This archive report was first published on 22 August 2020.
Veronica Njeri Kahungura, affectionately known as 'Mama Ethan,' is a customer service consultant who has been on a mission to find her son Ethan the best possible treatment for his epilepsy. Her journey began on November 10, 2018, when Ethan, who was just a child at the time, fell unconscious and was rushed to the hospital.
After a series of tests and scans, the doctors at Mater Hospital in Nairobi advised that Ethan be transferred to a specialized facility for further treatment. However, despite the best efforts of the medical team, Ethan's condition continued to deteriorate, and he began to experience frequent seizures.
Desperate for a solution, Veronica sought a second opinion from a neurologist along Ngong Road, who advised that surgery to remove Ethan's adenoids and tonsils might not be the best course of action. Instead, the doctor recommended that Ethan continue with anti-convulsants and undergo further testing.
As the seizures continued, Veronica became increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress and began to research alternative treatment options. She met a woman whose child had also developed epilepsy after a fall and had been treated successfully in India. Inspired by this story, Veronica decided to take Ethan to India for further treatment.
After fundraising efforts, Veronica and Ethan traveled to Mumbai in March 2019, where they underwent a series of tests and were placed on a strict keto-diet. Although the seizures did decrease, Ethan's condition continued to deteriorate, and he began to lose his speech and cognitive abilities.
Undeterred, Veronica continued to seek help for her son, and in November 2019, she took Ethan back to India for a more permanent solution. After undergoing an EEG test, the doctor in India recommended that Ethan undergo surgery to implant a vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) to regulate his brain's electrical activity.
However, the cost of the surgery was a significant barrier, and Veronica was forced to return to Kenya without Ethan. It was then that she decided to write a letter to President Uhuru Kenyatta, hoping that he might be able to provide some assistance. The letter was carried by a few media outlets, and soon after, Veronica received a call from the Indian embassy, offering to help with the costs of the surgery.
With the embassy's support, Veronica was able to raise the funds needed for the surgery, and in February 2020, Ethan underwent the VNS implantation in New Delhi. Although the journey has been long and arduous, Veronica remains hopeful that her son will finally find the relief he needs.
