At 28 years, Nancy (not her real name) is a widow living in Kibera, one of Africa’s largest slums, with a task of bringing up three girls and a boy after her husband succumbed to colon cancer.
The journey to her loss started in April 2011 when her husband developed a painful swelling on her lower abdomen.
“He started using local medicine for a period of one week but recorded no change. Instead, the swelling got worse and developed a wound that started bleeding.” She narrated.
At this point, she thought it wise to seek medical attention for her husband and accompanied him to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), a Belgium Non-Governmental Organisation located within the slum area.
The doctor at the center suspected cancer and referred him to St. Mary’s Lang’ata where they got an appointment with a doctor who took samples for tests and allowed them to go back home.
After three weeks the results were out and Nancy says the doctor called her aside and asked if the patient was her husband.
She confirmed and the doctor informed her that he was suffering from colon cancer at an advanced stage, which has no healing.
“The news did not surprise me much. I said if cancer is here, it lets deal with it.” Nancy said.
The husband was admitted and later operated to create a stoma, subsequently enabling him to pass out stool. MSF helped Nancy to clear the bill for the operation.
“My husband stayed at the hospital for a few weeks before he was released.” Nancy said.
After discharge the doctor advised us to visit Nairobi Hospice for further advice and pain management.
“The hospice helped us a lot with advice on cancer and how to take care of my husband’s illness. When food was available I could get some for use at home besides the hospice staff visiting us at home during my husband’s illness.” She narrated.
After sometime of hospice and home care, Nancy said her husband started occasional bleeding from the wound.” She said.
Nancy sought the advice of the medics at MSF who referred her husband to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) where he was admitted for a month with no change and later discharged.
She said her husband stayed at home for one month before he passed on in February 2013 at the age of 33 years.
Nancy is now left with the maiden role of bringing up her four children. She washes clothes for people to earn an income.
Though she is not ill, attending a daycare at the hospice and sharing with the patients makes her a better person each week and gives her the strength to push on with life despite the challenges.
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