The last 21 years have been full of untold pain and despair for 68-year-old Beatrice Nanjala Makokha due to an overgrown cyst that developed on her face.
Nanjala who hails from Bungoma has endured ill talk from people who had many theories about the cyst.
On Tuesday, she started a new life after a team of doctors from Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret operated on her and removed a 3kg cysts. Nanjala now has a new lease of life.
The team of specialist doctors who operated on her include Dr Geoffrey Wasike (neurosurgeon), Dr Francis Thuku (Maxillofacial surgeon), Dr Wambile Wachimoto (ophthalmologist) and two anesthesiologists Dr Elisha Kirwa and Dr Werunga Kituyi.
The growth had covered her right side of the face and could not see properly with her right eye. It had also covered the frontal bone, frontal sinus and ethmoid.
Dr Wilson Aruasa, MTRH CEO said that Beatrice is in stable condition and on her way to recovery.
“Beatrice is doing well and she is upbeat. I have talked to her and she is so grateful to the hospital and all the support that she has received,” Dr Arusa stated.
Her cost of treatment was Ksh550, 000 which is all catered for. Nanjala’s story had a few weeks ago been published in a local newspaper and Kenyans of goodwill were asked to fundraise for her surgery in India.
However, a multi-disciplinary team from MTRH said they could handle the case.
“MTRH Multi-Disciplinary Team Successfully Removes cystic growth from Beatrice Makokha A Multi-Disciplinary Team at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) has successfully removed a huge cystic growth on the right side of the face; covering eye frontal bone, ethmoid and frontal sinus. The mass had 3 litres of dermoid fluid not involving the brain. The face successfully closed with dura patch and cranium mesh,” MTRH said.
A medical report from MTRH stated that Nanjala begun swelling many years ago and sought medical help from different health institutions but the cyst grew bigger.
“She came with a history of progressive right facial swelling over many years and had been attended to severally in health facilities. Upon her arrival, we had a multi-disciplinary team attend to her. They did a couple of blood tests including Full Blood Count, Group & Crossmatch and a Head CT scan using our state-of-the art 128 slice CT scan. Her SARS-Cov-2 PCR test was negative. She was consequently scheduled for a multi-disciplinary surgery which was done on Monday 12/04/2021.”
Nanjala will continue receiving treatment in MTRH until she fully recovers.
