Renewed hope for mum after doctors remove baby's tumor

Born with a tumor on her head, Blessed Trizer's arrival into the world was fraught with anxiety and fear for her mother, Jackiline Akinyi Aluoch, a resident of Rarieda, Siaya county.

Concerned about her new born's condition, Akinyi was worried that any delay in surgery would jeopardise her daughter's future.

Recalling her ordeal, Akinyi said she could barely sleep at night because of the throbbing pain her daughter was feeling.

Helpless, she said she prayed for a miracle to relieve her baby's suffering because watching her cry out in pain was unbearable.

Hope emerged when the neurosurgical team at Kisumu's Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) successfully performed the much needed surgery.

This happened 14 days after Blessed’s birth, a move that provided hope for the mother.

But it appeared like her joy was shortlived she noticed unusual leakage from the wound three weeks after the surgery. 

Alarmed, she rushed the daughter back to JOOTRH for check up and treatment.

Fortunately, Akinyi was greeted with unexpected hopeful news of the ongoing neurosurgical camp which Dr Lee Gudtha and his team were performing.

Led by Dr Lee and team, the camp provided immediate attention and Blessed underwent a corrective surgery.

Onces again, the operation was successful and Blessed emerged with a renewed chance at a healthy life.

Currently recovering in the hospital, Blessed's condition is improving steadily.

The leakage has minimised and her mother now watches over her with a sense of relief and renewed optimism.

Akinyi expressed her deep gratitude to JOOTRH, the Kisumu Neurosurgical Initiative and Dokis Advice for their support.

She noted that many people are unable to access such specialised care and thanked the teams' efforts to ensure families receive the help they require.

Akinyi also called for provisions that could ease the financial burden on families, such as covering accommodation and dietary costs for patients undergoing surgery, which sometimes is a heavy load for struggling families.

With her daughter on the mend, she looks forward to a future where Blessings can grow without the health challenges that marked the beginning of her life.

The ongoing neurosurgical camp at JOOTRH runs until September 18, 2024.

It aims at performing life-changing procedures not only to residents of Kisumu county but those from neighbouring regions and beyond. 

The camp provides solutions for brain and spinal diseases and is expected to benefit approximately 40 screened patients.

Held every three months, the camp is an initiative of the Kisumu Neuroscience Initiative, in partnership with Kisumu county, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, and Dokis Advice.

Over the 10-day camp, specialised nurses and theater staff from around the world are offering their services. 

The local team of doctors, led by Dr Lee Gudtha and orthopedic surgeon Dr Walter Adero, are also providing their expertise.

“We keep returning because there’s a genuine need,” Dr Bethwell Raori, a neurosurgeon from the USA, said, adding that their passion is to transfer care, service and knowledge to help people.

Sharmaine Morrison, a nurse specialising in neuro spine procedures from the USA, echoed Raori’s sentiment. 

“The people are so grateful. This is my fifth time participating in the Neuro Camp, and my first was in 2018.”