This archive report was first published on 22 August 2020.
The accident I was not prepared for as a mother ¶
On November 10, 2018, my life turned upside down in an instant. I was a customer service consultant, but little did I know that I would soon be known to Kenyans as 'Mama Ethan' following a funds drive to settle medical bills for my son.
It was a Saturday, and I was up early, getting ready for work. By 7am, I had left the house, and I made it on time, going through my usual routine. However, that day, I was feeling unsettled, and I wasn't at peace.
At around 10:30am, I received a call from my son's nanny, whose voice was panicky. She said, 'Ethan amezimia' (Ethan is unconscious). I was not quite sure what I heard, so I asked her to clarify. She said he had fallen down and lost consciousness.
I have lost track of everything I did afterwards, but I remember making frantic calls to neighbors back home. My son was taken to a hospital close by, but they couldn't handle the case. He was moved to a better facility in Kitengela, and then to Mater Hospital in South B, Nairobi.
By this time, he had regained consciousness, and the doctors did blood work and took scans of his head. The scans and tests showed nothing, and the doctors said they would keep him admitted until Monday just in case he lost consciousness again.
On Monday morning, the doctor said he would commence the discharge process. However, just as we were about to leave, Ethan got a convulsion right in front of me. I carried him, screaming and running for help.
Over the next few days, we underwent more tests and scans, but everything turned out 'normal.' The doctor considered other factors, including Ethan's slightly high fever and inflamed tonsils. They advised surgery to remove adenoids and tonsils, but I wasn't confident in their recommendation.
After seeking a second opinion from a neurologist, we decided to continue with anti-convulsants but ruled out surgery to remove adenoids. However, Ethan's condition continued to deteriorate, and he had multiple seizures, including drops, which are less violent seizures that end with a free fall to the ground.
By November 2019, it was clear that Ethan was still very ill, and we needed to take him back to India for a more permanent solution. We underwent another round of fundraising and eventually traveled to India in March 2019, where we stayed for two months and underwent further treatment.
However, after three or so months, Ethan's condition began deteriorating fast, and we needed to take him back to India for a more permanent solution. We underwent another round of fundraising and eventually traveled to India in February 2020, where we met with a doctor who recommended VNS surgery, which would cost Sh3.5 million.
Desperate for help, I wrote a letter to the President of Kenya, and after it was carried by a few outlets, I received a call from the Indian embassy, who offered to help us with the surgery. We were finally able to get the help we needed, and Ethan underwent the VNS surgery in India.
