By Lydia Ngoolo
When Stephen Muthangya Musyoka’s last born daughter fell ill three years ago, he thought it was just one of those childhood ailments that can be cured with antibiotics or painkillers.
But the sickness turned into a nightmare that has not only taken a serious toll on 12-year-old Anne Muthangya’s health but also depleted her family’s meager resources.
“Children fall ill often when they are young. I thought her sickness would just clear with painkillers or antibiotics. But it turned into a nightmare that has lasted three years,” Musyoka told Education News in an interview.
He said when Anna became ill, they took her to Mwingi General Hospital but her condition did not improve.
As the child’s health deteriorated, they kept moving from one hospital to another hoping for cure but to no avail.
“She wakes up playing like any other child, the next minute she is so ill that even walking becomes a problem. We have visited many hospitals and every time we have spent not less than Sh25,000,” said Musyoka, who lives in Mui Ward, Mwingi Central.
It was not until October last year that Anne was diagnosed with severe neutral regurgitation, severe pulmonary hypertension and rheumatic heart disease at the Hurlingham Heart clinic in Nairobi.
Pediatrician and cardiologist at the hospital Prof. C. A. Jowi wrote that her heart requires mitral valve repair which would cost about Sh800,000.
“I was advised that this would be done regularly for her survival but a time would come when the surgery would have to stop,” said Musyoka.
On January 14, he visited the Kenyatta National Hospital hoping to get cheaper treatment only to be referred to India, where, he was told, the surgery together with other expenses would cost Sh1.5 million.
He was informed that in India, the valve would be fixed permanently and the child would recover completely.
“The surgery is scheduled for the end of March but I have exhausted every single cent I had. I plead with well-wishers to help me raise the money to save my daughter’s life,” said Musyoka, who works as a driver in Mwingi.
His wife, who used to do casual jobs to supplement the family’s income, had to stop to take care of their sick daughter.
Musyoka says the girl has stopped playing with age mates, has lost a lot of weight and her heart pounds faster than usual.
The sickness has also affected her performance in school.
To help Anne, one can reach her father through his Safaricom number 0712213947 or Airtel 0735927272.
