This archive report was first published on 15 July 2019.
Nancy Githoitho: A Mother's Quest to Restore Cancer Patients' Confidence ¶
Published on July 15, 2019
Nancy Githoitho, a mother of two boys, lost her mother to breast cancer in 2017. Since then, she has been on a mission to help breast cancer survivors regain their self-esteem through knitted prosthetics and support groups.
Ms Githoitho founded the Limau Cancer Connection, a cancer support group that makes and distributes knitted prosthetics to breast cancer survivors. The group's name, Limau, means lemons in Kiswahili, and is derived from the famous quote: 'When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.'
Ms Githoitho's journey began after her mother's breast cancer ordeal and the stigma she underwent. She decided to be a 'lemonade' and grab the monster of cancer by the horns.
Ms Githoitho has helped over 5,000 cancer patients, including her mother, who was diagnosed with stage 3b breast cancer in June 2016. She lost her mother in June 2017. After her mother's diagnosis, she lost her self-esteem after she lost her breast after mastectomy. Ms Githoitho bought a $400 (Sh40,000) silicon prostheses, which her mother never liked as it was heavy and sweaty.
Ms Githoitho came across knitted prostheses that are light, affordable, and washable. She trained her mother's friends how to knit them, and they loved being in the knitted circles to chat and reconnect with friends. Her mother knitted like four sets and donated them to her friends before she passed on.
Ms Githoitho decided to help women regain their self-esteem through knitted boobies. She has used up all her savings to bring the organisation to where it is today. She spends her own money to buy the yarn, which is 100 per cent cotton, at Sh850, to knit; buy the fibre and needles.
The Limau journey started after Ms Githoitho's mother's breast cancer ordeal and the stigma she underwent. Ms Githoitho has created a legacy for her family and for their fight against cancer. She has been nominated a CNN hero for 2019 and has over 5,000 cancer patients who have benefited from Limau.
Ms Githoitho's dream is to build community cancer centres where patients can access free or affordable cancer care. She has access to pharmaceutical companies that have been donating free cancer medication to referred patients. She would love to have a centre to ascertain that the donated meds are landing in the right hands.
Ms Githoitho's role models are her mother and father, John Githoitho, who helps her run the group and supports her financially when she is down. She is proud of the achievements she has made, including being nominated a CNN hero for 2019 and having over 5,000 cancer patients who have benefited from Limau.
