Beyond Hope: Mother and Son’s Joy Restored After Life-Saving Surgery

Lemaiyan and his mother pose for a photo at FAME

The smiles on their faces say it all. Happiness. Joy. Relief! Two years ago, this moment was only a dream for Lamaiyan* and his mother after a painful stomach ache left Lamaiyan in agony and his mother wondering if her only son would ever be well again.

Lemaiyan* was 18 years old when he started experiencing mild pains in the stomach. These pains would eventually progress to extreme suffering, paralyzing his lifestyle and threatening the only livelihood his family depended on, keeping livestock. Being the only boy in his family meant that Lemaiyan was the breadwinner, as is the custom of the Maasai community, where he comes from.

“I was herding the livestock up in the hills when the pain began. At first, I thought it was just the 'normal' stomach upset caused by something I had ingested, but the pain kept persisting.”

For four years, Lemaiyan was unable to take care of his family’s livestock as the pain became unbearable. He would often leave the fields hundreds of kilometers away and go home to seek care. His mother first sought to treat the disease the best way she knew how, by slaughtering their livestock one after the other.

“We would slaughter a goat and mix it with traditional herbs. It would relieve the pain for a few days but then it would return. When I saw that we would exhaust our livestock and he was not getting healed, I decided to bring him to FAME.” - Lemaiyan’s mother

Lemaiyan came to FAME while in critical condition with complaints of abdominal pains. Upon examination, he was diagnosed with intestinal obstruction. He was admitted to FAME’s surgical ward and underwent a laparotomy under the supervision of FAME’s skilled surgical team.

“After the treatment here at FAME, my life was back to normal. I now go to herd livestock like before. Our livestock has increased because I can take them up the hills.”

“I thank God, and I thank FAME because I know with my son in good health, he will help me and my family.” - Lemaiyan’s mother