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My Story : Diabetes & Stroke
Narration by Mumbi Njoroge , Daughter in law .
On that fateful day , mum woke up disoriented and speaking gibberish . Her minder rushed to one of her daughters , who quickly called me as she had no clue what was happening . Based on my experience in emergency response and healthcare , I knew we were dealing with a stroke .
Dorothy Wanjiku Kung ’ u 83 years
“ It takes a village to raise a child ”, is a famous African saying . Dorothy ’ s Kung ’ u ’ s case has taken an entire village to manage and hasten her recovery after a major stroke . Dorothy ’ s journey with illness began in the year 2000 , being diagnosed with depression after losing her youngest daughter and her husband within the year .
She started treatment with Dr JK Mutiso and was later referred to Dr Kirtida Acharya in 2009 after developing type 2 diabetes and hypertension . Her treatment and management worked like a well-oiled engine until all hell broke loose on 4th December 2020 .
On that fateful day , mum woke up disoriented and speaking gibberish . Her minder rushed to one of her daughters , who quickly called me as she had no clue what was happening . Based on my experience in emergency response and healthcare , I knew we were dealing with a stroke .
I confirmed her vitals , mobilized an ambulance , and organized her arrival with the Aga Khan University Hospital A & E . In under an hour ; mum was at the hospital .
The CT Scan confirmed that Dorothy suffered a major bleed in the cerebellum . The medics couldn ’ t do an angiogram as she was too agitated and moved her to ICU . The priority was to stop the bleed , control the blood pressure and glucose , all of which were extremely high .
Our first major challenge ( due to the COVID-19 pandemic ) was hospital beds ’ availability , as none were available within Nairobi . Having called around with family members ’ help , a bed opened up at Avenue Hospital , which we did not hesitate to take up .
Dorothy was admitted at around 7 pm ( 4th December ) and was discharged on 31st December 2020 . She spent most of her days in the ICU , other than 5 days in the general ward . In those 4 weeks , Dorothy had transformed from a strong woman to a helpless individual needing 24 hrs assistance ( feeding via a PEG and a speech therapist ).
Before the discharge , as her children , we realized that a lot had to be done . We rallied together as a family to share some of the burdens . Some took up finances , admin , dealing with the medics , interviewing nursing assistants and the entire care team , setting up a comfortable environment , nutrition , shopping etc .
With everyone ’ s committed effort , including her nurse aids and most amazing physiotherapist , Dr Kyengo , Dorothy could get out of her bed with minimal support and use a walking frame to cover short distances by 5th February 2021 . From there , she experienced tremendous improvement as all the villagers continue to carry their weight . Her movement and speech got better . She no longer spends time in bed and can comfortably feed herself .
Our Challenges
• We had no clue where to find service providers ; initially , what we found was too pricey .
• Medical supplies and equipment for home nursing were so expensive . Found buying , e . g . the hospital bed was cheaper than hiring ;
• The medics who took care of her at Avenue were unwilling to have online sessions or do home visits making it almost impossible for follow-ups .
Our highs ,
• The physiotherapist is highly devoted . Dr . Kirtida agreed to online follow-up sessions .
• The flexibility and support have been amazing .
Dorothy ’ s recovery is nothing short of a miracle , the village played its role , and the results are excellent .
Dorothy ’ s village mates , sons , daughters , daughter in law , and grandchildren have pulled together to ensure a speedy recovery .
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