- Over the last three years, Mwelu has been on a painful journey but the kidney issue is unresolved.
- Her doctor says she must find a matching donor for a transplant.
Image: HANDOUT
When Wendy Mwelu and her husband embarked on a journey to get their second child, they knew it would not be smooth sailing given her struggle with fibroids.
But the couple did not expect the dream would end in a near-death experience of multiple organ failure and a long hospital stay.
Mwelu ended up with renal failure and needs a kidney.
In 2021, she was booked for fibroid surgery to enable her get a second baby.
However, the operation went wrong. She lost so much blood and her relatives donated for several transfusions to save her life.
"That chapter [of getting a second child] is long closed. I just want to get my health back," she said.
“It was a miracle that I survived after suffering multiple organ failure in the botched surgical procedure, losing so much blood. But I remained with renal failure.”
Over the last three years, Mwelu has been on a painful journey but the kidney issue is unresolved. Her doctor says she must find a matching donor for a transplant.
The operation she underwent left her with a life-threatening infection that caused multiple organ failure.
“I am lucky to be alive today, as many don’t survive or make it out of the intensive care unit with sepsis. I, however, did not regain my kidney function and now I am chronically ill,” Mwelu said.
“That is why I need help. Anyone out there willing to kindly donate their organ and save my life and my family, please do not hesitate.”
Mwelu says her medical journey has changed her. “I am mother and a wife and my family is still young. Kidney disease has robbed me of my life and deeply affected my family.”
She goes for dialysis, has adjusted diet and is under expensive medicine.
“It has been a long journey to recovery as battling a chronic disease isn’t easy. It takes a toll on you, your family, your finances and even your productivity. I have to go for dialysis three times a week, each session takes four hours. Due to this, I am not able to keep a job,” she says.
“I’m always away from my family, which means a lot of time away from my child.”
Donating a kidney to Mwelu could put her on a path to permanent recovery and qualify life.
“I have been advised by the doctor to get a kidney transplant for improved quality of life. This has been a difficult process. And this is where I require your help,” she said.
Her relatives have been supportive. Without their blood donations, she could not survive.
“I am an only child, from a single parent. I don’t share the same blood group with my mother, otherwise she would have been a willing donor,” she said.
“Two extended family members who have come out to donate haven’t been a match as I was transfused while at ICU and got blood from them, hence I developed antibodies towards them. They wouldn’t make a good match.”
“My doctor advised me to look for a donor from the community. This has not been easy, but I believe there is someone somewhere who would be willing to donate to me, [and help save my life],” she said.
Mwelu can be reached through her telephone number 0782 262 626 or @wendymwelu on Instagram.