With every breath, student fights to sit and finish KCSE exam

Terry Charity Njiru, a student at King David Junior and Secondary School, is getting ready to sit for her Kiswahili Paper on Nov 7, 2024. [Gitau Wanyoike, Standard]

As thousands of KCSE candidates sit their exams comfortably across the country, 18-year-old Terry Charity, a student at King David Junior and Secondary School, battles through her papers with an oxygen cylinder and tubes fitted to aid her breathing.

This has been Terry’s reality since the start of the KCSE exams last week. Every morning, Terry’s parents, Lucy Mumbi and Paul Njiru, wake up early to prepare her for the day. Unable to walk, Terry relies on a hired taxi service to transport her to school, which is about three kilometres from their rented home.

“We want her to have the same opportunity as other students, despite her health challenges,” her mother said.

Terry’s father, Paul Njiru, shared how their daughter developed health complications at birth, which prevented her from walking.

“When we realized she couldn’t walk, we took her to Joy Town Primary School, where she excelled academically,” he said. This led to her admission to Gathirimu Girls Secondary School.

However, due to her condition, she was enrolled at King David Junior and Secondary School instead.

The family was informed that their only child had been diagnosed with heart disease, but it wasn’t until early this year that she was put on oxygen support. Her health worsened last December, requiring hospitalisation at Gatundu Level 5 Hospital, where doctors recommended costly medication.

“She needs continuous oxygen to stabilise her condition, which has made life challenging for all of us,” Njiru said.

“Refilling the oxygen cylinder every three weeks costs Sh5,500, medication is about Sh8,000, and the electricity bill is around Sh10,000. In a month, we spend over Sh30,000 to save the life of our daughter and only child,” said her mother, as she connected the oxygen pipes to Terry’s nostrils.

Terry's father prepares her oxygen cylinder before the start of KCSE examination on Nov 8, 2024. [Gitau Wanyoike, Standard]

Despite these challenges, Terry aspires to pursue medicine and become a neurosurgeon in the future. Her parents, however, say they have been financially drained.

Rebecca Ayuma, her Kiswahili teacher, described Terry as a bright student who, despite facing challenges that sometimes kept her out of class, worked hard to catch up with her peers. “Terry is very charming and lively. She excels in Swahili, and we are hopeful she will do well in her exams,” Ayuma remarked as the exam began.

Susan Wambui, the coordinator of Kiambu Huduma Center and a family friend, has been mobilizing support to cover some of the family’s expenses.

“This bright child deserves a chance to complete her education and receive proper medical care. We are appealing to well-wishers to assist and ease the burden on this struggling family,” she said.