Lady Hope Wellness Institute founded in 2009 has been leading cancer awareness and patient support project, which uplifts many needy patients from the grassroots to access specialized treatment
The institute has been facilitating treatments of needy Kenyans at the Kenyatta National Hospital for over a decade now,but has been hit hard by the Covid 19 pandemic
"We have taken a step of faith in supporting a patient at a time duringt heir darkest moments in the disease treatment journey, through the support of family, friends and well-wishers whom God sends our way," said Veronica Mwangi the institute director.
Many patients have joined Lady Hope at a point where they have reached a dead end in search of specialized cancer treatment.
Through regular support group meetings, many have found a home away from home where they freely share experiences, get counseling and spiritual nourishment, get enlightened on cancer matters, learn new economic empowerment skills and spend quality family time together as they divert their minds from the pain of the disease.
This family accommodates all even
those who would otherwise feel unwelcome for lack of comfort essentials such as diapers, sanitary towels and wound dressing materials, to mention but a few.
The members are aged between 8 and 77
years, all from different counties, mostly women but inclusive of men, all at different stages of diseaser treatment.
This diversity has made members stronger as they learn and encourage each other
eventually becoming passionate in cancer awareness and have emerged as our strong cancer screening advocacy ambassadors at their grassroots.
"However, just when these patients have come to terms with cancer and learnt to live with it, Corona came knocking at our doors,"noted Mrs Mwangi
At first the patients were like; “this cannot be worse than cancer”, but with each passing day, Corona has proved to be a different type of cancer they have to learn to live with.
Fortunately, unlike in the cancer situation, there are joint efforts from every corner in the fight against the Corona.
Cancer patients have to keep in mind the fact that mingling is a no go zone. Their immunity is compromised and hence a necessity to eat well not only to keep Corona a bay, but also to overcome
the effects of the harsh cancer medication and procedures.
Escalating food prices, increased travel costs as patients commute for hospital appointments coupled with related medical expenses makes the situation even worse.
Even being able to afford two meals a day is beyond reach for many of the patients.
With absence of support group meetings, many patients are taken aback hence left wrestling with pent-up physical and emotional pain, fear and hopelessness.
With stress being the number one enemy of a cancer, we urgently need to resolve patients’ disturbed state of mind by resuming support group meetings sooner rather than later.
Exercise is another essential part of the cancer treatment journey. This has not been spared by the current COVID-19 storm. Patients have to stay home.
To many, home is that shared single room where not much of exercise can be undertaken.
As much as bonding with family is crucial for peace of mind during cancer treatment, it remains calls for great sacrifice, which many families are avoiding.
For those bold and caring enough to stand
with their patients through the entire treatment journey, most have lost their livelihood due to prolonged absence from their jobs or income generating ventures, leaving families sinking deeper into
poverty. However, it is an investment worth taking, by faith, rather than living with guilt conscious of;
For those patients that have found refuge at a relative’s house as they undergo outpatient cancer treatment, the situation is not smooth either.
Their hosts are facing their own fears as commuting to hospital in public means, as well as the hospital environment bring to mind different scenario of the situation if the patient picked the virus along the way, leading to entire families being wiped out.
The outpatients are however much better than those admitted in hospitals, with no access to the outside world as relatives and friend are kept away from visiting, hence leaving them lonely and depressed.
"At Lady Hope home away from home, which we have ran since 2011, we are hard hit by the storm. Our sad moments have come when we have had to turn away needy cancer patients seeking refuge at our accommodation facility. As we adhere to the Government’s directives on social distancing, we have drastically reduced our resident patients,"added Mrs Mwangi
There has always been room for one more in the family, but not anymore.
As they look forward to better days ahead,lady hope appeals to well-wishers to assist in expanding their current accommodation facility from three rented rooms to a permanent and more
spacious facility.
"Through it all, we have learnt to live one day at a time being thankful for the gift of life, doing our little bit of good to impact communities and inspire hope to needy cancer affected families and praying that
God will intervene in what is beyond us, for we serve a faithful God. Glory and honor to Him for this far, "said Mrs Mwangi
