After sitting through his Kenya Certificate for Secondary Education (KCPE) exams amid cancer ailment, Juma partnered with Hope for Cancer Kids to tutor cancer kids at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
“The kids in my classes are eager to learn and this gives me the motivation. I handle kids of between the age of two and 14 offering all primary lessons from nursery to class eight.” Juma says.
Juma supports about eight children with their academic needs ranging from basic speaking skills to more advanced primary education support and his story dates back to 2012.
While in school, 17year old Fred Juma got a sharp pain on his neck. It was so painful that he could not even be able to stand up.
This was during his mock exams in preparation for the 2012 KCSE examination that most students take as their future success decision maker.
“I went to Lang’ata Health Center for checkup and there was no substantial outcome. I was given antibiotics and allowed to go home.” Juma says.
Juma says he felt no change after administering the antibiotics. This forced him to seek further medical attention at Mbagathi District Hospital.
Due to the swelling on the neck, Juma says the medics at Mbagathi thought it could be Tuberculosis and carried tests for verification. The test was negative.
Later a Computerized Tomography Scan (CT scan) was carried out at the German Hospital in Upper Hill that established the cause of Juma’s pain.
He could not have the CT scan at KNH due to the number of patients that were on the waiting list.
“The doctor came over to me and asked if I knew what disease I was suffering from. I said I did not know. It is then that he told me I was ailing from Nasopharyngeal (a rare tumor arising from the epithelium of the nasopharynx).” Juma narrates.
The expectation of the doctor was to see me in shock as is the case with most patients but Juma says he was quite composed.
“I am naturally not scared of shocking issues, even at snakes. I signed the forms and the next conversation was about my medication.” He says.
At Kenyatta National Hospital, Juma took the Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) test.
He undertook the biopsy, which was a minor operation in the nose to check on the multiplication of cancer cells.
“I was scheduled to begin my radiotherapy a month later but my sponsors who offered to pay my hospital bill chose to take me to a private hospital.” He says
Juma says his sponsors; Children of Kibera Foundation did not want his treatment to interfere with the national examinations that were fast approaching.
He says after visiting MP Shah Hospital, his treatment (radiotherapy) commenced on 16th August through to 2nd October .
Juma says he went through 33 radiations alongside chemotherapy that was distributed in between the period.
After 2nd October, he was weak due to the side effects of the treatment and he used to constantly go back the hospital for drugs.
On 26th October 2012, Juma started his KCSE. “It was a practical paper and I was feeling tired with some pain.” He says.
He was able to stay in the examination room for a period of 45 minutes yet the paper was scheduled to take 2hrs 30mins. “I did it half way through.” He says.
For the rest of the papers, Juma struggled through with a lot of understanding from the invigilators and the school administration who were aware of his health situation.
“They could give me time to go and refresh and come back to the exam rooms as the situation demanded. I did my Chemistry paper II under a tree because I was overwhelmed staying indoors.” Juma says.
Between 8th and 14th December 2012, Juma was admitted due to weakness but he says since then, he only goes for checkups.
“All I need is now is to eat well and the doctors say I will fully recover.” He says.
“I understand how it feels for one to be within hospital premises when fellow kids are going to school and advancing their education. This is what gives me motivation to help the kids at KNH.” he says.
The few books that were provided by a supporter from Children of Kibera Foundation are not enough, though Juma says, the kids do share.
“If the kids could get supporters to give more textbooks in all five primary school subjects, I am sure the kids will have an easy time to learn just as their colleagues in schools.” He says.
Juma qualified in KCSE with grade B and he says that his support to the kids will continue until he joins university where he wishes to undertake mechanical engineering or fine arts.
When you get cancer, Juma says this should not be seen as the end of the world. “Have a fighting spirit and show cancer as much defiance as you would master.”
“Cancer patients need people around them because the will to survive is very strong but it goes down with life threatening illnesses. Patients need experts in palliative care who can give them support in finding this will and reason to live a dignified life during such times.” Juma advises.
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