This archive report was first published on 13 May 2020.
On Thursday, May 13, 2020, it will be exactly 10 years since journalist Elly Abong'o succumbed to colon cancer in Nairobi. His widow, Joyce Wambui, and daughter, Lakita Abong'o, are currently in India, where the 13-year-old is undergoing treatment for cancer of the bones at the Medanta Hospital in New Delhi.
Since January, Lakita has been at the hospital, where her right leg was amputated at the hip in March due to the aggressive cancer, osteosarcoma. The condition is hereditary, and tests have shown that Lakita has inherited Li-Fraumeni syndrome, which increases her susceptibility to different types of cancer.
Ms. Wambui explained that the death of Mr. Abongo's mother and two siblings might have been due to the predisposition to cancer, though it had not been established as such.
"She tested positive for Li-Fraumeni syndrome. That one makes someone be more susceptible to different types of cancer. So, that can run in the family," Ms. Wambui told the Sunday Nation on Friday.
Doctors have deemed the cancer 'aggressive' and have recommended a stem cell transplant to place further stops on the cancer. This weekend, doctors have been harvesting cells from her body to be reconditioned and later returned to her body. If all goes according to plan, the transplant is scheduled for May 18, but that depends on whether they will have raised the Sh4.9 million required for the procedure.
"If there is no money, they will continue with chemotherapy until we get money for a stem cell transplant," said Ms. Wambui.
