Coast KCPE star appeals for help from donors as she battles cancer

When Kenya Certificate of Primary Education examination results were announced late last year, Mary Mutua, 14, was excited for topping her class with 415 marks.

She was the best student at Amani Primary School.

Her joy was, however, cut short when her father broke the sad news. She had cancer.

HID FILES

Even with swellings in her left leg and persistent pain, she was among the top public-school performers in Mombasa.

When Mary’s parents realised that their firstborn child was sick, they did not tell her, because she was about to sit the tests.

Mary was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer about three weeks before the start of the national examination.

In October, Mr Josephat Mutua, a businessman, hid all the medical files that showed his daughter was sick.

“When Dr Samson Bebora broke the news that my daughter had cancer, we cried. We later said we would face it. We had to be strong for her. I did not want my daughter to panic and that is why we never informed her,” Mr Mutua told the Nation.

But Mary kept pestering her parents to reveal what was making her sick.

“She kept complaining of pain in her limb. If it happens again, I would not tell her she has cancer, especially when the national examinations are approaching,” Mr Mutua added.

On October 1, Mr Mutua and his wife took Mary to hospital for tests.

MIRACLE

The cancer results came back positive on October 30.

“I asked him to tell me the results again and again but he repeated the same thing. My leg was hurting and I could not walk. My father used to take me to school and back. I could not play with my friends,” she added.

A week after the examination, and as her condition grew worse, Mr Mutua could no longer hide the secret. He was afraid the cancer was spreading fast.

“Dad took me to the cancer centre at Coast Provincial General Hospital. I stood at the entrance and asked him why we were there.

“I thought it was only a tumour but dad put on a brave face and broke the news. I cried like I had never cried before,” Mary added.

When the KCPE exam results were announced at Star of the Sea Primary School on November 19, Mary prayed for a miracle.

And her prayers were answered on realising she had scored 415 marks out of a possible 500.

“It was a mixed feeling. I was called to Bunyore Girls High School in Vihiga but my treatment was to begin immediately,” she said.

She started treatment hoping to join secondary school in January.

Unfortunately, doctors said Mary’s leg had to be amputated.

The family sought more advice from other specialists.

CASH OVER

“Dr Bebora told us to go to India for limp salvage surgery. It meant removing the bone and replacing it with a prosthesis. My family rejected amputation. Well-wishers donated money for my treatment,” she said.

“Dr Bebora counselled me. He said I would win the war against cancer since I am a fighter. The doctor, my parents and siblings have been my strength and hope.”

Armed with Sh1.9 million from well-wishers and personal savings, the girl and her father flew to India on December 5.

“We did not know it would take that long. We came back just a week ago,” she added.

In India, doctors conducted a CT scan and confirmed Mary had cancer.

“It was only in my left leg. The doctors came up with a treatment plan that included six chemotherapy sessions for 10 weeks.

‘‘Surgery would take place in the eleventh week, depending on the results of the chemotherapy,” she said.

The doctors conducted the limp salvage surgery on March 4.

“I was told to continue with the chemo for 12 more cycles but we ran out of cash before I started,” Mary said.

The family incurred a Sh1.4 million debt for the treatment. Mr Mutua sold his plot in Mikindani to pay it off.

URINE PH

“People who gave us the money wanted to detain my family. My wife had to sign some promissory documents to be released. We’ll settle the remaining amount later. I now have a debt of Sh400,000 and have sold everything I can,” Mr Mutua added.

On Monday the family was looking for a hospital to conduct a urine PH test. None of the hospitals in the coastal region does such tests.

The family now plans to take Mary to Nairobi for the test.

“I have to undergo the test every six hours in order to take my chemo medication. My urine PH has to be maintained for my kidney to be protected,” she said.

The family says chemotherapy is Sh65,000 per session.

Due to lack of the machine, doctors have advised her to drop some of the Indian medicines, however their counterparts in Indian have warned her against the move.

“The doctors from Indian warned me against such decision, they said if I use all the medicines my cancer will completely heal, I take six drugs in a day. I wish to go back to end to finalise my treatment due to lack of machines in Kenya,” she added.

She has been warned against substituting drugs.

“My bone from the knee to the hip joint was removed, I dropped out of school to seek medication in India, I am back home but there’s no treatment in Kenya, what do I do?” she asked.