For a decade, Dorcas Masinde, a resident of Bungoma County, has endured excruciating pain caused by a swelling and ulcer in her mouth. The condition has robbed her of normal life, making even basic actions like eating agonizing.
Masinde, a mother of five, spoke with TUKO.co.ke about her ordeal. Her voice nearly gives way as she recounts the daily suffering:
“I have had this issue for 10 years now. I cannot eat, so the only food I have daily is porridge. … Porridge alone is not enough for the effective functioning of the body, but I can do very little about it.”
The wound in her mouth frequently emits pus, which she fears could enter her digestive system during meals. She says she cannot afford the surgery needed to treat the lesion. As a single mother without a stable income, she depends on occasional handouts to survive.
“It is not good at all for my health, but the only way to get rid of it is through surgery so that the wound inside my mouth can be treated. It is very expensive, and I do not have any money. Being a single mum, I have no one to turn to for help,” she said.https://muranganewspaper.co.ke/sina-wa-kunisaidia-bungoma-mother-with-swollen-mouth-for-10-years-begs-help-for-operation/
Despite her suffering, she remains hopeful that with treatment, she can reclaim her life and care properly for her children.
“I would really want to get treated first so that I can be able to cater for my children’s needs. The issue has weighed me down. I have had many sleepless nights because of the pain. I am lucky that the wound has not led to other opportunistic diseases, but the infection is dangerous in the long term.”
