Bunmi, also known as Iya Doyin, as she is fondly called, carries a story shaped by survival, love, and responsibility. She was the first of five children, born to a mother who fled Ghana during political unrest in search of safety in Nigeria. It was here that her mother met her husband, my grandfather, who had just returned from serving in the Nigerian army during unrest in Kenya. Their lives crossed in a moment of uncertainty, and from that, a family was built.

But stability did not last long.

At just about 32 years old, her mother died from maternal causes, leaving behind five young children. As the firstborn, Iya Doyin stepped into responsibility far too early. Not long after, tragedy struck again the youngest sibling died from preventable causes. Still, she continued to care for the remaining three.

By the age of 12, she had already known profound loss.

Years later, she met my father, the love of her life. They were both firstborns, shaped by responsibility, and together they built a life grounded in partnership and resilience. They each dedicated over three decades of service to the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS).

Today, she continues that legacy of service as a deaconess at Winners Chapel International (Living Faith Church). She is a mother of four and many more she has embraced along the way.

Her journey took another difficult turn when she had a breech delivery of her third child. Due to hospital mismanagement, the child was left with a disability. Before the age of one, that child underwent three surgeries at University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan and survived. That experience deepened Iya Doyin’s faith, her compassion, and her commitment to family.

Then, in late 2024, what began as blood in her stool became a diagnosis: colon cancer. Since then, she has been undergoing chemotherapy at University College Hospital (UCH), navigating not only the weight of illness but also systemic challenges hospital strikes, infrastructure breakdowns, and rising costs.

Her care has required immense sacrifice. Each cycle of treatment costs approximately ₦1,500,000 about ₦3,000,000 monthly. Family and close friends have carried this burden for as long as possible.

But now, we are at a critical point.

The cancer has spread to her stomach, liver, and lungs.

Her treatment must continue urgently.

We are now faced with a required ₦40,000,000 to sustain the next phase of her care. This illness has stretched us beyond what we imagined possible financially, physically, and emotionally. As my father describes it, “It is something with its mouth open, and it is never filled.”

And yet, we are still here standing together, holding on to hope.

Today, we are asking for your help.

Help us keep Iya Doyin alive.

Help us restore her strength, her smile, her dreams to travel, to give, and to continue supporting widows and children as she always has.

No contribution is too small. Every act of support financial, emotional, or by simply sharing this message brings us closer to saving her life.

We are asking, with humility and urgency: please stand with us.

Let’s beat cancer together.