• Started complaining of headache and high blood pressure in January; otherwise healthy.
• He was asked to undergo dialysis urgently after being diagnosed with kidney failure. Doesn't want to live as a kidney disease patient.
Image: JOSEPH KANGOGO
A Baringo family is appealing for Sh2.5 million for a kidney transplant for their son and breadwinner whose organs are failing.
Leonard Kandagor, 30, is an IT expert at Huduma Centre, Nairobi.
"Life as a chronic kidney disease patient is untenable," he said, and probably short.
He was in good health until January when he complained of frequent headaches and developed high blood pressure.
"His health keeps getting worse and our family appeals to well-wishers to help us raise funds for a kidney transplant," his father, Julius Chemjor Wendot said.
Kandogor, the third born in the family of eight, comes from remote Kipcherere village in Baringo North.
The ICT graduate was using his salary to pay his siblings' school fees.
When he fell ill and had to spend time in the ICU, his younger sister had to suspend studies at Meru University.
“It all started with a short illness, which escalated to high blood pressure. The high blood pressure was contained but kept resurfacing,” Kandagor told the Star.
After scans in Baringo and at MTRH, "I was diagnosed with kidney failure resulting in the blood pressure and doctors recommended that I should begin dialysis immediately," he said.
More tests at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi confirmed the problem was his kidneys; otherwise he was healthy.
He has been undergoing dialysis periodically at Nairobi Women's Hospital and visiting KNH for checks-ups monthly.
“I thank God I am responding well to medication but the process has been financially draining” Kandagor said.
Doctors recommend a kidney transplant to live a normal life.
“The monthly blood tests and everything are very expensive, leave alone the consultation fees. Life as a chronic kidney disease patient is untenable,” he said.
He spends at least Sh76,000 monthly on medication and dialysis twice a week costs as much as Sh9,500 each, thanks to the National Hospital Insurance Fund.
He has lost about 20kg due to massive loss of water during dialysis.
“My diet is also limited so I don't add weight. My main meals are ugali, cabbage, rice, bread and white meat. The only fruits I'm allowed to eat are apples, berries and grapes” he said.
His brother Philip Wendot said the family has already sent blood samples for testing and matching in hopes of finding a possible donor and saving his life.
“The challenge we have now is finding funds for the expensive transplant," Wendot said.
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(Edited by V. Graham)