How has life been?
Grieving is a very personal process. It’s like a movie you watched and now you remember every fine detail. I shared 14 years with Janet. Her absence has left a huge vacuum.
How are your children Pedro and Jasmine coping without their mother?
Jasmine is only four. She is trying to understand what it means. It is difficult to tell her why her mother cannot come home for just 10 minutes, say hi, and go back to heaven.
It is always difficult to respond to this question. Pedro knows what happened and it is very painful for him. He is my son and we are taking this journey together.
Have you experienced this nature of loss before?
I was with Janet when she lost her father to cancer. I could not understand why she was so affected then. Now I fully understand what losing a dear one really means.
How did you handle her cancer diagnosis?
We were both strong, but she is one of the strongest people I know in the entire world.
Janet wanted to write about her experiences. Writing was therapeutic to her. I was holding all the strings, keeping her hopeful with our kids and family...but it was not easy.
How was your support system?
I believe we get what we give. Everyone came and helped us. A friend I had never seen for more than 23 years called and gave me Sh70,000 for Janet’s treatment. The support was too overwhelming.
Did you expect that kind of support from Kenyans especially from people you don’t know?
There are good people in this world. We left our young kids while in India for three months. I had to return home after two months to hustle.
The perception people have of media personalities is not real as many think they have all the money. Our case was different and we were privileged to enjoy overwhelming support.
Are there any moments that you particularly remember?
Yes. That particular Thursday when doctors from India asked for Sh1.2 million by Monday the following week! We had not raised even a shilling and it was a tough moment.
Luckily, a radio show assisted and Kenyans raised the cash. It was also very emotional to watch my sick wife presenting The Property Show despite her condition.
I keep wondering how people survive. Her medication was very expensive. How did we even manage to raise that kind of money in two years! It was a miracle.
What have you been up to?
We started the Kanini 4 Africa Foundation, and I have been doing exactly what I promised: Talking about cancer, aiding in its diagnosis and treatment through partnerships.
How do you do this?
Kenyans are generous. I decided to use every leverage to accomplish my wife’s dying wishes. In November, we are planning to have the Janet Stands With You event.
The foundation also seeks to support the training of oncologists and currently we have the ongoing Kanini 100 programme that will be supporting 100 cancer patients annually.
What are you doing to fight cancer?
Janet had promised to do this, and I am doing it for her. If we stop panicking about cancer, we will save lives. People need to be informed, ask doctors and experts questions about cancer, pray and believe.
Kanini 4 Africa Foundation recently held a Cycle Fest from Railways Club, and around the CBD. Participants were screened for cancer at Nairobi Women’s Hospital.
