Mercy Chepchumba, a physically disabled Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) candidate, has received life-changing help from well-wishers after her story was highlighted by Citizen TV.
In a story that first aired a fortnight ago, the plight of Chepchumba, a teenager living with disability, caught the attention of Kenyans after she was filmed being carried to the exam room by her classmates.
The Molol Primary School in Uasin Gishu candidate lost her mobility after her leg was amputated.
On Friday, March 25, Chepchumba received crutches and a prosthetic leg from the staff of St Luke Orthopedic and Trauma Hospital, who said they were touched by her story.
A medic at the institution stated that they made the leg at the hospital, adding that she would be trained to use it owing to the difficulties she was still facing.
"We have made a leg for her but she will need a lot of practice because the other leg was also affected after the amputation, but she will get used to it," the medic stated.
On her part, Chepchumba could not hide her joy, saying that the prosthetic leg would change her life forever as she had lost the hope of ever walking again.
She expressed optimism about joining secondary school in the coming months. Her family had earlier on expressed fears over her academic future.
"I am so happy that I am able to walk again. I had never imagined that I will walk again. I used to feel so bad seeing other students going to the teachers for consultations.
"I want to thank my friends who used to carry me. Now that I am able to walk, I can visit them so that we can play and read together," Chepchumba stated.
In the earlier coverage, Chepchumba's mother revealed that her daughter's troubles started when she began walking at a tender age. She disclosed that Chepchumba's situation was made worse after developing back problems that later affected her mobility.
"I used to carry her on my back for 5 kilometers or use a boda boda. The problem started after she got a wound on her leg as a baby. The problem continued and we were forced to amputate the leg," she told Citizen TV.
The KCSE candidate hopes to score 350 marks to help her get admission to her dream school, Kipsigis Girls High school.
