Mama Gee’s Faith

On 12^th December 2019, Gee felt dizzy and collapsed. He was rushed to a hospital close to his home in Nakuru where he was diagnosed with extremely low blood volume and immediately admitted for transfusion.However, the relief was short-lived and after two weeks, Gee had other similar spells. Eventually, he was referred to Eldoret Referral Hospital where he was diagnosed with Leukemia and admitted for six months of treatment.

At the time, her son was only 13-years-old and Mama Gee knew the path ahead would be tough and full of tribulations.Facing unemployment – and with hardly any support from her recently separated, alcoholic, ex-husband - she clung to her Bible and would constantly pray for healing, strength and financial provision.

It was at this time that her case was presented to Love and Hope Centre (LHC) by Fatma, a Community Health Volunteer. In an answer to her prayers, LHC stepped in and registered NHIF cards for the two children (in case one is exhausted, the other will step in) and met the medical and transportation costs. On the other hand, she was also managing the delicate emotional state of Gee who was feeling left out by his friends and dealing with the immense pain from bone marrow tests and treatments.

“Gee and I had to agree not to despair. I asked him what it would benefit us if he held his head on this side and I held mine on the other,” she says while motioning.

With their agreement in place, LHC psychological support and a delicate balancing act allowing her to juggle all the balls, the year started to look up and Gee healed enough to go back to school. As 2020 gave way to 2021, Mama Gee felt confident that the worst was behind them and started taking steps to go back to work but little did she know that the biggest hurdle lay ahead.

Suddenly, Gee’s health deteriorated and by the time she got him to Eldoret, he was admitted in a comatose state and diagnosed with Meningitis. What followed next was three months of powerlessness, sorrow and tormented prayers.

“I cried a lot,” she says, not needing any additional words to express the depth of her pain. She shows us photographs of an intubated Gee with medical machines in the background. During this time, LHC stood by her side and provided constant counselling and financial support to cater to the transport, new rounds of investigative tests and chemotherapy to a tune of about Kes. 100,000.As his treatment progressed, Gee was put on a special diet which LHC also provided.

In a cruel twist of fate, her younger son developed an ear problem at the same time and needed medical attention to treat a burst eardrum. He was referred to Kenyatta National Hospital.

“Everything was facing me alone but God was there for me. My prayers were answered,” she recalls.

As we meet them, it has barely been a month since Gee was discharged from the hospital. The handsome and confident young man welcomes us to their meticulously clean one-roomed home outside of which boils a pot of beans. In what appears to be a defence of his mother for the meagre offerings of Ugali and bean stew for lunch, he lets us know that that is what “imepatikana” (is available) and with those words, the strength of his character shines through.

Mama Gee patiently narrates her story and concludes with the simple statement that God heals. She shows us multiple, lengthy, and multi-coloured beaded necklaces that Gee was given at Eldoret Referral Hospital. Each colour represents a type of treatment/ test that he received. They are an indication of his triumph over each step of the treatment process, the completion of which makes them both ‘Shujaas’ (Warriors) as printed on the bracelets they both proudly wear on their wrists.

At the time of the meeting, her younger son’s ear surgery still lies ahead but LHC has mobilized the funds to cater for his expenses; transportation costs, hospital consultation fees, treatment and drugs. Mama Gee is certain that God will also heal her younger son and is extremely grateful to LHC for the continuous financial, material and psychological support.