Kenyan man fight against cancer, pleads for help
By Tim Kimani, Ajabu Africa News
LOWELL, Mass, NOVEMBER 19_ Lowell, Massachusetts, October 31st –The fear of cancer is known as Carcinophobia. Due to the huge influx of cancer patients in recent years, Carcinophobia has become a common social anxiety disorder. Kenyans in the Diaspora have not been spared either and every now and then, stories are heard of another Kenyan in a tough fight against this painful disease.
Nobody would wish to suffer from cancer and it is usually sad when a person falls victim to the disease causing anguish to family members, friends and the community.
It was therefore a sad affair for Irene Munene when she learned that her father, Mr. Stephen Ngaruiya, had multiple Myeloma or cancer of the White blood cells.
Ngaruiya, 64, is from Githunguri town in Kiambu district in Kenya. Around June 2008, Ngaruiya started experiencing some discomfort and pain in his right leg. He didn’t believe it to be too serious but decided to have it checked out in a hospital.
Ngaruiya visited a clinic in Westlands, Nairobi where he met Dr Gakuo who had his foot x-rayed. A hole was found on his right hip and Dr. Gakuo knew it was serious. He recommended surgery right away but Ngaruiya’s daughter, Munene, and her siblings in America thought it wise to seek further medical opinions before surgery. “We thought it would be better if he saw another doctor,” Munene says.
Ngaruiya obtained a visa as a visitor and came to the U.S in September 2008 to join his wife, Rachel Munene, who had come to the US earlier. He immediately sought treatment on his arrival. He visited the Lowell Community Health Center, MA, to have his leg examined. Dr Michael Albeli handled his case and sent him to Lowell General Hospital for x-rays.
Stephen Ngaruiya, during healthier days as a clinical officer in Nairobi, Kenya |
When the x-rays were brought back, Dr. Albeli was stunned. “He said he had never seen anything like that before,” Munene recounted to Ajabu Africa.
Ngaruiya was taking all of this in stride although he was stunned as well. As Munene says, “he was strong but he got into a kind of shock.” Ngaruiya, before coming to the US for further treatment, had worked as a Health Clinical Education Officer in Kenya. Therefore, he had some medical savvy but hadn’t thought the pain would turn out to be anything serious.
Dr. Albeli sent him to Lowell General Hospital for further testing without telling him what he had found. On September 20th, Ngaruiya went to Lowell General. The doctors discovered a tumor on his right hip and then sent him to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston late September. Brigham and Women’s Hospital is one of the top cancer research institutes in the US.
After a series of tests, Dr. John Abraham, the orthopedic oncologist who handled the case, suspected that Ngaruiya had Tuberculosis of the bone. “I had never heard of Bone TB, neither had my father,” Munene said.
He had tests administered, but they came back negative for Bone Tuberculosis. The bewildered doctors then had an MRI done on Ngaruiya, and it was then that they confirmed that there was indeed a tumor on his right hip.
Being the bearer of bad news, Dr. Abraham and his team counseled Ngaruiya patiently. They told him that he had stage 3 cancer that had eaten so deeply into his hip bone that it was no longer visible.
Ngaruiya and his family were shocked. His daughter struggles to find the words to adequately describe the effect of the news; “it was like a knife being plunged into someone. Everybody was in deep shock. Therefore, treatment had to begin soon.”
The month of October found Ngaruiya in the hospital undergoing Radiation therapy. He persistently went through radiation until the second week of November, right before thanksgiving where he got a two week break. Irrespective of all the difficult circumstances, Ngaruiya was still thankful. “His exact words were: because the disease has been found let’s go for the treatment,” Munene recounts emotionally. The journey, however, was not over.
Ajabu Africa was told that on November 28th, Ngaruiya went to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston for chemotherapy under Dr. Jacob Laubach. The cancer was fairly advanced and the doctors had to use drugs that were on clinical trial- These are the drugs that haven’t yet been approved and are tested on patients with certain symptoms and who fulfill certain criteria.
The New Year was no different for Ngaruiya, who found himself in a vicious battle with the disease. He was supposed to do eight cycles of chemotherapy but after only 5 and a half, he couldn’t continue due to the intense side effects he suffered. On April 12 he got very sick and was re-admitted.
He got an infection of shingles, (a viral infection) Peripheral neuropathy, (the numbing of the fingers and toes) bowel obstruction and experienced tremendous pain. The chemotherapy simply could not go on.
He got discharged after two weeks as the next plan of action was considered. Meanwhile, Ngaruiya walked with the aid of a cane.
Dr. Abraham and his team decided that a hip replacement surgery was paramount and June 29th was set as the day the surgery. The three-hour surgery began at 2:00pm led by Dr. Abraham.
Stephen Ngaruiya rests on a couch at a rehab in Boston, Mass,. where he is recuperating |
It turned out to be tougher than they thought and it ended at around 9:30pm; that is 4 and half hours more than the expected time. The doctors had found fractured bones that they hadn’t anticipated. The cancer had completely eaten away the hip bone and they had to put in a metal rod and after three days of recuperation, he was sent to rehab.
Relatives say that Ngaruiya’s recovery was not going well. After two months, he still couldn’t walk and was now consigned to using a wheel chair. During his checkups the doctors urged him to be patient and give it time. On some days there was less pain than others but in general Ngaruiya didn’t think the recovery was taking place as intended.
It turned out that he was right. After a checkup at the hospital, Dr. Abraham told them that tests showed a serious regeneration and multiplication of the cancer cells. An MRI showed Plasma Cytoma, or cells growing in the bone marrow. The bone marrow is responsible for the production of antibodies for the body’s defense. Consequently, when Plasma Cytoma hits, the body’s ability to fight disease and infection is hampered or even impaired.
He was quickly re-admitted on October 20th to Brigham and Women’s Hospital where he stayed until November 5th when he was taken to rehab.
The doctors want to use approved drugs this time and try their best to fight off this cancer.
Relatives say Ngaruiya has been brave in the face of fear and has been doing his best. Munene tells us that it has been especially hard for her mother; “sometimes she gets beaten but her friends encourage her. This family needs financial help if Ngaruiya is going to adequately battle this disease and win.”
There will be a fundraising on Sunday, November 29th 2009 at St. Stephen’s Church in Lowell. Everybody has been invited to come and support this family through prayer and financially to help Ngaruiya as he continues with his fight against Cancer. The account number below belongs to his daughter, Irene Munene, and any contributions will be appreciated.
Bank details:
Name: Irene Munene
Bank of America
Checking A/C # : 004628454949
Routing #: 011000138
Massachusetts
To contact the family, call:
Stephen Kanyoni, Chairman, fundraising commitee - (978) 996- 8583
Irene Munene - Ngaruiya's daughter - (978) 996 - 1087
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