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Video:Ruth Ngwaro spent 14 Days in ICU Boston Hospital Open Heart Surgery
Ruth Ngwaro, was born with congenital heart condition that was diagnosed at an early age of three years
Her journey has not been that smooth, but thank God she had an early intervention that saved her.
Many other young and old are left vulnerable and unable to thrive and live well in the community due to various heart ailments that are treatable but people have no access to resources and finances.
According to According to the World Health Organization (WHO)
“the prevalence of raised blood pressure in Africa is ~46%” the highest rate in the world”
“We need to engage with local stakeholders to create scalable and sustainable solutions.In partnership with the World Heart Federation, we are reforming rural healthcare in Kenya by training health workers to improve diagnosis and challenge misconceptions surrounding hypertension – an NCD that affects one out of every four Kenyans.”
Did you know approximately 1 in 4 Kenyans has high blood pressure/hypertension? Have you had your blood pressure checked? It only my takes 5 minutes and can save your life. @gituramurenga @BarasaAnders #MMM19 #pimapressure @ProfOgola @MayMeasure #MayMeasurementMonth pic.twitter.com/kPVyZZmD5z
— KenyaCardiacSociety (@kenyacardiacs) May 10, 2019
Her mother gave everything at that tender age flew her to the USA to seek specialized cardiac treatment.
Ruth Ngwaro, was discovered t0 have had 4 holes in her heart at the age of 4 and needed emergent care as soon as possible.
At 10 years old she started experiencing extreme pain in her heart and was attended by Dr Betty Gikonyo who advised them on urgent surgery in India,later in India the Doctors said it was very risky and would not even try on the surgery fortunately Nairobi Hospital took her in and were able to treat her successfully
With a team of US doctors in Maryland a successful open heart surgery was performed and her heart valves replaced
Since then, she has been on a cocktail of anticoagulants, and several other heart surgeries and treatments in Kenya ,India and US
She has recently been given a pacemaker.
A pacemaker, is a small device that’s placed in the chest or abdomen to help control abnormal heart rhythms. This device uses electrical pulses to prompt the heart to beat at a normal rate.The battery is replaces as needed but can go up to ten years, she has to carry a specialize d pacemaker identifier badge and even while flying she has to notify the airport attendants not to undergo through the X-ray scanner as it will interfere with the electrical pulses.
Ruth was in high spirits as we interacted with her and Maggie over zoom.
She was excited and had just been discharged from the hospital after spending 21 day at Boston Children Hospital and 14 days at the Intensive care Unit also known as (ICU)
With the intense covid19 regulations,Ruth Ngwaro, was lucky to get a early spot or appointment at the Boston Children hospital.
Few Phone Transcripts before and after Surgery
“Dear Family and Friends
TESTIMONY from Ruth Nwaro
She stated that the Doctors and nurses offered first class service, she was briefed on all treatments and procedures, they took care of her and the family like royalty..it was the right place to seek the kind of cardiac treatment she got from highly distinguished nurses, cardiac Doctors and surgeons all came second to none.
Speaking to the Mother Mary.K Ngwaro and younger sister Maggie Ngwaro who is a Registered Nurse in Boston “The journey has not been easy, it has taken the hand of God to be where we are today.”
Special thanks to all her her Mom Mary, Sister(s) Maggie and all family members,The Boston Children Hospital Heart Unit,The Kenyan Catholic Community in New England,The entire Kenyan Community in Massachusetts for your prayers and moral support
May God Bless you abundantly,she could not have asked for a better community in the Diaspora
Ruth Nwaru co-founded a non profit organization Kenya Mended Hearts Patient’s Association in Kenya that identifies and offers resources to families and individuals who have congenital heart diseases and other non communicable diseases in Kenya in Paernership with the Ministry of Health
She is a #ChdRhd ambassador #co-founder Kenya Mended Hearts Patient’s Association #KMHPA #NCD’s advocate