Coast Hospice features
The Coast Hospice invites you to Share your Story, to highlight the challenges and comfort received during your journey of life when afflicted by cancer.
Abigael Omondi By Nyandia Nderitu
It was on 10th November 2002 that Abigael decided to have a doctor friend check some swellings on her neck, little did she know that this was going to be the beginning her trips in and out of hospitals.
The doctor told her husband that he would put her through a regime of 15 injections at 600 shillings each, not knowing what these injections were for but wanting the wife to recover, he paid up. With no tangible change, the same doctor then referred her to a private hospital in Mombasa where she was to be x-rayed and scanned. This was done but again without any tangible results. They were referred to yet another private hospital, this time in Nairobi, where a battery of tests was done without apparently revealing anything.
However, a doctor here did say that the growth on the neck must have originated from the nasal space and therefore, tissue must be taken from there for tests. Finally in January 2003 a doctor from the Coast Provincial General Hospital did a biopsy and cancer was detected and chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy proposed. In Feb 2003 the neck growth had swelled into a large tumour. Unfortunately, due to the long wait for radiotherapy, the tumour burst, this prompted emergency radiotherapy. After 36 continuous days of the same, the wound started to heal. Only a very small sore was left and Abigael was discharged and given an appointment for a month later. When she went back, they found that the wound, instead of healing, had festered inside and from there it just got worse.
A nurse at the ENT clinic told Abigael and Nicholas about the Coast Hospice and hence a referral was made. At the Hospice, the wound was dressed regularly and the husband taught to do the same, drugs for pain management (morphine and others to relieve other symptoms) were administered. Regular home visits by the staff were truly appreciated by Abi (Agirlbaby, as she was fondly called by the Hospice staff) and the other family members.
Nicholas says of the Hospice, "kama ni kuishi, ningeishi na watu wa Hospice". The Hospice staff gave him and his wife a better understanding and acceptance of the illness. It was only after the Hospice took charge, that she was able to eat, sleep properly and be in high spirits despite her condition, he says. Unfortunately, Abigael passed away in February 2004, she was 34 years. Nicholas still visits the hospice, not only to clear his bill but also to say hallo and show his appreciation.
Eunice's Tribulation By Nyandia Nderitu
Eunice Kimondo, 51 was under the care of Nairobi Hospice from 1996. A mother of 4, she noticed a swelling on her right breast, went to Kilifi District Hospital, where a biopsy revealed cancerous growth. A mastectomy was performed and she was referred to Kenyatta Hospital for radiotherapy. A series of radiotherapy and chemotherapy left Eunice drained emotionally, financially and physically.
The site where the radiotherapy was done had burns, which she says developed over time. After one year she started losing the use of her right arm, which today is completely non-functional.Although Nairobi still sends her morphine, Eunice is now under the care of the Coast Hospice. She has been on morphine since 1996. She started on 2mls every four hours; she has since had to increase her dosage to 6mls, four hourly and 12mls at night and says that without it she suffers excruciating pain all over her body. With her pain adroitly managed, she is able to go about her day-to-day activities comfortably.
For a long time Eunice was unable to accept her situation as her illness contributed to the collapse of her once flourishing curio business in Malindi. The family currently depends on two of her children who have temporary jobs. She says she used to cry her heart out a lot but at some point realized that this was adversely affecting members of her family. It was only through counseling and emotional support provided by the Hospice(s) that she has been able to accept her illness and move on. As she tries to hold back tears she says, "without the friends I found at the Hospice, I don't know what I would have done. Sometimes, you find so much kindness that you are left speechless".
Eunice is an only child and lives with her mother. Margaret Nyokabi (fondly called "Cucu") was there for her daughter during her illness and understandably, when she developed a lump in her left breast, she went into complete denial. She stayed mum about her lump for over two years. Finally when the pain became unbearable, she went to Malindi District hospital where Cancer was diagnosed and a mastectomy done in 2002. She started ailing in June 2003 and has been bed ridden since. Eunice comes to the Coast Hospice for her mothers' drugs and the team goes for home visits.
They are both very jovial ladies when you meet them today and have stopped asking why they had to be afflicted by the same illness, at the same time. They are taking one day at a time, confident that they have our support and drawing strength from their steadfast faith in God.
Unfortunately Margaret Nyokabi passed away late April 2004.
(This article has been printed with express permission from the family)