This archive report was first published on 26 September 2019.
Lydia Onyango and her 19-month-old son Randy were in India for a life-saving heart surgery, but their ordeal has taken a devastating turn. The family is now stuck at MIOT Hospital in Chennai, India, after failing to settle a medical bill of $6,182 (Sh618,200).
According to the boy's father, Pacifica Onyango, the family traveled to India on July 27th, and Randy underwent a successful heart surgery on August 2nd. However, the hospital detained the mother and son after they failed to pay the initial bill.
Speaking to The Standard, Onyango said his family is unable to settle the bill, which has increased to Sh1 million. The hospital has confiscated their passports to ensure they do not leave the hospital, and their medical visas have expired.
Onyango appealed to well-wishers to help his family raise the cash and return to Kenya. The family has been surviving on the help of other generous patients who have been giving them basic necessities like diapers, sugar, salt, and bottled water.
Onyango said the family organized a fundraiser but only managed to raise Sh120,000, leaving them with a significant shortfall. The air ticket for the mother and son cost Sh107,000, and the family is now facing a daunting bill of Sh1 million.
