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Final journey for Kenya’s youngest and second-longest serving ICU child patient

Milan in his hospital bed at KNH, and his mother. The family visited their son for the three years he was admitted to the hospital. [PHOTO: JENIPHER WACHIE/STANDARD

It was a burial of a kind. At his tender age, he brought together hundreds of people to the little-known Mutomo village in Gatundu to celebrate Kenya’s youngest and second-longest serving ICU child patient; four-year-old Milan Mburu.

Medics at the Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi say his resilience kept him alive three years and two months on bed number 20 at the Critical Care Unit.

Milan was first admitted to KNH when he was only six months old on June 4, 2012 with a lung infection but when it cleared up, the doctors could not discharge him because he could not breathe independently.

That he breathed assisted by machines made the ICU ward his second home where he was also fed through tubes and was on weekly physiotherapy sessions to ensure his muscles firmed and he did not develop bedsores.

His parents, Kenneth Ndirangu and Alice Wamaitha, sacrificed their wealth and time to take care of their second-born son. Ms Wamaitha resigned from her teaching job at Mutomo Primary School.

It was tasking, but they never gave up on him.

And even when Milan died on July 24, the medical team, family and friends were amazed by his spirit. He died after seven resuscitation attempts following complications of a stomach infection that was under antibiotic treatment but took a toll on his health.

He never spoke like his peers but his eyes spoke of pain, joy... a language that his mother and close family friends understood.

“I will remember Milan as a strong boy who taught us to be hopeful and patient,” his mother told The Standard on Saturday.

Mr Ndirangu appreciated the prime care provided by the KNH medical team.

“We appreciate the endearing spirit by one of the doctors, Charles Kabetu who never gave up on Milan and nurses Jane, Kiragu, Eva and others who treated him like their son,” he says.

With his courage, he led his family and the hospital staff to believe that each day was a blessing and an opportunity to warm a person’s heart through a kind act.

In his last days in the face of one complication after an another, Milan was startling and amazing as he always afforded a smile for his mother even when the medical pronouncement from the doctors didn’t promise that he would be well again.

And his parents’ feet did not tire of visiting him alternately for three years at the CCU.

Wamaitha took to social media to announce the demise of her son whose health progress Kenyans had followed for the 1,155 days at KNH.

“God I know you never answer questions but you answer prayers give me peace dear Lord and strength to handle the work ahead of me, nothing is impossible with you lord,” she said.

“God knows why He has taken your young soul at this moment after spending three years at KNH-ICU. I prayed, we prayed and even with no effort to help we wished him well. So heartbreaking to say goodbye. RIP baby. God gives and takes away!” one of her friends posted on her Facebook wall posted.

The couple also have kind words for Mr and Mrs Peter Kairu Nyaga for the unwavering support through the trying times and a family friend Hellen Waweru who would always visit Milan twice a week.

“My husband and I are touched that you have supported us in the last three and a half years of our son’s illness and that you are also here to pay your last respects,” said Wamaitha.

“We have so many questions including his death at four years but we cannot forget his trademark smile and the joy he brought to our lives,” said Kenneth.

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Milan Mburu Burial