This archive report was first published on 24 December 2019.
December 24, 2019
Mary Sewe, a mother of one, was reunited with her family in Nairobi after seven years of living on the streets. Her journey began in Siaya County, where she left home without anyone knowing her whereabouts.
After leaving Siaya, Mary traveled to Mombasa, then to Kitengela, before ending up in a psychiatric hospital. It was there that Brenda Sophie, a farmer, discovered her and decided to take her in.
Sophie, who has a compassionate heart, had previously helped another person with mental health issues. She saw the good in Mary, despite her being in a sorry state, and decided to take her in.
"I do not do it to get anything from anybody, but because I know what it means to live in the streets especially for a woman," Sophie said.
With Sophie's help, Mary was able to rebuild her life. She was treated at Chiromo Lane Medical Centre, where the bill soared to almost Sh500,000. However, the hospital waived a good fraction of the bill on humanitarian grounds after Sophie pleaded her case.
Dr. Fredrick Owiti, the psychiatrist who managed Mary's treatment, described her condition as schizophrenia. He said that Mary has really improved and needs to be on continued treatment.
For Mary's son, Collins, who is now married with two children, the reunion was a blessing. He was overjoyed to have his mother back and was determined to care for her.
"I am jobless but I still have to care for her. If I can secure a job, then I believe I will take better care of her because she is my loving mother who came back from the dead," Collins said.
