Kisumu Single Mum Whose Baby Was Wrongly Amputated Seeks KSh 132k To Clear Bill: "I'm All Alone"

• Janet Kwamboka told TUKO.co.ke that her baby was diagnosed with meningitis but was given the wrong injection, leading to two surgeries
• She has stayed at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital for nearly three months as the baby's health continued to deteriorate
• According to her, she expected the hospital to freely discharge her since they were responsible for the baby's illness; unfortunately, she was given a KSh 132,757 hospital bill

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

Kisumu - For nearly three months, a 24-year-old single mother has been consumed by anguish and tears whenever she looks at her seven-month-old baby.

Since February 26, when Janet Kwamboka arrived at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Hospital in Kisumu, her life has been in turmoil.

Why did Janet Kwamboka go to hospital?

During an interview with TUKO.co.ke, she disclosed that her son, Roman Castro, contracted meningitis and required medical assistance. However, due to a misplaced line, he ended up with gangrene and had to undergo amputation.

"I have had sleepless nights ever since. I have been worried when my son screams in pain. When he was admitted, he was diagnosed with meningitis, but the doctor, from a research institution gave him the wrong injection. We realised this when the baby's hand started turning black," she opened up.

The new developments only added to Kwamboka's agony, compounded by the absence of support.

Her ailing mother has been on and off from the hospital and is being assisted by her only younger sister, currently employed as a domestic help.

Roman Castro undergoes surgery twice

With no one to turn to for guidance, Kwamboka faced the daunting task of navigating her son Castro's deteriorating health alone.

Castro's condition worsened, leading to his admission to the hospital and subsequent surgery on his upper right hand on March 22.

Throughout this ordeal, Kwamboka found herself alone in the hospital ward, unable to seek solace or assistance. Baby Castro's cries echoed through the ward, a constant reminder of his suffering.

The situation took another grim turn on April 18 when the baby underwent a second surgery due to complications with the initial procedure.

"They performed two surgeries on him. The second one was necessary because the bone in the amputated hand had protruded. Throughout, my child has been taking medicine to alleviate the pain, although sometimes he feels overwhelmed due to hunger," she elaborated.

Despite the doctors' strike and the hospital's recommendation to leave, Janet couldn't take her only baby home as he needed to regain weight before being discharged.

Unfortunately, the nurse's advice was ineffective at that time as the baby's weight had dropped from 7.2 kg to 5 kg - he needed to gain weight first.

How much is Roman Castro's hospital bill?

On May 15, Janet was discharged from the hospital, but she was met with a staggering bill of KSh 132,757, a sum she could not afford.

She believes the hospital should waive the bill, given their alleged role in baby Castro's illness and lengthy hospital stay.

Despite her pleas as witnessed by TUKO, co.ke in the waiver assessment form, the hospital had not responded at the time of reporting.

"I applied for a waiver but the hospital has not responded. I thought they would intervene and reduce the bill because they were responsible for all these. Right now, am stranded. I am all alone with no one to support. I may have to stay longer because I have no coin and the hospital only needs cash. I really need urgent help," she cried.

Janet now seeks help from well-wishers to settle the bill and ensure Castro's continued recovery without the risk of further infections.

At the time of publishing, all the attempts to reach the hospital remained unsuccessful.

To help Kwamboka, reach her on +254 758 489143-Janet Kwamboka.

Homa Bay man with kidney disease seeks help

In another heartbreaking story, a 58-year-old man from Homa Bay pleaded for help as he continues to battle kidney disease.

He disclosed that his wife walked away, abandoning him with three children, including an 8-month-old baby.

The man was self-employed as a motorcycle repairer, but since he got the disease, life has never been the same again.

Proofreading by Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke