This archive report was first published on 14 July 2019.
On a day that was supposed to be filled with joy, Ann and her husband Raphael were left reeling after the loss of their newborn baby, Hope, at Kenya National Hospital (KNH) on Wednesday.
According to Ann, she had been admitted to the hospital on Sunday, a week before her due date, after her water broke. However, she was forced to wait on the queue before being attended to, and it wasn't until she started bleeding non-stop that she was rushed for an emergency scan and caesarean section.
Despite initial reassurances that everything was okay, Ann's baby was later found to be struggling to breathe and had developed a blood infection. The couple was left stunned and heartbroken as they tried to make sense of the events leading up to the baby's death.
Ann recounted how she had been told that her baby was premature, but had no complications, and that she was doing well. However, when she asked about her baby's condition, she was told that the baby was very sick and had a blood infection.
The doctor's report later revealed that the baby had signs of a congenital abnormality known as Down Syndrome, which was not initially mentioned to the couple. The baby's death was pronounced at 10:20 pm on Wednesday, leaving the couple with more questions than answers.
Ann expressed her frustration and disappointment with the hospital's handling of the situation, including being handed a bill for a scan that was supposed to have been done but was not. The couple is still trying to come to terms with the loss of their baby and is seeking answers about what went wrong.
