To live, I walk around with a machine

In 2012, I started experiencing strange ailments. First, my legs started swelling and it became difficult for me to walk. I also had stomach pains, vomited frequently and experienced chronic diarrhoea. Within no time, I had lost much weight and was too weak to do anything on my own.

I was rushed to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret where I was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. By this time, my whole body was swollen and I also had chest pains. I couldn’t stand, sit or lie down. I was most comfortable in a bending posture. At only 16, the doctors explained that my blood pressure was very high and that it was essentially the cause for my kidney disease. I was admitted and put on dialysis. I did my KCPE from the hospital bed.

The symptoms didn’t go away after the dialysis. But it averted the pain for a short while. I didn’t do well in my first KCPE attempt and I had to resist the exams. When I eventually joined high school, it was struggle staying in class. My upper stomach was in pain, and it was swollen. Since I couldn’t endure the pain in class, I decided to stay at home with my uncle.  It was a relief for me when I finally sat KCSE last year. That’s where I decided to halt studying.

Two months ago, the doctor said that my blood pressure was very high. And I was put on medication to lower and stabilise my blood pressure.

It has been a difficult seven years from the time I was diagnosed with kidney disease. There are times that my whole body itches for weeks. When my blood pressure is high, I experience shortness of breath and toss in bed with lack of sleep accompanied by a severe headache. I also pass very small amounts of urine, sometimes only once in the day. Doctors say fluids accumulate in my body and that they have to be forced out through a machine. This way, I have always carried the machine with me from the time I was diagnosed with the condition. Whenever I fail to go for dialysis, my body starts swelling up. Doctors explained that this is usually a result of accumulated fluids in my body.

I go for dialysis twice every week; on Mondays and on Thursdays. Each time, I have to pay Sh9,000. This, added to the Sh14, 000 that my family has to part with for my monthly medication is a big challenge for us. I take the drugs about four times a day. Whenever I fail to take them, my heart beats very fast and I start sweating profusely. This immediately tells me that my pressure is high and I always ask for help to rush to hospital.

Kidney needed

Because I have had kidney disease since I was a small child, doctors have advised that I need a kidney transplant to remedy my condition. They say that at my age, I won’t survive with machines for long. This revelation was a bit scary for me but I know God will provide a way. In fact, I have organised for a in a few days to raise the Sh2.5 million I need for a kidney transplant.

It is a lonely journey. The only people who visit me when in hospital when admitted are my uncle and mum. And it irks me a little but what can I do? There are times I experience rejection when some of my family members fail to check on me in hospital. My uncle and jobless mother who parted ways with our father are the only people left to take care of me.

Apart from medication, I always ensure that I avoid stress to keep my blood pressure stable. I always check my diet and shun all foods that the doctors told me to avoid. These include foods with lots of proteins like beans. I also don’t eat any types of vegetables. In addition to this, I strictly avoid salt in my meals.

What medics tell me is all I can advise people suffering from any kidney related diseases. Stick to instructions on medication, doctors’ appointments and also avoid stress.