Walk Again

Hie, my name is Nigel lipengah and I'm fundraising for a Hip replacement surgery After developing Avascular Necrosis (AVN) of the hip which is a complication of a Genetic blood disorder disease that was born with.

I was born on the 25th of June 1993 which makes me 32 years to date. I was diagnosed with Sickle Cell Anaemia six months after I was born. The Disease was so severe and frequent and the majority of patients are known not to survive infancy. At the age of 3, my father passed away leaving me in the care of my mother rasing 2 other children out of a total of 4 children including me. One child before me had already passed away to the same disease. Fortunately the other 2 tested negative of the disease. My medical requirements were very expensive but my mother battled for my life against all odds which saw me surving infancy. In my teenages, I had several blood transfusions done in addition to other medicines I was already taking.

Through her resilience, i went to college and acquired a qualification as a Class 1 Mechanical Fitter and Turner. Because of the nature of the disease, i developed Avascular Necrosis of the hip which has worsened to the point of immobilising me. A second complication has also happened which is call Fixed Flexction Deformity (FFD) which has caused my leg to bend and lock in a permanent position making it extremely difficult to walk let alone work to earn money for the surgery which my medical insurance does not cover and also which i could never afford even if i was working full time.

This surgery is very important to me because it has taken my ability to live and work for my self and my family. It has also used up all my savings since i have been requiring special help and attention because of the recent complication. My social life and been greatly impacted by this too since I'm now confined at home. Stress, anxiety and depression has begun to affect me making my whole recovery process slow and difficult. I am causing pain and stress to my single mother who is now in her old age and is dealing with her own ailments like High Blood Pressure, Sugar Diabetes and other old age related things.

The funds will be used exclusively for the Hip replacement surgery. Getting back on my feet is my number one priority. Getting back to working for my self, family and community very important to me and my wellbeing as a you adult. I would personally give up anything to be able to walk again. I will include necessary documents to help you understand me and my situation. I will include old and recent radiographs showing the progression of the damage the condition had done to the left hip.
In December 2024 my brother took me for a consultation with a surgeon to Zambia to a clinic called Zambian Orthopaedic Mission clinic which is according to my findings one of the very few orthopaedic clinics that are near me that do that procedure with a good success rate. The surgeon suggested I have the surgery the following day but due to the cost of the surgery, i could not be helped. However, i got a quotation and other relevant details which i will attach. I intend to go back to have the surgery done as soon as i get the help needed. If you inted to help me, i prefer that all communications that involve funds or payments be done straight to the facility that is going to carry out the procedure.

After the surgery, my family is able to fund my post surgery expenses until i return to work.

I'm grateful to even have the opportunity to write to you and talk about this difficult situation i am in which i hope will be over soon