A family in Talau area, West Pokot County, is in distress to raise over KSh2.5 million medical fee for their one-year-and-nine-month-old baby boy who is battling cyanotic congenital heart disease.
When TV47 crew visited the home of the family in Kipkorinya village, they were met with the mother, Brenda Cherop, who was holding Baby Fabio Kiyonga.
The 24-year-old mother told TV47 that her baby has had sleepless nights since he was born and the challenges they face in accessing mediation.
“My child always collapses and I wonder what the problem is. At first, his heart was beating profusely. I took him to Kapenguria County Referral Hospital where we were told that he has a heart problem and he was referred to Moi teaching and Referral Hospital where we were told that he needs to go to India for specialized treatment,” said the mother, who was shedding tears at this time.
“Our family is not well off and we have sold everything to save his life, but the situation is worsening,” she said.
The family has sought treatment for their baby at Mater Hospital and Tenwek Mission Hospita, but local treatments have been unsuccessful thus far.
The family is appealing for well-wishers to help them cater for their son’s medical bill. He is supposed to undergo a heart surgery in India.
According to the mother, she cannot sleep at night when the minor cries in pain and that buying drugs every two weeks is also becoming unaffordable.
“My daughter is always on drugs which are very expensive. He uses very strong painkillers on a daily basis but the doctor said they can’t help. I therefore rely on friends and well-wishers who support me to cater for her medical bills,” the mother said.
The grandmother said: “We were advised to go for a specialised hospital where the boy can get an intense medical examination to ascertain her condition. I have other children and I went back to Turkana County. I have completely nothing to help. He is the only grandchild I have. Satan wants us to go to witch doctors but it will not be possible.”
Timothy Aoya, a neighbour, urged local leaders to help the family raise the medical bill.
“The beacon of hope now lies at MIOT International Hospital in Chennai, India, renowned for its advanced pediatric cardiac care. Let’s come together and save the boy,” he said.
A neigbour, Charles Namon, narrated to TV47 the day when he bumped into the mother crying. “One day, I got the mother crying alongside the road with the child in excruciating pain. I was so heartbroken.”
