By Maureen Odiwuor
Sleep is no longer a fairy tale in the house of Crispin and Pamela Sijen because of their twin daughters’ health complications since birth, having been diagnosed with holes in their hearts, 16 months ago.
Tears of joy overwhelm Crispin, the assistant chief of Got Osimbo sub-location, Ugenya Sigomere in Siaya County after his return from Nairobi where his children received treatment.
It is all thanks to his friends and family members who relentlessly sacrificed their hard-earned money to contribute towards the operation of the two little angels, Gloria Ber and Gracious Rieko.
Right diagnosis
The twins were born prematurely at seven and a half months, a common phenomenon that results in children having holes in the heart.
Their mother, Pamela, says since they were operated on June 12, this year, their life, which was a living nightmare, has turned into a haven of peace since the operation, which turned successful.
Pamela recounts how it took long for the right diagnosis to be performed on the children, despite being sickling from birth.
“It took only two weeks after birth for the twins to be back in hospital due to their poor state of health. They were admitted at Milimani Hospital in Kisumu for five days,” says Pamela, adding that they had to be put on oxygen when they developed breathing complications.
After their discharge from hospital the couple believed the children had healed until four months later when they fell ill again.
“Ber and Rieko were again admitted at Marie Stopes Hospital where they were found to be anaemic, with each respectively having haemoglobin of 6.3 and 5.8 grammes per litre,” said Pamela.
A blood transfusion was done then they were put on Ranfenal and pure Carls because the doctor assumed they also had rickets.
