NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 30 – Diagnosed with interstitial lung disease (ILD) in 2017, Mary Cynthia Ochien’g’s life has been an uphill battle marked by frequent hospital visits and limited treatment options for her rare condition.
ILD refers to a group of diseases causing scarring (fibrosis) in the lungs, resulting in stiffness that makes breathing and oxygen intake increasingly difficult. This lung damage is typically irreversible and worsens over time.
Kenyan doctors have recommended a double lung transplant as the only viable solution for Mary’s deteriorating condition.
“I’m on oxygen 24/7, and the permanent solution to this condition is a lung transplant in India,” she explained.
Unfortunately, Kenya lacks the facilities to perform lung transplants, a complex surgery involving the removal of damaged lungs and replacing them with healthy donor lungs. As a result, Mary, a 30-year-old mother of two from Siaya County, is preparing to seek treatment at KIMS Hospital in India.
However, the procedure comes with a staggering cost of Ksh 8 million, a financial burden her family is struggling to meet.
Mary relies entirely on an oxygen concentrator, which severely limits her mobility and increases her vulnerability to power outages.
“Everywhere she goes, she must have the machine constantly connected to electricity, making work and travel nearly impossible,” said Samuel Sane, a family member.
With time running out and her condition worsening, Mary and her family have launched a fundraising campaign to gather the funds needed for the life-saving surgery.
To support Mary Cynthia’s lung transplant, donations can be sent to M-Pesa Paybill Number 522533, Account: 7943394, Account Name: Cynthia Medical Appeal.
