My baby's heart has two holes, needs Sh1.85m surgery — mum

@eosere

A family in Busia's Teso North is seeking Sh1.8 million for surgery to close two holes in their baby's heart.

The baby, Rael Amojong aged one year, had been admitted to Gertrude's Children's Hospital where doctors diagnosed her with two holes in her heart

Rael was only two months old when the problem was diagnosed.

The condition can be corrected and the holes closed by surgery, doctors said. They family wants to go to India for the surgery.

The baby’s mother, Sarah Omunga who lives in Malaba town, told the Star the family is unable to raise the Sh1.85 million for surgery.

Omunga sells vegetables in Malaba town. “Family life changed ever since she was born, all our efforts and resources have been directed to her health. It is very costly to live with a child who has a heart problem,” she said.

Attempts by the family to organise fundraisers only yielded Sh300,000.

The same amount however, the family said on Sunday has been spent in their routine visits to Kenyatta National Hospital and Gertrude Hospital.

“We spend over Sh10,000 monthly on drugs alone, which is very costly to us as a family. We have two other children and we need to pay their school fees and buy other necessities," Omunga said.

The family sold property to finance the girl’s hospital visits.

“My child is in dire need of heart surgery but I cannot afford it. I appeal to the President, Dr William Ruto, and the general public to help me financially so I do not lose my only girl,” Omunga said.

The baby’s father, Desmond Omunga said that at two months their daughter started having on-and-off illnesses and high fevers.

“We realised our child had a serious ailment because even a simple flu would have her hospitalised,” the father said. "Yet the two other children are fine."

Assistance can be sent on paybill number 8043583, account number Rael.

(Edited by V. Graham)