Nollywood actor and producer, Lekan Olatunji, has shared the heartbreaking story of how he emptied his bank account, sold his two cars, and mobilized family resources in a desperate bid to save his late wife, Wunmi, during her courageous battle with cancer.
Olatunji revealed that their journey began when they sought medical attention and discovered that his wife was grappling with cancer, which had tragically affected her spinal cord, leaving her unable to walk.
In a candid interview on the ‘Talk to B’ show hosted by actress Biola Bayo, the actor recounted the emotional turmoil and financial strain they endured as they navigated through the challenges of his wife’s illness.
“When we came to Lagos for the check-up, we didn’t even see any Nigerians; they were like apprentices there. Indians were the ones operating the machines. From there, we were given the result, and when we saw the result, it was cancer,” Olatunji shared.
He continued, “But instead of reacting in her body, it hit her spinal cord. That was why she couldn’t walk again. Cancer of the breast, she just had something little there, but it wasn’t hurting her.”
Despite the initial misdiagnosis and the daunting prognosis, Olatunji displayed unwavering determination to save his wife’s life. He recounted the pivotal moment when they were informed of the urgent need for surgeries, which came with a staggering cost of N12.5 million.
“In her presence, she looked at me and started crying. I said, ‘Don’t worry.’ I went outside and started crying. 12.5m, where will I see it? So the whole family had to be involved because we couldn’t hide it anymore,” he revealed.
With limited financial resources at their disposal, Olatunji took drastic measures, including selling his two cars for N4 million, to cover the exorbitant medical expenses. Despite the sacrifices and the extensive treatment received in Lagos, his wife, unfortunately, passed away.
“I sold my two cars cheaply for N4 million. The dealer cheated me, but I just had to save her life. We spent about N7.8 million in Lagos for the first surgery, and she was there for like two weeks before she passed away,” Olatunji shared, reflecting on the agonizing journey they endured.
