Be Bold Go Gold for Childhood Cancer

 Darius, 8 yrs old

"I knew something was wrong when my leg started hurting all the time. The pain just wouldn’t stop. Then one day, I fell, and I couldn’t get back up. I had to stop going to school. I tried walking with one leg, but it got too hard. That’s when my mom took me to the hospital."

Josephine – Darius’ Mom

"At first, it was just a few complaints about leg pain. But then it got worse—Darius would cry almost every minute. I knew something was wrong. I took him to a physiotherapist, who said his hip was dislocated. But that didn’t seem right. So I went to another hospital, where a specialist told me it was just malaria and treated him for it. But even after the medicine, my son was still in so much pain. He couldn’t sleep on his left side, he lost his appetite, and walking became impossible.

We went back for an X-ray, and the doctor asked if there was a history of sickle cell in our family. There wasn’t. So they thought it might be arthritis. But the treatment didn’t work. I kept moving from one hospital to another, searching for answers. Finally, at Choda Hospital, another X-ray showed that Darius' hip joint was ‘worn off.’ That’s when they referred us to Moi Teaching & Referral Hospital (MTRH), Eldoret to see a specialist.

When we got to MTRH, the orthopedic doctor looked at his reports and suggested a biopsy. That’s when we got the news that changed everything. My son had stage 2 Ewing's Sarcoma. He was only six.

I remember just sitting there, frozen. My heart sank. Cancer? How? Where would I even start? Everyone knows how expensive cancer treatment is, and we didn’t have much. And then, the fear… People say cancer is a death sentence. Was I going to lose my son? I cried heavily.

The oncology team were very supportive which gave me the courage to have my son   started treatment: 33 sessions of radiotherapy and 36 weeks of chemotherapy.

While processing his medical papers, the social worker at MTRH asked if my husband had NHIF because it would have covered the remaining 13 radiotherapy sessions. But he didn’t. My brother had NHIF, but I was told it could only be used by a parent. I felt helpless.

Then, the social worker told me about Faraja Cancer Support Trust. I applied for financial aid, and they took us in. They walked with us through it all, making sure Darius got the treatment he needed.

Today, my boy is doing well, and he’s getting ready to go back to school. My advice to any parent going through this? Accept the diagnosis, believe in the treatment, and most importantly—"Usisahau Mungu (Don't forget God)."

I don’t even have enough words to thank Faraja. Without them, I don’t know how we would have managed. Skipping treatment wasn’t an option, and because of them, Darius got his full radiotherapy. Thank you for standing with us. Mungu awabariki sana (May God bless you abundantly). "

Faraja Cancer Support Trust: Making a Difference

Through its childhood cancer programme, Faraja Cancer Support Trust provides critical assistance to children like Darius and their families. The Faraja Medical Support Fund (FMSF) offer some financial assistance to cancer patients who are facing funding difficulties with their treatment. This fund relies entirely on donor support, directly impacting the lives of adult and children battling cancer.

Each year, 400,000 children under 19 are diagnosed with cancer worldwide. In Kenya, approximately 3,000 new cases of childhood cancer are reported annually, though the actual number may be higher due to underdiagnosis. Survival rates highlight a stark contrast—only 20% of children survive in low- and middle-income countries like Kenya, compared to 80% in high-income nations. Early detection, timely intervention, and access to adequate treatment are crucial in bridging this gap.