Dream shattered for miracle twins

Kyela. It was supposed to be the “happily ever after” story of the year, but little Eliud—one half of the conjoined twins who were separated in an operation last year in India—appears to be in serious trouble, with his colon now spilling out of his stomach. He has to use a colostomy bag to collect the waste from his body.

Medics fear for the 16-month-old’s life if he does not get proper medical attention soon. And that is the one thing he could not be guaranteed, given his family’s acute poverty.

Eliud and Elikana were joined at the hip when they came into the world on February 20, 2013. The operation to separate them, carried out by surgeons in India in December last year, was so successful that some declared it a world record.

The twins returned home in February and were scheduled to return to India in August for a review. Things fell apart, though, since those days of optimism. Eliud’s parents live in abject poverty and have no money to travel with the twins to Dar es Salaam and on to India to save their lives.

Feeding the twins has been a challenge as their jobless parents rely on good Samaritans to put food on the table. Even as they pondered how to cope with the challenge, Eliud’s health took a nosedive.

His skin is wrinkled, his eyes pop out and his head appears larger than the rest of his body. He has not been eating well. In April, Eliud was pretty much the same as his twin Elikana—happy and energetic. But while Elikana smiles back at strangers, Eliud cries a lot and wants nothing but to be held by his mother.

Three months have passed since the twins, born conjoined on February 20 last year, came back home from India after a successful operation in December. Their mother, Grace Rwesha (21), says she realised about a month ago that Eliud’s colon had come out and was now in his colostomy bag, which he and his brother must wear every day to collect the waste from their bodies. The boys have been wearing them since the operation. They are scheduled to return to Muhimbili National Hospital in July in preparation for their return to India in August for further surgery and for the colostomy to be closed.

Since Grace detected Eliud’s problem, he has not been eating well and he has high fever. She has been giving him porridge only because he does not want to eat. I tell her to mash all his food. The young mother appears surprised and promises to start doing so immediately. I call her husband the next day and he tells me that Eliud is now eating a wider variety of food.

When Grace and her husband, 29-year-old Erick Mwakyusa, first visited the district hospital in Kyela three weeks ago, they were told nothing more could be done for the boy. They were given pain killers and told to go home. A week ago, they went back for a referral letter to go to Mbeya Referral Hospital where their son would get more detailed medical attention. But, to their surprise, the doctor said again that this was going to be a waste of time.

“He said nothing could be done for us by any doctor in Tanzania and we were to wait for the scheduled appointment in August,” Erick recalls. No one from the hospital has ever followed up their case since they arrived in February.

From Father to Father

When Kenyan High Commissioner to Tanzania George Owuor read the article in The Citizen about the twins’ life in Kasumulu, he told himself that he had to do something for the family. The touching story titled “After miracle surgery comes harsh reality” was published by The Citizen on April 9.

That same morning, Mr Owuor spoke to Shelmith Gikonyo, Second Secretary at the Embassy, who shared his sentiments. She felt she has to do something for the family as soon as she read the story.

Ms Gikonyo added: “I said to myself that I was going to do something, even if it was to send Sh50,000. Even if no one else would join me, I had made up my mind that I would do it. I was disappointed that there wasn’t a phone number at the end of the story where I could send money anonymously.

“Then the High Commissioner shared with me what he was thinking. I was surprised that he was thinking the same way. We decided to share with others in the office and they all agreed to do it. No one protested. ”

The Visit

It was supposed to be a quiet visit. That is what the Kenyan delegation initially desired. Hearts extended from fathers and mothers to another. The High Commissioner travelled with a delegation of seven people from Dar es Salaam with a Fekon motorbike on top of the High Commissioner’s Land Cruiser. “We could see people on the roadside puzzled at the sight of a motorbike on top of a car,” Mr Owuor said with a chuckle. “But this was the only way to make sure it reached the intended family.”

Although they were moved as individuals to reach out to people in need, the Kenyan delegation knew that there was protocol to be followed. They informed Mbeya Regional Commissioner Mr Abbas Kandoro of their visit.

Seated in Mr Kandoro’s office before setting off on the road trip to Kasumulu, which is on the Malawi/Tanzania border about 112 kilometres away, the Kenyan delegation was warmly welcomed by the RC. He extended a warm welcome told Kyela District Commissioner Margaret Esther Malenga why they were on this rare visit. Although High Commissioner Owuor would have preferred to do this behind the scenes, he respected the decision of the DC to accompany them to Kasumulu.

Ms Malenga was joined by Kyela’s Officer Commanding District (OCD) Mr Rogasian Wenga, Kyela District Administrative Secretary (DAS) Mr Godyfrey Kawaha and District Community Development Officer (DCDO) Mr Omari Mungi.

At first, I thought it was a mistake for the DC’s vehicle to lead the convoy from her office to Kasumulu village. To my surprise, they led us to the exact house. “This case is well known at the district level,” Ms Malenga said later. “We have so many cases to handle. It is hard to follow up each and every one closely.”

She and her team had just come out of a floods crisis, which they had poured all their energy into.

District Community Development Officer (DCDO) Mr Omari Mungi said he knew of the case too. But the officer who was supposed to deal with children’s cases was not aware of it. He explained: “In the beginning, we left the hospital to deal with the case because it was more of a medical case. But now that this has been brought to our attention again, it is an assignment for us. We must follow it up closely now.”

In Kasumulu

After the dust raised by the three Land Cruisers had settled, we moved to Grace and Erick’s home. Children stood around wondering what was going on. The Ward Executive Office, Mr Lugano Mwabulanga, and Village Executive Officer, Mr Shida Msyani, were already outside the Mwakyusa home, chasing away children who lingered around staring at the three cars and the people who got out of them. But after the guests sat on the stools placed for them around a mat where the Mwakyusas sat, many children joined their parents.

As the High Commissioner spoke in English, DC Malenga took up the role of translator. . “We were touched by this family’s story,” he said. “We thank the journalist who wrote the story for doing so. If they hadn’t written the story, we wouldn’t be here.”

He added, to cheers from the crowd: “This is why we have travelled all the way from Dar es Salaam to give you this motorbike. We hope that your business will grow and you will be able to buy another motorcycle. Maybe then someone else, or even ourselves, will consider giving you a third motorcycle.”

The High Commissioner and the delegation from the embassy also donated three helmets, a jacket and a T-shirt. The motorcycle has a year’s comprehensive insurance and has been registered with TRA as a commercial motorcycle. All of this is worth Sh2.2m. The motorcycle was also fully fuelled. The delegation also gave baby clothes that would fit the two boys up to their fourth birthday and Sh100,000 in cash.

Everyone cheered as Erick got on his new motorbike and rode around for a while. Two weeks after Eliud fell ill, the owner of his previously rented motorbike took it from him. He had not been working for about two weeks. His son’s health was deteriorating and Erick was running out of options.

He added: “I cannot believe what has just happened. This is a miracle. I am overjoyed. I don’t even know what to say. I am just thankful.”

Erick had to pay Sh8,000 a day for renting the motorbike, an amount that he could not pay.

Ms Malenga said she hopes Erick will not see this new development as an opportunity to abandon his family. “If you decided to get yourself a second wife somewhere,” Ms Malenga added, to cheers from the crowd. “Be my guest, but don’t leave with this motorbike.”

Mr Owuor said he was happy that the DC and her delegation had accompanied them. This way, the family and the entire village would be more accountable.

DC Malenga said her office will also give 20 kilogrammes of rice, five kilogrammes of sugar, five litres of cooking oil, five cartons of soap bars and clothes for the Erick and Grace. Furthermore, Ms Malenga invited the couple to visit her office the following day so she could connect them with the district medical officer. She also promised to link them up with a nurse who would closely follow up the twins’ progress and a nutrition adviser to guide the parents on the right food to give their sons.

“They told me that the district medical officer was not there and I should come back next Monday,” said Erick when he went the following day, last Tuesday. DC Malenga said he did not see her when he visited her office. She has given directives for him to visit again on Thursday (today). Until then, Erick hopes that everything that the Good Samaritans have done for his family will not be in vain-- and the lives of his two boys will be saved.