporting 16 month old Baby Andrew who recently went through an
open heart surgery in India due to a congenital heart defect he had owing
to his being a Down Syndrome (DS) baby.
Present at the reception were friends, families, staff and well wishers of
both DSAN and the Duku family including members of the press that had been
following the progress made by Andrew since the onset.
The president of the association, Mrs. Rose Mordi in her opening speech said
that the day was a very remarkable day as the celebration that of life and
a good thing.
“We are happy today that the journey that started with a lot of fears
and uncertainty is being told today as good news. I am happy also to present
Baby Andrew Duku formerly to Nigerians and everybody that was part of his
success story both financially and spiritually and we say thank you for all
your efforts and endeavours. We are very grateful to all of you,” she
said.
Master Andrew Duku was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect last year
and needed an urgent heart surgery. The parents who are missionaries in Sagbama,
Bayelsa State made contact with the association and immediately an appeal
was launched for Baby Andrew's life saving surgery in India.
According to the association's Media and Publicity department, there were
fears if Andrew would hold on till the funds are gathered.
In an articulated publication by the association entitled Baby Andrew; a journey
to a new life which described the Baby Andrew story in words and pictures,
the association described how they tried their very best amidst fears to get
the required amount for the surgery.
Baby Andrew left for Narayana Hrudalaya Institute of Cardiac Sciences in Bengalore,
India and went into the operation theatre on the 20th of March for a six hour
open heart surgery. He was later discharged and returned back to Nigeria on
April 11, which was the reason for the reception and thank you celebration.
The activities of the day started with a dance presentation by DS kids of
the association who entertained the audience before Mr. Chuks Etuka read his
speech entitled, Six Hours, an emotional piece that graphically described
the mood and tension in the air during the period when the operation took
place.
The high point of the occasion was when Rev. Anthony Duku, his wife Rosemary
and Baby Andrew were ushered in grand style with the audience giving them
a standing ovation.
While giving their thank you speech, Rev. Duku disclosed that there has been
remarkable improvement in Baby Andrew's health condition.
“Before now you can't leave Andrew to sit up on his own, you have to
support him with your hand but right now he can sit on his own; he can sit
down on his own. The other thing is that he can now chew with his mouth unlike
before when if you put anything close to his mouth he will be so weak to eat
talk less of chewing but now he takes food on his own and has started chewing
without aid. His teeth have grown and he can bite gradually and easily. These
were things he could not do before he went for the surgery,” he said.
The special guest artiste, Tony Ogaga performed a special track entitled There
is a Giant in You specially dedicated to Baby Andrew before the floor was
then thrown open for joyous celebration for Baby Andrew by the guests.
The Duku family expressed their gratitude to all those who contributed into
making Andrew's surgery a success which included the Bishop of Warri Diocese,
Anglican Church, Bishop of Western Izon Diocese in Sagbama, Bayelsa State,
members of the Nigeria Village Square who raised $6141 (N720 000) for Andrew's
surgery.
Others included the entire Down Syndrome Association of Nigeria, staff of
the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and their counterparts at the
Narayana Hrudalaya Institute of Cardiac Sciences in Bengalore, India.