Girl Stuck in India Over Ksh3M Hospital Bill Returns

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) International Arrival Terminal. Thursday, February 14, 2020
A file image of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) International Arrival Terminal taken on Thursday, February 14, 2020.
Simon Kiragu
Kenyans.co.ke

Fiona Wanjiku, a girl, who was stuck in India with a medical bill of Ksh3.2 Million following treatment for a kidney problem has returned to the country 

Tears of joy freely flowed as she reunited with her family on Wednesday, November 25 morning at the arrivals terminal of the JKIA in Nairobi after more than one and a half years away.

The two had flown out of the country to facilitate a kidney transplant for the daughter who had complications from a previous transplant.

"When we arrived in India doctors discovered that she had serious complications and was put on specialised treatment and was on and off on ICU," Njoroge recalled.

Walter Njoroge
Walter Njoroge spekaing at JKIA in November 2020.
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It was then she had her second transplant from a kidney donated by her aunt. While seeking treatment, the bill ballooned up to Ksh10M. The family was able to cater for some of the expenses, however, the entire bill was unmanageable.

"Our resources got finished. We were almost sleeping in the verandahs of shops in India, but we trusted in God." 

A medical appeal for Fiona was made on various social platforms and well-wishers contributed to the kitty to enable the family to cater for the bill which was at Ksh3.2 Million.

They could not be released until the bill was cleared as daily expenses continued to accumulate in terms of medications and they were even forced to borrow money from a friend in India.

A family member who spoke to the media, while the family was in India, stated that they had run out of finances.

"We had to borrow from friends to clear the hospital bill, Wanjiru and Walter now have the friend's debts, hotel arrears and pharmacy debts.

"Fiona is using expensive medication because she uses up to Ksh40,000 per week and if it were back here in Kenya, it would have cost up to Ksh100,000. 

Upon her arrival into the country, the teenage girl who was happy to be reunited with her brother expressed her gratitude to the wellwishers who came to her rescue.

Wanjiku developed a kidney problem while still in Form One and her father donated his kidney to her in 2011.

An image of Fiona Wanjiru
Fiona Wanjiru smiling in one of her older photos, before proceeding to India for a surgery.
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