A family in Athi River is grappling with a rare medical condition for one of its members.
Four year-old Felix Mwandeti was born with a tail-like extension on his back. The growth requires urgent surgery.
His mother, Mary Musembi fears the growth will get longer as the boy grows.
Mwandeti was also born with three and two fingers on his hands, a second condition that destabilised his family, causing a rift between his young parents.
Ndinda, 22, is at crossroads as she lacks the money to give her second born a new lease on life.
With her mother Agnes Kalekye, they are expected to raise Sh300,000 in 10 days for Mwandeti to be operated on at the Kenyatta National Hospital.
“All I want is to see my son live a normal life like other kids of his age. He has been through a lot as he cannot associate with others freely,” said Ndinda, who does menial jobs at construction sites.
She said although Mwandeti in baby class, he is withdrawn and conscious of his surroundings.
Other children make fun of the ‘tail’, which resembles a male sex organ.
The sensitive growth is attached at the right rear back.
“We chose to take him to a school where the teacher knows him; this has been helpful as the teacher treats him differently. He supports him whenever there is a need such as going to the toilet,” Kalekye said.
Mwandeti does not mingle with other children freely as they look at him as "different and incomplete".
The family of five lives in a slum near the Athi River Railway terminus after Ndinda’s husband abandoned her on allegations Mwandeti was not his son.
Ndinda took Mwandeti to the Machakos District Hospital when he was two months old but was told the boy was “too young for any attention”.
Efforts by the family to reach out to the local leadership for support have hit a snag, as nobody has been willing to come to their aide.
“We have talked with the chief, who promised to organise to talk to area councilor, but that has not happened,” Ndinda said.
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