When Theodore Utime stepped out of his house on 30th September 2010 he never knew that would be the last time he used the two legs again.

Utime, then a JSS student at the Government Secondary School, Awe in Nasarawa State, fell into a deep pit, broke his spinal cord and has remained bedridden since then.

According to The Nation, his injuries also affected his wrist and neck. Now, Utime who had dreams of studying Chemistry at the university is always in pains and praying constantly for death.

Utime cannot sit nor walk and he has become a drained on his parents, who are peasant farmers, income. His mom, Paulina, has not been able to eke a living and his constantly by his side, moving him around for solution and help that are not forthcoming.

Utime, an only son, says his parents have lost all hopes of a future for him, adding “sometimes, I wonder why I had to be saddled with such condition.”

“In 2010 when this happened to me, I was 18 years old; now I’m 27. I was in JSS2 then and I have not been able to continue with school since then. I had always wanted to school up to university level, but see where I am today. I can’t walk, I can’t sit up, I can’t stand, I can’t do anything. My mother does almost everything for me,” The Nation quoted him as saying.

“My ambition was to study Chemistry, become a great man, a philanthropist, a man who can help people before this ugly incident happened to me. What happened was that I came to Lafia to work temporarily with the Nigerian Electricity Power Holding Company and fell in a pit.”

He added,

“My uncle Mr. Francis Yua secured a contract with them, so he invited me to come and work with him so that I could also raise some money to take care of myself and pursue my dreams in education. It was in the process of working there that I fell and sustained this spinal cord injury. We started the work on 13th September 2010 and I got the injury on 30th September 2010.

“We were casting iron. We had cast the first day and on the second day, we were to remove the iron because they put it in the pit so that we would be fetching cement in the wheelbarrow and putting in the pit. From there, we were packing the iron to another pit, but it was rainy season and the ground was slippery. As I held the iron and made to turn, I suddenly slipped, lost my balance and fell inside the deep pit with the iron I was carrying.

“I was taken to the specialist hospital in Lafia, but after much spending, they were not able to handle my case and I was advised to go to Makurdi for further treatment. I was taken to Makurdi in a state of comma and I was in that situation for days. From Makurdi, I was referred to Mkar, Gboko, where they treat spinal cord injuries. That was where I got a little relief. I was in serious pains throughout these stages until I got to Mkar but before we got to Mkar, my parents had already exhausted all they had. My uncle equally emptied his account to ensure I got the best treatment.

“Mkar actually tried but lack of funds hindered them from continuing the treatment. My spinal cord was broken in my neck and waist. They treated the neck and I got some relief, which is why I can turn my neck freely, but they were not able to treat that of the waist, largely due to lack of finance. This made us return to Lafia without completing the treatment.

“Presently, I’m not undergoing any treatment; the electricity company did not assist me with one kobo on the basis that I was not their staff. At the movement, I can’t stand, I can’t walk, I can’t sit up and I’m permanently in extreme pains.

“I have been at home for a very long time, if I get help from anyone, I would want to go back to Mkar hospital, they really tried to revive me but finance hindered them from bringing me back to normal life. We have tried our best possible, my parents are peasant farmers. Since that incident, they hardly go to the farm again because they use most of their time in looking after and taking care of me. They have nowhere to go and source for money any longer, as they are hugely indebted.

“I have really suffered in life. Sometimes, I wonder why I had to be saddled with such condition. The financial cost and emotional pains that have gone into this dilemma are unimaginable, the pains are excessive.”

Source