A Chance for Hope: Empowering Goodluck Amechi to Overcome Adversity

This story that is about being told is almost unbelievable but it is a true story and verifiable. Delegates from ROE had to travel several hours from our location to go and confirm the story. The picture you see right here is one taken with difficulty amidst a lot of pleading, with one of our phones as the Hospital frowned at picture taking.

Goodluck Amechi, a young boy of 11 years, playfully went to fish with his friends around the Igando, Alimosho area of Lagos, Nigeria and something very serious happened. An angry man came out of a fenced house and rushed to the Canal, where the boys were waiting for their turns to be given hooks to catch fish and in one quick swift movement, cut off Goodluck’s right hand with an extremely sharp cutlass. Unsuspecting young Goodluck could not have imagined that this would be the outcome of an adventure on a public holiday, while having fun with his friends.

The other Children all quickly ran away and Goodluck, who was writhing in pain slumped to the ground in a pool of his own blood till the other Children who had run away, went to get help to take him to the Hospital.

The man who had done this was unrepentant. He first picked up Goodluck’s cut off hand, put it in his pocket, was about walking away, changed his mind and threw the hand into the carnal. He then stood there and threatened that what he had done to Goodluck was exactly what he would do to anyone who came near that pond behind his house. He turned to Goodluck who was crying out of shock and serious pain and told him that he was lucky to be alive, as he should have cut off his head and not just his hand.

News got to Goodluck’s indigent father where he was hawking sweets on the Streets and he quickly rushed to the Scene. Efforts to talk to the man who had done this proved abortive as he locked his gates and released his dogs in the compound. Goodluck’s father told us that his mother had been sick 4 years earlier and died, leaving him to bring up their 5 Children alone with the meagre profit he made from selling sweets daily. Goodluck was the first Child and his father’s hope.

Mr. Ikechukwu Amechi could not afford to pay Goodluck’s hospital bill and the cut arm got infected. ROE had to step in to ensure that Goodluck had surgery to remove the decay.

About 5 months later, a heart broken Mr. Amechi (Goodluck’s father), died. This made Goodluck and his siblings orphans but as the other Children can take care of themselves such as taking their bath and helping people out with menial jobs to feed, Goodluck allegedly became a liability. The easiest decision for his extended family was for him to drop out of School and be sent to the village. This was a boy who had a very bright future. His whole life suddenly came to a standstill.

Some well-meaning Nigerians reported the man who had done this to him to the Police Station, but being extremely influential, he was able to sort himself out and was released after some days. A family who did not know where their next meal would come from, certainly did not have the wherewithal to pursue the case in Court.

Goodluck Amechi is alive but only God knows what the future holds for him.

After the incident of a harmless Child’s play being meted with grievous punishment, Goodluck Amechi had to be sedated to sleep. He had to be spoon fed and bathed. Even his clothes had to be washed for him. Everyone worried about the stability of his mental health. The hand that was cut off was his right hand and he would require a complete overhaul and rehabilitation for his life to have meaning. This would include motivational sessions, therapy, learning the use of his left hand, going back to School, probably a special school. The entire package seems hard but it is achievable.

Kindly assist us by donating to give him the life he requires.

It’s possible for Goodluck to live a happy, satisfying and fulfilled life. Goodluck has to thrive.

Together, we can see to that. YES, we can!