FOR five years, Emma Ugolee battled with Stage five Chronic Kidney Disease. But stretched to breaking point, the media personality has appealed for help, saying he needs about N50m for a successful kidney transplant.
“With a failed transplant in 2012, several procedures and dialysis done three times a week and numerous complications, I have mentally, emotionally, physically and financially been steady hovering around a breaking point,” wrote Ugolee in a public letter.
Emma Ugolee with Linda Ikeji
“Irrespective, I decided to push on and give an attempt at survival my all. With a few well-meaning friends I have carried this burden alone for half a decade at great cost.
“The will to keep pushing may be present but my body, experts say, is unable to take the routine battering any more. Hence my veins are giving way.
After being diagnosed, he had paid from his own purse to have a kidney transplant in India on February 22, 2012 but the kidney failed after six months. He has endured dialysis thrice a week at the average cost of N35, 000 per session.
And his current condition which he stated as Venouss Stenosis has made his “blood circulation irregular, breathing difficult and my upper body blotting.”
“The immediate solution is to put in a stent in the vein and go for the transplant. Sadly, I have no funds to solo push for being alive anymore. I need you please to keep me here
“So I plead for your sympathy to be transformed into action on my behalf with supporting this attempt to raise funds for my transplant.
“May God bless you as you get moved in your heart to help.”
Some artistes that have promoted Ugolee’s appeal include 2Baba, Wiz Kid, D’banj, Sammie Okposo, Timaya, Ibinabo Fiberesima and others.
Ugolee made name for himself reporting entertainment on his television show, The Gist. While in university in 1999, he and some friends appeared on Just Gisting, a segment of Life and Style Show on Minaj Broadcast International (MBI).
After he hosted the show once, the MBI management asked his to host the show, transforming the 10-minute segment to a one hour independent entertainment show. The Gist which airs on Hip TV, DSTV and GOTV platforms covers comedy, music and movies.
He worked with telecommunications giant Globacom for ten years, hosting a musical programme, ‘Glo Top Ten Countdown.’
Ugolee holds an Economics degree from the Enugu State University of Technology (ESUT) Economics and a MBA in Marketing from the Lagos State University (LASU) Ojo. “In a few years’ time, I hope that The Gist by God’s grace will become the hub for entertainment industry to trash nagging issues out,” he said in an interview earlier this year.
“Apart from being a respected talk show in the country, it’s going to be an instrument of change in the entertainment industry.”
You can contribute to the fundraising campaign by crediting his bank account: 1002786554 (Emmanuel Ugolee, Zenith Bank) or visit his Gofundme page to donate.
