Nimi and Blessing’s story: “It feels like they’re just passing us around…and we’re stuck in the middle while my daughter suffers”
For over six months, 14-year-old Blessing has been suffering from debilitating headaches. These headaches mean she often misses school and can’t spend time with friends or live a normal teenage life. Her mother, Nimi, has done everything she can, taking Blessing to multiple GP appointments to find the cause of the headaches. But with each visit, Nimi leaves feeling more hopeless.
She’s in so much pain...she says it feels like her head is being squeezed in a vice, and nothing we’ve tried seems to ease her suffering.
Blessing lost consciousness from the pain of her headache and was rushed by ambulance to Queen Elizabeth Hospital's A&E. At A&E, Nimi and Blessing waited anxiously, hoping for tests or investigations that would lead to a diagnosis and a solution, but after a brief examination, Blessing was discharged with painkillers and a letter advising her to see her GP— again.
This time, Nimi insisted to her GP that painkillers were not enough, and Blessing was referred back to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, for review at the Children’s Assessment Unit, which meant yet another visit back to the hospital.
“It feels like they’re just passing us around...A&E sends us to the GP, the GP directs us back to the hospital, and we’re stuck in this frustrating cycle while my daughter continues to suffer.”
At the Children’s Assessment Unit Nimi was told that an MRI might be an option for Blessing, but that she would need a further referral letter from their GP to schedule this scan, further delaying the investigation into her daughter’s headaches.
Once again, Nimi and Blessing returned to their GP, and once again a referral was made to Queen Elizabeth Hospital. More than a month later, Nimi hadn’t received any communication on when Blessing might get an MRI scan.
Meanwhile, Blessing’s headaches meant she continued to miss school, family events, and normal daily life. Neither prescribed painkillers or nasal spray offered relief, and with no MRI appointment in sight, once again, Nimi and Blessing returned to their GP.
“They just kept saying to give her more painkillers and just wait it out, but it’s not working,” Nimi explained. “I feel completely lost, with no idea where to turn next… All I want is for someone to take us seriously, to investigate this properly and find something that can help her. I just want my daughter to be happy again, is that too much to ask for?”
We escalated Nimi’s concerns and connected her to an advocacy Blessing’s investigations and treatment. organisation and to PALS at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. As a result, Nimi has been contacted by Queen Elizabeth Hospital to discuss the next steps in
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