Beatrice Makhoka, the Bungoma woman who has lived with a 3kg facial growth for 21 years could soon resume normal life.
This is after a team of doctors at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital successfully removed the growth that blocked her face, including her nose, and interfered with her breathing.
She has lived with the heavy growth for 21 year and was almost giving up her struggle to live.
Radio Africa's daily newspaper the Star has the led a fundraising campaign via pay bill 922379 account name The Star which has so far raised sh 1m which will go towards her treated and post treatment expenses.
"We thank all Kenyans who responded to our call to put a smile on Makokha's life. She is on her way to recovery," said Radio Africa's Head of Content Paul Ilado yesterday.
The medics removed the growth during a daylong surgery at the Eldoret-based hospital, where she is now recuperating in the Neuroward.
“Beatrice underwent the surgery which was successful. She is doing well and she is upbeat. I have talked to her and she is so grateful to the hospital and all the support she has received,” the hospital CEO, Dr Wilson Aruasa, said.
Dr Aruasa said Beatrice will remain under observation but all indications were that she was doing "quite well".
He said such a surgery would cost or is valued at about Sh550,000.
“However MTRH is treating Beatrice as our corporate social responsibility (CSR)”, Dr Aruasa said.
Beatrice, 68, was referred from Bungoma County Hospital to MTRH on April 8.
“She came with a history of progressive right facial swelling over many years. She had been attended to several times in various health facilities,” Aruasa said.
Her condition required a multi-specialisation hence the referral.
A multi-disciplinary team attend to her after conducting a number of blood tests, including full blood count, group and crossmatch and a head CT scan. A Covid-19 test was also done and she was negative.
“We removed a huge cystic growth on the right side of the face. The mass had 3 litres of dermoid fluid. The face successfully closed with dura patch and cranium mesh,”Aruasa said.
The team of medics comprised of MTRH lead surgeon Dr Francis Thuku, who is Maxillofacial surgeon, Dr Geoffrey Wasike (neurosurgeon), Dr Wabwile Machimoto (ophthalmologist) Dr Elisha Kirwa (anaesthesiologists) and Dr Werunga Kituyi and Edward Avula (scrub nurse)
“We will keep treating her until she heals well to be discharged perhaps after a week of hospital recuperation,” the CEO said.
Her breathing was laboured as the tumour covered one nostril but Dr Aruasa said following the surgery, she will be able to breathe normally.
“I can only breathe through one nostril. At night, I sleep on the right side because the left side of the swelling makes breathing worse," Beatrice had said.
Her face began to swell in January 2000 accompanied by a sharp pain that would not go away.
“It felt like my eye was being stabbed with a knife and I just couldn’t stop rubbing it. The rubbing would slowly get intense and vigorous until my eye turned red," she told the Star during an interview.
Well-wishers are contributing to cover other costs after the Star highlighted Beatrice's case,.
Donations are being sent to M-Pesa Paybill number 922379, under the account name The Star.
The Star has made it clear proceeds will be directed entirely to Beatrice Makokha's medical bills and care. Several well wishers have already contributed to the kitty to support her.
