Patient Stories

Alex is a jovial 13 years old boy. He lives in a single room with his mother and brother. Alex’s mother is a casual laborer - she farms and picks tea plantations for tea farmers.

Alex had a recurrent would on the surface of his food after his toe was pierced by a nail while playing with his friends 3 months ago. His mother took him to a private clinic where he received washout and dressing. After a few weeks, the wound worsened and Alex was in pain and could not walk well.

Alex needed an incision and drainage to treat the wound and prevent further infection. If not treated, Alex might have developed a severe infection resulting in an amputation of his foot.

Due to the partnership between Friends of Maua and African Mission Healthcare, Alex received the treatment and it was successful. Alex is recovering well and will be able to walk well again.

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Mathias is 28 years old and lives with his family consisting of 14 children, his father, mother, and stepmother. They are peasant farmers and plant maize, beans, and peas to sell and for home use.

After high school he started working with a friend in mason construction. Mathias was involved in a motorbike road accident resulting in a right tibia fracture. If not treated he would likely suffer and infection or a mal-union. The family were not able to raise the funds needed for this treatment.

Thru SAFE, Mathias underwent successful surgery and he is recovering well and will be able to walk on his own again. This allows him to be able to work and take care of himself and his family.

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Rooney is 9 years old and in grade 3. He is the youngest of 4 children and lives with his mother after his father left. His mother works on people’s farms and thru these wages is able to support her children.

Rooney was taken to a dispensary where he was given pain killers and antibiotics for scrotal swelling. This helped for awhile, then the pain returned. At Maua Methodist Hospital Rooney was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia. If not treated, the hernia could result in intestinal tissue damage and death.

Fortunately, Rooney received hernia repair and is recovering well from the surgery. He will no longer suffer pain and will be able to continue with schooling.

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Elias is a 6-year-old boy. He is in preschool and is the youngest from a family of 2. Elias presented to hospital with vomiting, no bowel movements for one day, and an irreducible strangulated inguinal hernia. He required surgery without which he risked intestinal tissue damage or death.

Elias’ parents earn a living as casual laborers picking khat on people’s farms. They also practice subsistence farming for sustenance. The family lives in a rented single room. His parents could not afford this much-needed surgery and wished a “good Samaritan” would help pay for the treatment.

Fortunately, due to support from Friends of Maua in collaboration with African Mission Healthcare, Elias received treatment on the 27th of January 2020. He is now fully recovered and well.

Elias’s mother said, “I am very grateful for the free care and treatment given to my child. May God bless those who gave mightily.”

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Bernard is 37 years old; the last born in a family of 7 siblings. Bernard dropped out of school due to financial difficulties, and is now employed in a nomadic community to take care of cattle. He has no home and is thus accommodated by his employer. While Bernard was out taking care of cattle, he was involved in a conflict with another person in the field. As a result of the altercation, he sustained multiple cut wounds on his left forearm. He was rushed to the nearest hospital but was referred to MMH.

He was brought in by his employer who, unfortunately, did not have means to pay for his treatment. Left untreated, Bernard risked continued blood loss and probable infection. He is an orphan and his siblings were not in a position to pay for his treatment.

Bernard’s treatment was sponsored by Friends of Maua Hospital through partnership with African Mission Healthcare. This was done on 11th May 2020 and was a success. He is grateful to those that gave towards his treatment.