Double Tragedy For Kenyan Couple in New England

Stanley Nguyaii Wa-Mbarii, in maroon top, thanking Kenyans and their church leaders who had gone to his family's house in Nashua, NH, to attend prayers and support after his wife (in orange top) was diagnozed with cervical cancer. Two days after this event, Nguyaii himself was admitted at the Brigham and Women's hospital in Boston suffering from Acute Leukemia or blood cancer. The family is seeking help from well wishers to try and cope with the tragedy.

Story and pics by Harrison Maina , Ajabu Africa News

NASHUA, NH, MAY 5_Tragedy of unforeseen proportions befell a Kenyan couple recently when a 51-year old husband recently laid off as an accountant was diagnosed with acute leukemia or blood cancer, only a few months after his wife was diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer, leaving their 9-year-old son under the care of the Kenyan community in Nashua, New Hampshire and Lowell, Massachusetts.

The sad news has left the Kenyan community in New England scrambling to organize and coordinate a major fundraising to help this family with the mounting treatment insurance copayments and domestic bills. The funds drive has been slated to take place on Sunday, May 30, 2010 at the Saint Stephens’ church in Lowell. It will start at 3pm.

The husband, Stanley Nguyaii Wa-Mbarii, who has also been a citizen photojournalist for AjabuAfrica.com, is now hospitalized for the next five weeks at the Brigham and Women's hospital in Boston where he is undergoing aggressive radiation and chemotherapy treatment. His wife, Teresia Wa-Nguyaii,47, has just completed a regimen of daily similar treatment at the Dana Faber Cancer Institute, also in Boston.

Fortunately, the good news is that doctors treating the wife indicated that her cancer is being contained and reducing in size, and will hopefully be removed in its entirety.

As for the husband, a glimmer of hope was also reported when, according to family members, doctors indicated that the type of cancer he is fighting has a chance of being healed.

However, deep faith among close friends and church members in the close knit Kenyan community in New England has them believing beyond any reasonable doubt that the two cancers will completely be cured and the couple shall return to their normal life.

Stanley Nguyaii Wa- Mbarii and his wife, Teresia Wa-Nguyaii , enjoying a summer day out in the past. The couple is now facing serious illness simultaneously.

Many pastors of the Kenyan community churches and other African churches in New England who have received the sad news have been offering intercessory prayers, with some rallying their faithful to donate towards this noble cause.

“This is something that we have never seen in our community. It is time to put our differences aside and do all that we can for this couple in terms of prayer and financial help and prayers,” said Bishop Joshua Wambua of Rapture Harvest Mission church in Wakefield upon learning of the developments.

In a posting on the events page of their website, Dr. Rev. Mumbui Karimi of the Kenyan Community Presbyterian Church (Ushindi) , in Lowell asked members of the church to pray for this couple that has been very active in various meetings organized by Ushindi church.

And during their church dedication service on Sunday April 25, guests and members of the Hosanna Gospel church led by their Pastor, Stanley Mungai, dedicated all the tithes and offerings for that particular day to the family of Nguyaii.

“I have been praying for this family when I heard that both the husband and wife are suffering from cancer at the same time. I feel that we need to dedicate all the tithes and offerings today to this family,” said Pastor Mungai.

He asked the faithful to make the checks payable to Stanley Nguyaii so that every cent can be accounted for. At least $1,400 was raised at this event, indicating the desire by the Kenyan community to help in this unexpected situation.

Also, Pastor Justice Ekeujiba, the pastor of the Nigerian Above all Church in Randolph, Mass. was equally moved by the tale of this couple.

“Our prayers go to this couple and we shall support them in any way we can,” said pastor Ekeujiba in a telephone interview with Ajabu Africa.com.

Just before the husband was diagnosed with the deadly disease, members of Saint Stephens’ church in Lowell, where the couple attends church, had visited the family to pray and support the family after the wife who diagnosed with cervical cancer back in January this year.

A total of $2,000 was raised to help with the upkeep of the family.

Rev. Samuel Kimohu leads prayers at the couple's home in Nashua, NH

The prayers, led by Rev. Samuel Kimohu of St Stephens’ church, took place at their residence at 20 Timberline drive in Nashua, NH on Sunday April 4.   In attendance were pastors from other churches including Venerable Peter Gachathi of Saint Paul’s church in Lawrence, Rev. Joseph Waiyaki of Faith service ministries in Lowell, and the then visiting Gospel artists and pastor, Ruth Wamuyu among others.

During the prayers, pastors and other speakers encouraged the couple to believe that healing was possible even where there seems to be no hope, telling them that God can heal any disease as he has already done in many instances before.
 
Seated together and holding hands, the couple was clearly moved by the love and concern expressed by the community, with Teresia occasionally wiping tears from her face.

It was not mistakable the love and concern that the husband clearly expressed for his  ailing wife, and at one point, told Kenyans how he takes his wife for treatment daily at the Dana Faber Cancer Institute in Boston.

With no idea that he would soon discover that he also had cancer, Nguyaii thanked told Kenyans at the prayer meeting for coming to assist them deal with the situation.

“We are so thankful for all your prayers and support you have shown us,” Nguyaii had told Kenyans present.

He said that since his wife got sick, there was always people visiting them at their house, bringing food, praying with them and helping with the daily chores including taking care of their son when he brought his wife to Boston for treatment, five days a week.

Pastor Stanley Mungai of Hosanna Gospel center led worshippers in dedicating tithes and offerings to the couple during a miracle service and the new Hosanna Gospel church dedication in Lowell . A total of $1,400 was raised.

“It was on the following Tuesday that my husband got a call from his Primary care physician in Nashua, NH, asking him to report to his office as soon as possible,” said Teresiah Wa-Nguyaii, during a one on one interview with Ajabu Africa at her home in New Hampshire.

According to Teresia, the doctor said that he was concerned with the behavior of his blood cells following a recent annual physical examination he had done on him.

The blood cells seemed to be multiplying rapidly in a manner indicative of acute Leukemia or blood cancer. She said the doctor referred Nguyaii to Dana Faber Hospital in Boston for further check up.

“My husband started asking what that meant, but I knew what it was,” said Teresia, who worked as an Registered Nurse for Genesis Health Care, Lowell until one month after her grim diagnosis. Her treatment requirements have since forced her to stop working.

“This totally devastated us. It reminded me of the time in January when I was diagnosed with cancer,” added the still hopeful wife.

Nguyaii Wa- Mbarii and his wife, Teresia Wa-Nguyaii during the prayers at their home in Nashua

Teresia Wa-Nguyaii said that when she went for a regular annual physical checkup in January and the doctor told her she had cervical cancer, the news devastated her  and she did not  know what to tell her husband and son who were waiting for her outside .

“All of a sudden, the world seemed useless to me. I looked around the doctor’s room and everything seemed to move in a slow motion,” recounted Teresia.

“I wished the world would open and I fall through the cracks but it did not,” she added.

She said that when her husband and son walked in the room they took one look at her and realized there was something seriously wrong.

“After I told them what happened, we all cried and cried until we could not cry anymore,” she said.

According to Teresia, on the day that the doctors at Dana Faber concluded that   her husband had cancer, he had dropped her off at Brigham’s and Women’s hospital, a stone throw away form Dana Faber, for her radiation appointment.

I had just walked over from Brigham’s and Women’s hospital to see how my husband was doing with his appointment at Dana Faber when he told me of the cancer diagnosis confirmation,” said Teresia.

“We both started crying but no tears could come from my eyes. I was too dehydrated from the radiation therapy,” added Teresia. She said that they asked themselves so many questions, wondering why we were going through all that.

When the doctors told Mbarii that he will be hospitalized immediately for treatment to begin, he became disappointed, saying that he had a sick wife and a nine year old son to take care of.

At this time, the wife called their pastor, Rev. Samuel Kimohu of Saint Stephens’ church in Lowell and told him about the sad development.

“The pastor said he will come right away,” Teresia told Ajabu Africa.

At that time, her husband was still insisting to be let to go home for a while to make arrangements for his family, and then return for treatment.

Believers pray for healing during a prayer meeting at the ailing couple's basement in Nashua , NH

According to Teresia, the doctors told him that if they thought he had a better chance to fight the disease any other way, they would let him go for two weeks, but unfortunately, that was not the case.

It took a lot of convincing form the doctors and Rev. Kimohu until he finally agreed to be admitted.

“We left him at the hospital and family friends gave me a ride home,” said the mother of one.
 
However being a woman of immense faith Teresia believes that both she and her husband will be healed and they will be a living testimony to other people that God can heal anyone.

She added the knowledge that her husband loves her a lot and the love from the Kenyan community keeps her going.

“I know my husband loves me and he knows I love him,” she said. She frequently visits him at the hospital and speaks to him on the phone often.

When Ajabu Africa visited Nguyaii at the hospital, there were several other Kenyan sympathizers who had visited as well, encouraging him with positive thoughts and prayers.

At some point during the visit, a doctor and three assistants walked into the room and announced, “It’s time for another chemo.”

They proceeded to inject the chemicals that are designed to kill cancer cells into Nguyaiis system.

As for now, visits to Nguyaii have been scaled back due to his reduced immunity and also to give him a chance to rest and recuperate from the draining chemotherapy.

Due to the hardship that has befallen this family, the Kenyan community has organized itself with many women and men taking turns to help with the daily chores.

At the moment the couple’s son, Mbarii, is under the care of a family friend who also has a son that goes to the same school as Mbarii.

The friend has kindly offered to take care of Mbarii and shield him away from any heartache for as long as possible.  She takes him to and picks him up from school daily; helps him do his homework, allows him to play with her son and give him all the love a 9-year-old boy needs.

Members of the saint Stephen church and other kenyans attend prayers and social support event at the coupl'es home in Nashua, NH

Thankfully, Nguyaii and his wife both have their sister, Assumpta Amoche and her husband, Fredrick Amoche, oshua living about 10 minutes form their house. The sister and her husband are helping tremendously at keeping things in order as people come in for daily prayers and helping with the fundraising arrangements.

The loving couple has been very active in the social life of the Kenyan community in New England, often driving to different venues where events are taking place.

Teresia is a well known women’s leader, a person who has stepped up on many occasions when help was needed, occasionally offering free services as event organizer and as master of ceremonies, especially at prayer meetings and weddings.

Last year, Teresia was a member of a group of traditional gospel dancers from the Saint Stephen’s church that took the number two prize at the hotly contested New England Churches music festival competition that took place at the all Saints Community church in Quincy, Mass.

As for her husband, Nguyaii, he always wants to be where the action is.

According to Harrison Maina of Ajabu Africa, since Nguyaii was laid off last year as a senior accountant, he decided that rather than stay idle and complain in the house, he would do something to serve his community. He therefore purchased a camera and joined Ajabu Africa crew as an intern to practice his desire at photography and writing while helping keep his community informed.
 
Maina said that that during the week he got diagnosed, Nguyaii had planned to go and purchase an overhead flash for his digital camera, in preparation for a busy summer of photography in the community.

Social: Teresiah Wa-Nguyaii, center, and a friend, pose for a pic with the outgoing Kneyan Ambassador to the US , Hon. Peter N. Ogego during the recent 10th Annicvesary celebrations for the Kenyan catholic church in Boston . pic by Nguyaii wa-Mbarii/Ajabu

Community awareness : Nguyaii Wa-Mbarii poses for a pic with Massachusetts Governor, Deval patrick during a recent conference to unveil the the New Americans Agenda held at the great hall in State House on Beacon Hill, Boston. pic by H.Maina/Ajabu

“As opposed to many people who join us and wither out at the first sign of hot weather, Nguyaii is not a quitter and regards the community need for information too important to quit even when things are tough,” said Maina, who has been working with Nguyaii .

Recently, despite his wife’s predicament, he managed to go and cover a story on the fight against HIV among Africans in New England. Last year, after a one day’s notice, Nguyaii decided to go cover the 10th year celebrations for the Kenyan Catholic community in Boston which was attended by the outgoing Kenyan Ambassador to the US, His Excellency Peter N. Ogego. He has also written to raise awereness for other Kenyans in need of help. Read here and here .

Maina added that the amazing thing about Nguyaii is the amount of photographs he takes of his wife and son; a testimony to how much he loves them and his positive outlook at life.

“He has used his wife and son a lot to practice photography, with awesome results,” said Maina. He is a person with a tremendous positive energy. I am sure he will fight this cancer till a victorious end,” Maina added.

To coordinate the efforts for the planned fundraising, a committee was immediately constituted and held an initial meeting last Sunday at the Saint Stephens’ church in Lowell.

The committee welcomes all willing members from different churches in New England to attend weekly committee meetings to be held at the same Saint Stephens venue every Sunday at 3pm until May 30, the day of the funds drive.

The fundraising committee led by Kariuki Kimungu during a meeting last sunday at the saint stephens church in Lowell

“We ask Kenyans from everywhere, including out of state to send help by any means so that the community can tackle this serious issue,” said Kariuki Kimungu, chairman of the fundraising committee.

With bills from Teresia’s chemo therapy and radiation already over $50,000, and other domestic bills rapidly falling behind, the task ahead is not easy.

Bills for patients undergoing long-term and expensive treatment usually accumulate rapidly, since most insurance plans have the co-pay system where the patient is required to meet part of the total bill, with the insurance company covering the rest.

As for Teresia, her health insurance pays 80% of the total bill. The accumulating bill as well as other costs associated with the ailing husband and domestic bills threaten the very foundation of this young family’s life, and could lead to loss of their home and other drastic consequences.

However, organizers have confidence in the ability of the Kenyan community in USA to rally together in such times of tragedy for support , love and comfort for unfortunate members.

A Facebook account, a pay pal account , and a special Bank of America account have been created to network Kenyans for help with the funds.

The family and fund raising committee also requests all our readers to forward this article to all other known Kenyan and African websites, blogs and Networks from all over the world requesting them to publish for their readership in the spirit of true togetherness.
.
To forward, copy the link below and paste in your email for onward transmittal:

Double Tragedy For Kenyan Couple in New England

Donation checks, bank deposits or Online Transfers can be made to:

TERESIA WANGUYAII
BANK OF AMERICA
ACCOUNT No: 3880-0210-0015
ROUTING No:  541030160
Zip code: 03062
Pay Pal Email ID: smbarii@gmail.com (click here) or go here
Facebook

Ajabu Africa.com and Ajabu Media Communications appeals to all our readers located in different parts of the world , our advertisers, and our customers to make a donation of whatever amount possible to this couple who have selflessly helped us keep you informed.

To contact the commitee or for more info, call:

Kariuki Kimungu     :    (603) 320 - 9858
 Lydia Gicheru         :     (978) 866 - 6735
 Aloise Njenga         :     (978) 677 - 0791
 Joshua Wanganga :      (508)  577 - 3779
Teresiah Wa-Nguyaii :  (603)  305 - 0543
Asumpta Amoche:          ( 603)  557 -0164
Freddie Amoche :           ( 603) 233- 2957