Anaborhi, a 28-year old young mother had a lot to be grateful for. Her son, Oghenetega, officially started school today. The past three years were turbulent. Who would believe she would finally enrol Tega in school? Three years ago, she would have made a huge mistake but for the intervention of her mother in law, Mama.

Tega was one and a half years old when she noticed his right eye glowing in the dark. It scared her a lot and after confirming that indeed the eye glowed in the dark, she took him to the hospital. The eye specialist examined him, did a scan and he was diagnosed of cancer of the eye. The doctor called it RETINOBLASTOMA.

The doctor explained everything to her. The disease, the course if not treated and the outcome if treated. Then the bombshell. Tega would lose his right eye to preserve his life. This news was shocking and unpleasant to her ears and she literally ran out of the hospital with her son.

On getting home, she informed her husband Peter. Peter was aghast. "Why are doctors so unfeeling?", he exclaimed. Enucleation, or whatever name they chose to call it, his son was not losing an eye and that was final! He told her to seek a second and if possible a third opinion. There must be something else that can be done.

She went to a second and third hospital and was given the same news. She was gradually accepting the news but Peter would have none of it. Fortunately for her, Mama, her mother in law, was visiting then. Mama noticed her preoccupation and asked her what the problem was. Anaborhi narrated everything to Mama while sobbing.

Mama consoled her and told her a story. Mama had her first child at 25 years. She also noticed the eye was glowing in the dark. The doctors counselled her that her son will lose the eye to preserve his life but Mama and Papa refused. They went from church to church praying. The cancer meanwhile continued to spread until the eye was protruding. At that point, she took the child back to the hospital. The sad news she was given was that she came back too late. The cancer had spread. After months of chemotherapy, she lost the child.

Mama told her to wipe her tears and to cry no more. "Leave Peter to me", she said. "I will have a word with him".

The following week, Anaborhi and Tega were back in the hospital for treatment. Fortunately it was not too late.

This is three years after and Tega is cancer free. She stared at her handsome son lovingly. If she didn't tell, nobody would guess that his right eye is a prosthesis. But she must tell her story. She will improve on the good deed of Mama by telling her own story.

• Retinoblastoma is the commonest childhood intraocular cancer.
• Early detection and treatment save lives
• Break the chain of ignorance
• Break the chain of false beliefs
• #Be Retinoblastoma aware
• Save lives

A glowing eye  (cat eye reflex) in the dark must be checked by an ophthalmologist.

By Dr. Mary Ugalahi

Nov. 2019