Teenage cancer patient Risper Wambui, who went viral after sharing her 4-year ordeal battling the disease, has finally left Kenya for India, where she will undergo specialised treatment.
Risper, 17, had initially been unable to travel after her family struggled to raise the KSh 2.6 million required for her treatment. She later turned to social media to appeal for financial assistance after doctors in Kenya advised her that the cancer was spreading fast and she needed to seek further medical attention in India.
Her appeal received an overwhelming response from Kenyans, with influencers, media personalities and well-wishers coming together to help raise the required amount.
According to a recent online interview, Risper said she has been battling a gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) for the fourth year. She revealed that her ordeal began while she was in Form Two.
Risper left the country on the morning of Tuesday, August 25, accompanied by her mother, Mercy Muraya. She is expected to receive treatment at Gleneagles Hospital in Mumbai.
Kajiado West 2027 parliamentary aspirant Samuel Sane joined Karangu Muraya, Dennis Njuguna, popularly known as Uria Wari Cukura ya Nairobi, David Muraya and Risper’s family in escorting Risper and her mother to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
In a message posted on her Facebook page, Risper expressed her gratitude to Kenyans for supporting her and helping make her journey to India possible.
“To India. Thanks. Cancer ulinitokea wapi? Thanks Kenyans for your support. Uria Wari Cukura ya Nairobi hautawahi sahaulika kwa maisha yangu wewe,” she wrote.
A gastrointestinal stromal tumour, commonly known as GIST, is a type of cancer that begins in the digestive system. According to the Mayo Clinic, GISTs most commonly occur in the small intestine.
The tumour is believed to develop from specialised cells in the walls of the digestive tract that play a role in the movement of food through the digestive system.
GISTs can occur at any age but are most common in adults and are very rare in children. The cause of most GISTs remains unknown.
Risper’s journey has drawn widespread attention online, with Kenyans rallying behind her after she appealed for help to access the specialised care recommended by her doctors.
