Earlier this year, we met one-year-old Likem on the day care unit at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH). As he wondered through the children gathered around the colouring table, he picked up various pencils inquisitively before settling on a bright yellow. To anyone entering the ward, Likem looked like any other one-year-old trying to join in with the other children.
We spoke to Likem’s mother Morowa and father Jojo to hear more about how they and their son came be on the paediatric oncology unit at KBTH in Accra;
Despite being more advanced than his brother at first, Likem soon stopped wanting to walk whilst his twin learnt to run.
“We could see he was in pain, even when we asked him to walk he wanted to sit down. When returning to Accra we visited a local hospital where they carried out many tests but we were eventually told nothing was wrong. We were told to improve his diet as that may have impacted his ability to walk but we sensed there was something more to it.”
As Likem’s condition showed no signs of improvement, Jojo took his son to a private hospital in the city for a second opinion. Despite the same tests being carried out by the healthcare workers, the results were very different.
The family had to wait to weeks to save enough money to pay for treatment at the hospital. If treated early enough, childhood cancer can be cured so this lost time directly impacted Likem’s chances of survival but thankfully the team at KBTH were able to operate immediately.
Four months on from his operation and despite still receiving chemotherapy, Likem is back up and walking again. Kieran, Marketing and Communications Manager, met Likem when visiting Ghana during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month;
Likem is one of many children that are being cared for at the day care. You can help support Likem and others by donating today.