In August 2020, Asmaa* noticed that her baby grandson Kwende* was feverish and short of breath. She took him to the nearest health centre where he was diagnosed with malaria and given oxygen.
After five days of treatment he was discharged, but Asmaa knew that something still wasn’t right. The normally active Kwende spent all his time lying down.
He was getting worse and his mother and grandmother also noticed an unusual swelling of his stomach.
The local hospital was unable to treat him and instead he was sent to the paediatric unit at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, which is supported by World Child Cancer.
It was there that he was diagnosed with Wilm’s tumour and started chemotherapy.
He was discharged in December last year but has since returned to the hospital to continue his treatment. Dr George Chagaluka, the paediatric oncologist who takes care of Kwende, says that he is responding well to treatment.
Kwende was not able to sit or walk, but now he can thanks to the treatment he is receiving here. I am so grateful for the transport that nurses here have been giving us, which means we can come for Kwende’s treatment. Otherwise, we could not have afforded it on our own.
Asmaa, Kwende's grandmother
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* Names changed to protect identities
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Read moreWe first met Joseph in 2019 after he was diagnosed with Leukaemia. Find out more how he is doing after his successful treatment.
Read moreKayin was diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma. He is now working as a carpenter and is feeling happy and strong.
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