Kenyan man upbeat after kidney donation from sister
Stephen Kenja Kagotho and his sister, Mary Wambui, , recuperating at the Umass Medical Hospital in Worcester shortly after a double surgery 2 months ago which saw Kagotho receive a life saving kidney.
By Harrison Maina, Ajabuafrica.com, posted January 20, 2011
WORCESTER, Mass._Stephen Kenja Kagotho, a Kenyan man in Worcester who faced a dim future with a mysterious kidney failure is back on his feet with a smile, thanks to a successful kidney transplant donated by his younger sister.
A truck driver, Kagotho barely made it home in April 2011 when he started to experience severe pain. His feet swell, his mouth dried and he had difficulty seeing during a return trip from Dallas to Worcester, Massachusetts.
Kagotho, 42, was diagnosed with a kidney failure last year that doctors said was rare at his age leading the medics to suspect possible poisoning.
Both of his kidneys were damaged and the search for an organ donor began.
His young brother volunteered to donate his kidney. After initial tests, doctors thought that his younger brother was a possible donor.
However, several months later, it turned out that the brother’s kidneys were no longer possible matches.
The new testing results revealed that his brother’s organ conditions had changed and that there was no perfect match.
Later, his sister Mary Wambui, a mother of one volunteered to be tested as a possible donor.
Doctors found a match but they warned her that it wouldn’t be in her best interest as a mother to donate the kidney. Doctors cited a higher risk of death in women with babies.
However, with so much love and desire to save her brothers life, Wambui decided to take the risks. She told the doctors that many people died from other causes even with both of their kidneys.
“To me the risk was worth it if I could save my brother's life”, she told Ajabuafrica.com.
She also thanked her Liberian husband, her parents and siblings for supporting her through the procedures.
The double operations were performed last November at the Umass Medical Hospital in Worcester.
The two operations were done the same day. The doctors removed one kidney from Wmbui and inserted it in her brother.
Four days later, the pair was discharged from the hospital to continue recuperating from their parent’s home in Worcester.
Kagotho and his sister have continued to recuperate amazingly well.
“I can now drive myself around in my car to run simple errands, something that I could not do previously”, said Kagotho. “I am looking forward to returning to the normal life soon when my immunity returns”.
Speaking to Ajabuafrica.com from his hospital bed a day after the surgery, Kagotho thanked God for what he termed as a "miracle".
“I thank my family too for standing by me on this journey and my sister for the courage to donate the kidney in spite of the health risks .”
He also thanked the Kenyan community who over the summer donated money towards his medical expensees.
“I don’t know what I could have done without the Kenyan community,” he said. “I thank everyone who came to support me with the funds and their prayers and wish you a happy new year.”
More than 700 Kenyans gathered at the Holy Name High school in Worcester last June. Kenyans raised more than $45,000.
The family still fell short by about $22,000. However, the hospital provided the family a payment plan which they continue to make.
Dozens of Kenyans from around Boston and out of state flocked to the hospital to witness the successful operations when the duo was released from the operating room.
They came with messages of sympathy and courage.
“This is very good news. We are all very happy that the transplant went flawlessly and both Kagotho and his sister will be back to normal life,” said Dr. Joseph Ikigu, a Kenyan medical doctor who drove from Philadelphia.
“We thank and praise for the successful transplant,” said Joseph Kenja, Kagotho’s father. “We also thank the doctors who performed the operation and the Kenyan community for helping us with the medical expenses.”
He said that the family had a difficult year but now is looking forward to a better new year. One of his sons survived a near tragic end when he fought off a carjacking attempt in New Jersey.
He thanked the Kenyan community for standing by the family in both cases.
Five Kenyans have have had successful kidney transplants in Boston with the help of funds from the community.
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