Born with a tumor on her head, Blessed Trizer's birth was marked by anxiety and fear for her mother, Jackiline Akinyi Aluoch, a resident of Rarieda, Siaya County. Worried about her newborn’s condition, Akinyi feared that delaying surgery could jeopardize her daughter's future.
Recalling her experience, Akinyi shared that she could barely sleep at night due to the intense pain her daughter was enduring. Feeling helpless, she prayed for a miracle to ease her baby's suffering, as watching her in pain was unbearable.
Hope arrived when the neurosurgical team at Kisumu's Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) successfully performed the life-saving surgery. The operation, conducted 14 days after Blessed’s birth, brought immense relief to the mother.
Akinyi expressed profound gratitude to JOOTRH, the Kisumu Neurosurgical Initiative, and Dokis Advice for their support. She acknowledged that many people lack access to such specialized care and appreciated the efforts made to help families in need.
She also called for measures to ease the financial burden on families, such as covering accommodation and dietary costs for patients undergoing surgery, which can be overwhelming for struggling households.
With her daughter on the road to recovery, Akinyi now looks forward to a future where Blessed can grow up free from the health challenges that marked the start of her life.
The ongoing neurosurgical camp at JOOTRH, which runs until September 18, 2024, aims to provide life-changing procedures not only to Kisumu County residents but also to those from neighboring regions. The camp focuses on treating brain and spinal conditions and is expected to benefit around 40 screened patients.
Held every three months, the camp is an initiative of the Kisumu Neuroscience Initiative in collaboration with Kisumu County, JOOTRH, and Dokis Advice. During the 10-day camp, specialized nurses and theater staff from around the world are offering their services. The local medical team, led by Dr. Lee Gudtha and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Walter Adero, is also contributing their expertise.
“We keep returning because there’s a genuine need,” said Dr. Bethwell Raori, a neurosurgeon from the USA. “Our passion is to transfer care, service, and knowledge to help people.”
Sharmaine Morrison, a nurse specializing in neuro spine procedures from the USA, shared similar sentiments:
“The people are so grateful. This is my fifth time participating in the Neuro Camp, and my first was in 2018.”m