Malkia Strikers star wins cancer battle, returns to the courts stronger

Kenya's Ruth Jepngetich celebrates her point against Cameroon during their Africa Cup of Nation ata Kasarani Gymnasium on June 17, 2015.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD

Jepng’etich beats huge odds, stages splendid comeback after giving birth.

If you thought miracles don’t happen, Kenya women’s and Kenya Pipeline middle-blocker Ruth Jepng’etich’s experience might make you think twice.

When the multi-award winning Malkia Strikers centre suffered a life threatening disease in September 2015, just a week after arriving from the FIVB World Cup in Japan, many thought her career was over.

The 28-year-old star was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), a cancer that starts in cells called lymphocytes, which are part of the body‘s immune system.

It was not only a big blow to Pipeline, but also the national team, where she had established herself as one of the key players. The set-back saw her miss the remainder of the 2015 season as well as the following campaign.

But after 15 months of patience, prayers and optimism, the 2015 African Club Championships and African Cup of Nations best blocker’s determination and unwavering self-belief paid off as the St. Stephen Kositany Girls alumnus got a clean bill of health from doctors and went back to the court.

However, just when Jepng’etich had finished helping Pipeline clinch their fourth straight national league title, she went on a maternity leave and gave birth to a bouncing baby girl (Malia Chelagat) on 11 May 2018.

Conceiving after making a comeback from such deadly illness, more so in sports, requires a great deal of courage and determination.

“I had severe back pains while in Japan and thought it was a just a normal back problem. But one week after arriving in Nairobi I went for tests at the hospital, only to found out that it was non-Hodgkin Cancer. I never thought that could happen to me. It was a really devastating situation, but I was hopeful,” Jepng’etich, a former Pipeline captain told The Standard Sports in Embakasi, after a light training session at the team’s training court.

“There was fear that I will never play volleyball again. It was not an easy journey, but I never gave up and by the grace of God I am back to play the game I love most. This is just a disease like any other and it is curable.

“Receiving a clean bill of health from the doctor was the best message ever in my life. And the reception I got from my teammates when I first resumed training was unmeasurable. It was an amazing feeling.”

Jepng’etich confessed to this writer, that she had worried intensely about whether she’d make a good mother. But thanks to Kenya Pipeline Company, her teammates and family members’ relentless support, she overcame the hurdle.

“So far, so good and I thank God for everything. Just after healing, another miracle came and I was blessed with a baby girl. Not all sick people can overcome such a disease and get a child,” she said.

“I endured a lot of stress when I realised that I was expectant. The doctors were surprised and excited at the same time as they were not expecting me to conceive that soon. I doubted if I would deliver without any complications and be a good mother. But I think all that happened by the grace of God. I thank my teammates and company for the support and encouragement they gave me.”

And having already resumed training after the festive season break and coming back from maternity leave, Jepng’etich has set her sights on a place in the Pipeline team for the 2019 Women’s African Club Championship slated for March 16 to 25 in Cairo, Egypt. 

“I can’t say I’ll get back to where I was before soon, but I’m really working hard in training to regain my fitness. I hope one day I’ll return to the national team. My teammates have been very supportive and everybody is eager to see me get my old self back,” she said.

The blocker vividly remembers how incredibly frustrated and helpless she was when Malkia failed to secure the 2016 Rio Olympic Games ticket.

“There is a time I felt like coming onto the court and assist the team but due to some unavoidable circumstances I couldn’t and I just I had to accept my situation,” she recalled.

Kenya Pipeline's Spiker Ruth Jepng'etich is training at Kenya Pipeline. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Having played a vital role in her individual continental awards, celebrated setter Janet Wanja admits that watching her teammate struggle with the simplest of tasks at the hospital was heart-breaking for the team.

“Ruth played a big role in my individual awards at club championships. I was shocked than anybody else when she was diagnosed with cancer. She was in a bad state; she couldn’t walk, she was fed on the bed and nobody knew she would ever come back to the court. But glory be to God, she is now back with us,” Wanja said.

As captain Trizah Atuka warmly welcomed her predecessor back in the team, the immediate former Pipeline coach Japheth Munala, who was instrumental in shaping Jepng’etich’s career termed her experience inspiring. 

“Ruth is a fighter. Hers is one of the most incredible comeback stories one can ever tell. Her fighting spirit is what helped her during the time she was unwell. To be out for such a long time and come back and play again is not easy. But we knew she’d return because of her determination. Her experience is invaluable to the team,” Atuka said.

“From the situation Ruth was, I didn’t think of her coming back to the court. She had a life-threatening disease which most people don’t come through it, but I’m happy she overcame it,” added Munala, the current KCB coach.

Pipeline care-taker coach Margaret Indakala has been impressed with her progress in training and is confident she will make the cut for the club championships.

“We were very devastated by Ruth’s condition, but we thank God for healing her. To be honest, her pregnancy came as a “total surprise”. She’s now back in training and we hope she’ll make the cut for club championship,” Indakala said.