Story by Sherine Atieno and Photos by Ondari Ogega
For Gilbert Oyoo Aduda, a 67-year-old retired radiographer from Homa Bay, life had become a daily struggle that even the simplest daily tasks had become impossible.
“There was excruciating pain at my back whenever I walked for long distances. Even a simple duty like sweeping the house was a big problem,” he recalls.
For nearly 15 years, Mr. Aduda endured severe backaches that dictated every part of his life. A familiar face at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching & Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), where he had served as a radiographer until his retirement in 2018, he now found himself returning not as a staff member but as a patient in search of relief.
After years of managing the condition with pain relievers, Mr. Aduda often turned to Dr. James Obondi, an orthopaedic surgeon at JOOTRH, who walked with him through regular check-ups. “Whenever I took the drugs, the pain would disappear for a while, but as soon as they were over, the pain came back even worse,” he says.
In July this year, however, the pain became unbearable. An MRI scan was ordered, and the results in August revealed severe lumbar complications, specifically affecting nerves L2 and L5, nearly the entire lower back region. This explained why even light household chores had become unmanageable.
Dr. Obondi then referred him to Dr. Lee Ogutha, a neurosurgeon at JOOTRH who was coordinating an upcoming neurosurgical camp in collaboration with the Kisumu Neuroscience Initiative.
Mr. Aduda’s daughter, who works at JOOTRH’s Prime Care Centre, tried to get more information about the camp. At first, details were scarce, but when Dr. Lee came in one weekend, she spoke to him directly about her father’s condition. Dr. Lee agreed to review his case, and after screening at the consultant clinic, Mr. Aduda was deemed eligible for surgery during the camp scheduled between September 8th and 18th.
Despite warnings from friends who feared spinal surgery, Mr. Aduda was resolute.
“Many people told me that spinal surgery would leave me in more pain. But I told them, even without surgery I was already in pain and couldn’t walk properly. It is better to undergo the operation and give the nerves a chance to come back to life,” he says firmly.
On the day of the operation, surgeons at JOOTRH performed a Laminectomy and Fusion on Mr. Aduda’s lumbar spine. This specialized neurosurgical procedure relieved the pressure on his spinal nerves and stabilized the affected vertebrae.
The results were immediate and life-changing. For the first time in years, Mr. Aduda woke up without the crippling pain that had haunted him for more than a decade.
Now, the only discomfort he feels are mild post-surgical pains, which doctors assure will fade with time. Physiotherapy has been prescribed as part of his recovery.
“I feel relieved because the severe pain is gone. What I feel now is just slight surgical pain. I believe I will now be able to carry out homestead activities with ease, because the debilitating pain has finally come to an end,” he says with a hopeful smile.
For a man who lives alone, unable to perform heavy household tasks, this operation marks a new chapter. “Before, I couldn’t bend, sweep, or even walk without struggling. But now, I am optimistic that I will go back to living a normal life like before,” he says.
Doctors encouraged him that he would be able to walk within 24 hours of surgery. He is now committed to following through with physiotherapy sessions to rebuild his strength.
For Mr. Aduda, the journey holds deep meaning. He once worked in the very hospital as a radiographer, helping patients through diagnostic imaging. Now, years later, JOOTRH has given him a new lease on life as a patient himself.
Through the partnership between Kisumu Neuroscience Initiative and JOOTRH, the camp is transforming lives, restoring dignity, and bringing hope to families across the region.
The camp is expected to serve at least 41 patients with brain and spine conditions, offering life-changing surgeries that would otherwise be financially out of reach.
