52-year-old Christine is a wife, mother of six, and a hardworking farmer, who lives in Kenya. Her husband retired from the police force, and now farms along with his wife, hoping to provide a stable future for their family. Christine and her husband have children who are still dependent on them, with some preparing for college, and others continuing their secondary education. Their children look to their parents for school fees, food, and other basic needs. When Christine’s husband retired, he bought land as an investment with his retirement benefits, to help sustain the family after his retirement. Part of his retirement money was also used to pay school fees, and to meet the family’s immediate needs. Since then, the couple has relied largely on seasonal farming income to support their household and to educate their children.
In early March, Christine was on her way to their farm. She was going to look for workers who would help prepare the land ahead of the April planting season. She never imagined that this ordinary journey would change her life forever. She was traveling in a public service vehicle, when a speeding car crashed into them. The accident was devastating. Christine considers herself fortunate to have survived, but she sustained multiple severe fractures, and was rushed to a health facility in Eldoret. She spent nearly a month as an inpatient, undergoing treatment for injuries to several parts of her body. She had sustained fractures involving her right hip, right femur, left knee, and left wrist. She eventually underwent surgery, including open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of her wrist, femur, and hip. The surgeries were successful, and she was discharged for continued recovery and follow-up.
For some time, Christine was hopeful that her life would gradually return to normal. However, she continued experiencing persistent and severe pain around her right hip. As the pain continued, Christine decided to seek further specialized care at our medical partner’s care center, AIC Kapsowar Hospital. She was reviewed by the orthopedic team, and underwent a CT scan which revealed a right hip dislocation, post-surgical changes following the previous right acetabular (hip socket) ORIF, and a moderate right hip joint effusion. The findings explained why Christine continued to experience pain, and why she had been unable to walk independently.
The orthopedic team has determined that Christine requires another complex operation. The planned procedure involves surgical reconstruction of the right hip, with possible joint replacement, together with further fixation of the femur. This is expected to be a difficult and lengthy procedure, because of the severity of her original injuries, and the previous operations she has already undergone.
As a result of the care that Christine needed right after the accident, her national health insurance has been exhausted. Although the family has some support available for the specialized surgery that Christine will require, the cost of the required implants and other surgical expenses remains a major challenge. Christine is still hopeful, even as she continues to be unable to bear weight, and needs crutches to be able to move around.
Fortunately, surgeons at AIC Kapsowar Hospital, can help. On August 20th, Christine will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will enable her to walk easily again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,247 to fund Christine’s surgery and care.
Christine said: “I was almost losing hope because of everything I have gone through since the accident. Being able to walk independently, without support, is what I am looking forward to. Please help me complete this journey.”