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Eunice Wanja Chubi is a 62-year-old mother of six. Her last born Carol Muthoni, 25, was diagnosed with Multiple sclerosis (an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body) back in High school.
Eunice who retired from Telkom in 2006 and turned to farming in her home has had to take care of her daughter who cannot do a lot of things on her own. She spoke to Irvin Jalang'o.
How was Carol when she was growing up? Carol was a normal child. She was a bubbling, energetic girl who excelled in her studies. In class 8, she started complaining of some pains in her hands.
She would shake when she was writing and I took her to hospital where the doctors treated her. They diagnosed her with a nerve condition, but it was treated and everything went back to normal. However, when she turned 17, her health deteriorated.
When did she experience her first attack? It was in November 2007. She was in Form Three at Kerugoya Girls High School. The teachers called and told me my daughter’s life was in danger.
She was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital for further tests where the doctors diagnosed her with multiple sclerosis (an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body).
She would shake uncontrollably and couldn’t walk properly. She was admitted for a week and her condition stabilised. She was on very strong medication. We returned home and continued with the treatment.
Did she go back to school?
Yes. Carol insisted she wanted to go back to school. Luckily, the teachers were kind enough to assist her. It is through prayers and her determination that Carol managed to sit for her KCSE and scored a C minus.
How has Carol’s condition affected you?
It is tough since she needs me 24-hour attention. As a mother, you have so many questions, but God has given me the grace to accept His will. I had already retired (from a telecommunication company, though her dues are yet to be paid) and as you can tell, it was hard. I had to seek assistance from my elder children. I also became diabetic, something that is not in the family.
Can her ailment ever be cured? We have sought treatment in India and the doctor who was treating her said that a progressing multiple sclerosis, which is what she ails from, has no cure.
She has to live on physiotherapy or thermal massage and good diet. She was discontinued from taking medicine. Her physiotherapy costs 1,200 per one-hour session. She is supposed to have three sessions per week, but we stopped due to lack of finances. By the Grace of God, we shall restart. We have to use a taxi to town.
How has this situation changed your daughter? It has changed her completely because this is not the Carol we used to know. It is just by the Grace of God that she can still afford a smile.
If you leave her for a while, she cries and asks God when she would be ready to do what she intended to do, which is to be a journalist. I don’t know why she wanted that... It has affected her psychologically and physically, since she is not able to walk by herself.
What is the most challenging thing about taking care of Carol? I have to take her to the bathroom and bathe her. Carol has to be on diapers all the time. She is a girl, so when that time of the month comes, it is worse.
She needs someone to take care of her too, I’m aging and it is not easy handling her. She is an exciting child too. When we are in the house, she is very charming. Carol tells stories, likes reading the Bible and singing church hymns. Right now, she says that when she stabilises a bit, she will study guidance and counselling online.
How about your other children? They are in Nairobi. Two of them are working with their families and married and the other is jobless. The two help me in maintaining her.
What’s her greatest wish?
Her wish to achieve her dreams.
(Carol has been using a thermal care massager which is available at some Korean clinics. The massager is known to revive the nerves of multiple sclerosis patients. Her mother says she realised Carol can text on phone after a few sessions on the massager. They’ve been given an offer to purchase the massager for use at home for Sh88,000. Well wishers can contribute towards her well-being).
