Story by Sherine Atieno and Photos by Lorraine Faith
“I didn’t expect to feel this normal again,” says Mr. David Ochieng, his voice steady but reflective as he rests in the surgical ward at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH). “I’m ready to get back on my feet.”
For eight years, David lived with a spine injury sustained during a freak accident while on a fishing expedition. The pain had been intermittent, manageable at times, until late last year when it intensified sharply.
By 1st of January 2026, he was completely immobile. He could not walk, sit, or stand. Even basic human functions had to be managed within arm’s reach.
For a man whose livelihood depended on fishing and fish trading, both labour-intensive activities, the condition brought life to a standstill.
His search for treatment began at a local facility in Mbita, where an X-ray revealed abnormalities around his hip. He was referred to Homa Bay Teaching and Referral Hospital for further evaluation. An MRI exposed deeper complications involving his lower lumbar sacrum.
Doctors advised that his case required specialized spinal and neurosurgical care, leading to his referral to JOOTRH.
When he first visited the consultant clinic on 29th January, he learned about the upcoming Neurosurgical Camp scheduled for 16th February to 20th January.
He returned on the said date and was admitted for surgery. Though initially anxious, especially after his blood pressure spiked on the eve of the procedure due to fear, the medical team stabilized him and successfully performed the operation.
Now recovering, David expresses gratitude to the surgeons and nurses for their professionalism and attentiveness. He notes that since admission, he has received treatment, medication, meals and accommodation without financial strain under the Social Health Authority framework.
Supported by his elder brother at the hospital and his family back home, David is optimistic. He encourages others living in fear of spinal surgery to seek help. “Technology has advanced. Don’t suffer in silence. Let specialists examine you. I was afraid, but they made it look easy.”
David is among the beneficiaries of the Neurosurgical Camp organized in partnership with the Kisumu Neuroscience Initiative, offering specialized brain and spine procedures to patients across the region. For him, the surgery represents more than medical intervention. It is a restoration of dignity, mobility and the ability to provide once again.
