Family's agony, financial strain battling diabetes

Ellie Mukusa (on bed) with her father Arthur (left) and a nurse Elizabeth Nyokabi, at their home in Lavington. . [PHOTOS: BEVERLYNE MUSILI/STANDARD]

Kenya: When 35-year-old Ellie Bibiche Mukusa, was rushed to the hospital on July 16, last year, her family was not alarmed. She was 34 weeks pregnant at the time, and high blood pressure was just one of the many complications that came with pregnancy.

The doctor had explained that pregnancy brings along a few complications, so the family was not worried, says Arthur Mukusa, her father.

Unknown to the Mukusas, the hospital visit would be the beginning of a long journey for the family; a journey both emotionally and financially draining.

A year on since that visit to the hospital, Ellie's parents have had to move into her house to take care not only of her, but also her one-year-old son.

"When Ellie complained of feeling unwell, our younger brother drove her to Aga Khan Hospital where we left her for the night. When we visited the following day, the doctor said he needed to do an emergency caesarean section on her to save the baby because he was in distress and Ethan was born. Ethan was put in the neonatal intensive care unit (ICU) and later to the neonatal high dependency unit for about seven days," recounts Ellie's brother Francis Mukusa.

As Ellie's baby was getting ready to leave the hospital; her blood pressure was fluctuating but with doctors doing their best to bring it back to normal. Despite being at Aga Khan Hospital, Ellie's primary doctor was in constant touch with the doctors treating her to keep track of her health.

The situation took a sudden and unexpected turn. She fainted and slipped into a coma, a state she remained in for 18 days with the ICU being her new home. It is during this period that she was diagnosed with Diabetes Ketoacedosis.

"At the time when she slipped into a coma, the doctors said her blood pressure was extremely low and her blood sugar level was extremely high. This caused injuries on her kidneys and at some point, the doctor contemplated dialysis but fortunately the situation got better," explains Francis.

Pain and confusion

"We are grateful to the doctors who took care of Ellie but we asked ourselves why the high blood sugar level was not detected early. It could not have shot up to such a dangerous level in just a day," Ellie's father explains with pain in his eyes.

When Ellie finally woke up from her coma and was taken to the general ward under 24 hours observation, something was different.

"Her conscious level was low. She could not talk or see properly, and she was not responding when spoken to," Francis says.

On October 1, last year, Ellie was allowed to go home and the Mukusa family had to adjust their lives to make sure they gave her 24-hour care, and that baby Ethan was well taken care.

The hospital bill had accumulated to more than Sh6million. The family exhausted medical insurance. Family, friends, the church and Bollore where Ellie worked, managed to pay Sh2.1million to the hospital but Sh4.1million is still unsettled.

With the help of the Aga Khan Hospital management, the Mukusa family hired two full time nurses and a physiotherapist who goes to their home for an hour every day to help Ellie regain her movement.

Ellie's mother Brigitte, and her father are home 24 hours a day just to be sure their daughter is comfortable. Ellie might not be back to her old self but the family has seen tremendous progress, including being able to breathe through her nose and swallow yoghurt.

Good thing

Francis adds that Ellie is responsive when talked to and blinks in response to questions.

"Ethan turned one recently and mum told her it was Ethan's birthday and she shed tears. She can also feel pain, which in this case, is a good thing because during physiotherapy, she makes sounds unlike before," Francis adds.

The monthly cost of taking care of her adds up to approximately Sh400,000.

The Mukusa family continues to rely on well-wishers, friends and family to help them pay the outstanding bill of Sh4.1million to the Aga Khan Hospital.

Well-wishers can support the family through the Mpesa Pay bill number 316794.