Story by Sherine Atieno and Photos by Lorraine Faith
Two-year-old Shantel Adega lies quietly in Ward 3B at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), recovering from a delicate brain surgery that was successful. Her tiny hands rest against the hospital sheets as her mother, Mildred Luvanga, keeps a steady watch by her side. Every slight movement, every breath, draws Mildred’s attention. For her, this recovery is nothing short of a miracle.
Shantel’s life began like any other. She was born healthy and discharged just eight hours later. But at six weeks old, her cries became unusually sharp and persistent. Ms. Luvanga initially assumed it was normal stomach discomfort common in newborns. Soon after, convulsions began. What started as occasional episodes quickly escalated, and within weeks, Shantel slipped into a coma that lasted two months.
Desperate for answers, the mother of three moved from one hospital to another before being referred from Vihiga County Referral Hospital to JOOTRH for specialized care. There, doctors diagnosed meningitis, an infection that had inflamed her brain and triggered repeated seizures. The infection later caused hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid in the brain that increases pressure and can damage delicate brain tissue.
Since she was three months old, Shantel has attended neuro clinics consistently. Her developmental milestones stalled. She cannot sit, stand or hold her neck steady. For four months before surgery, her eyes remained closed and misaligned, a visible sign of the pressure within her brain. Ms. Luvanga had to put aside work and daily responsibilities to devote herself entirely to her daughter’s care, a commitment that came with emotional strain as she endured stigma and difficult questions from members of the community.
On 16th February, during the neurosurgical camp conducted in partnership with the Kisumu Neuroscience Initiative, Shantel underwent a complex corrective procedure. The surgery required substantial blood support, and donors stepped forward to ensure her survival. Ms. Luvanga describes the hours outside theatre as the longest of her life, balancing fear with unwavering faith.
Now in recovery, doctors are optimistic.
They expect gradual improvement, including realignment of her eyes within weeks. For Ms. Luvanga, progress may come slowly, but hope has returned. She dreams of the day Shantel will sit up on her own, speak her first clear words and play freely like other children her age. After months overshadowed by illness, healing has finally begun.
