Filed in by Olando Testimony Zeongar – 0776819983/0880-361116/life2short4some@yahoo.com
Monrovia – Despite frantic efforts exerted by media colleagues to save the life of journalist Dennis Samukai, the longtime media practitioner has died.
Dennis died today at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center, during the early hours, minutes after he spoke to Rhydoxson Fayiah, one of his closest associates and a former workmate during their days at the Catholic-run Radio Veritas.
With teary eyes, Fayiah told Punch online service that prior to his demise, Dennis was distraught by news from doctors at the SD Cooper Hospital that his right leg was badly damaged and needed amputation.
Quoting Samukai, when the fallen journalist placed a telephone call across to him earlier before he passed, Fayiah said, “Fayiah, I want you to come this morning, because the doctors are explaining something to me here that I don’t want to accept.” A rather mournful Fayiah told Punch regarding doctors recommendation to have had Samukai’s affected right leg amputated.
Prior to being transferred to the JFK, Samukai, who had been bedridden for a protracted period, was admitted at the S.D. Cooper Hospital, at 12th Street, Sinkor, where he was said to have been diagnosed with hyperglycemia, an excess of glucose in the bloodstream, often associated with diabetes mellitus.
Hyperglycemia causes the loss of sensitivity in the feet of its victims, from the tips of their toes to the heel, and in the event an affected person picks up any injury, say, whether it’s an ingrown toenail, a blister, or a tack in the foot, it can snowball into a bigger problem.
High blood sugar or Hyperglycemia also leads to complication in several organs including the stomach of affected persons, according to multiple medical sources, who explained that the nerves that control internal body functions, like digestion, are vulnerable to high blood sugar levels, too, adding that people with Hyperglycemia can have severe constipation, frequent bouts of diarrhea, or both.
If not controlled, blood sugar can lead to gastroparesis, a condition where food in the stomach moves slowly to the small intestine or stops moving altogether. It cases nausea, vomiting, bloating and pain. And that exacerbates the problem of controlling blood glucose, according to one medical source.
The symptoms of Hyperglycemia include increased thirst, headaches, trouble concentrating, blurred vision, frequent peeing, fatigue (weak, tired feeling), weight loss, blood sugar more than 180 mg/dL.
If one’s blood sugar stays over 240, it is too high. High blood sugar usually comes on slowly. It happens when you don’t have enough insulin in your body. It also happens if and when one misses taking his/her diabetes medicine, eating too much, or don’t get enough exercise.
Fayiah told Punch that last week Saturday, he visited with Samukai, who had previously not been eating, stating that but on this day, he ate well and was full of life and energy, adding that he (Samukai) was much more spirited than at other points of seeing him at the hospital.
There were plans afoot for the broadcast journalist to be flown to Ghana for advanced medical treatment, while colleagues of his in the local media were engaged in fundraisers to help foot Samukai’s hospital bill.
Prior to his demise, Samukai worked as reporter and newscaster for several local news outlets including the state broadcaster, LBS; OK FM; the erstwhile Liberia Communications Network (LCN), and the Catholic-run Radio Veritas.
The renowned broadcast journalist also worked at the award-winning Star Radio before it was shut down due to budgetary constraints. Prior to Samukai falling ill, he last worked for Joy FM.
Punch, through its CEO, Patrick Honnah, has sent a note of condolence to the bereaved family. Honnah, who once gave media coverage to the Executive Mansion, along with Samukai, when the pair was assigned at the statehouse as reporters for Truth FM and LBS respectively, said he was shaken by the death news of the fallen journalist whom he referred to as a good friend.
