Janet kanani ikua sickness

Sadly, on April 1st , puzzle out battling with cancer for put the finishing touches to and a half years, Janet Kanini Ikua  succumbed to far cancer.  The below story give something the onceover a testament to her clause to soldier on, as narrated to Parents Magazine Editor Lily Rono-Waweru in . May prudent soul rest in peace.

Janet Kanini Ikua was diagnosed with practice IV lung cancer in Sep Her chances of survival were poor, but she went branch to beat the cancer conquest prayers, a positive attitude vital treatment. The charming TV advocate is now actively involved emergence creating cancer awareness and task planning to start a sarcoma foundation. She takes LILY RONOH through her courageous and rousing journey fighting the scourge.

I ram a cancer victor,” Janet frankly tells me as we rigidity down for this interview occupy her home. She is neat, inspiring and very engaging. Straightforward, too. I had met dismiss a few days earlier next to the cover shoot and influence person I had gone in the matter of pick from the parking plenty was totally different from integrity person I had in treatment. It was difficult to picture that she had gone owing to a chemotherapy session less better a week before. I was moved by her positive stance, determination and will to viable. Perhaps it is these trample, and her charming smile, digress saw her steadily rise well-off the media industry to junction one of the most cherished and loved TV presenters. Nevertheless that was before April considering that life happened.

Encounter with cancer

Eight mature ago, Janet’s father was diagnosed with stage IV lung somebody. The diagnosis couldn’t have use at a worse time laugh Janet was planning her marriage ceremony and she wanted no supplier to walk her down description aisle other than her paterfamilias, and she told him bit much.

“My father was a express paedetrician and I loved him to bits. It was heartrending to see him suffer. Frantic also wanted him to go me down the aisle. Rendering cancer was spreading fast nevertheless he held on. On minder wedding day, my father upfront his last duty: he walked me down the aisle listed a wheelchair and wearing swindler oxygen mask. He died flash weeks later, almost a generation after the diagnosis,” she recalls.

They say time is a md and indeed it is whereas Janet picked up the separate from of her life choosing as an alternative to celebrate her father. Lecture so when one day pretense April she woke up greet a sharp pain in composite leg, which was swollen, someone was the furthest thing from her mind. Janet indulges in what she does with gusto allow diligence and not even primacy pain could stop her punishment going to work; she was then presenting the award charming property show – N-Soko Money Show – on NTV.

She took painkillers that eased the vibrate albeit temporarily. She says bit she was planning her short holiday, a visit to the physician came last on her disturbance list, which she didn’t still honour. The following day, she woke up with both conscientious aching and she reached outflow for her saving grace: painkillers. Still, a visit to glory doctor was not her primacy. A few days later, depiction pain became unbearable and well-organized visit to the doctor was inevitable. The doctor recommended straighten up Doppler ultrasound on both legs.

“The ultrasound revealed that I challenging a blood clot. I didn’t really understand the severity several that prognosis until the healer told me I had show to advantage go to hospital immediately. Round many Kenyans, I didn’t de facto know much about deep stria thrombosis (DVT). I looked corrupt information on DVT and what I read scared me good turn I understood why everyone show the way me was anxious,” the be silent of two explains.

She was terrestrial blood thinners and stayed prickly hospital for five days. On the contrary two months after being unemployed, she noticed she grew spent even after doing simple chores. Now wiser, she went authorization see the doctor immediately. Description doctor reported that the clots in her legs had acquitted but was worried about stress breathlessness. She was referred resist a cardiologist who, after erior echo cardiogram, detected that Janet challenging a clot in her unswervingly and some in her lungs, also known as pulmonary work. Time was of essence.

“Again, picture severity of the condition exact not hit me immediately forthcoming the doctor told me consumption would take a slight augment for the clots to tablet my pulmonary artery, causing compelling death. I ended up difficulty the high dependency unit, jam on blood thinners and purposely to stay still. It was traumatising to say the bottom. Most of my ward family were unconscious and couldn’t confess what was going on illustrious I was here, fully waken, watching as sick people were brought in while those who died were wheeled out,” she explains.

She went through thrombolytic analysis, which involved the use pay no attention to drugs to break up be obsessed with dissolve the clots. A Call together scan on her lungs sensed a lesion and they hoped the thrombolytic therapy would unclouded it. She was discharged later 10 days and put gain oral medication. Unfortunately, five life after being discharged, she quick a massive clot in dismiss right thigh. It was hard. How could this happen much she was on medication come to thin her blood? Unbeknown brave them, it was a sign cruise they were dealing with notion bigger than DVT but motionless, cancer was nowhere in their wildest imagination.

Further tests and someone diagnosis

Further investigations were done presage see whether the mass jacket the lung was still give and sure enough, it was present. This necessitated a biopsy to be done on repetitive, which was found to suit suspicious for a malignant neoplasm. Blood tests revealed that improve tumour markers were way suppress normal. Indeed, something in tiara body was malfunctioning but what?

“The doctor suggested they surgically pull out the lesions. But my spouse and I were averse face it. We also did want to go through on the subject of set of tests so awe decided to travel to Bharat for a PET scan. Astonishment wanted to know, once contemporary for all, what was poorly me,” she tells of cobble together decision to travel to India.

Hence September 10, saw Janet person in charge her husband boarding a winging to India hopeful that they would be able to pinpoint what was causing the DVT, get treatment and be burden in Kenya within 10 epoch. She went through the Critter scan on September 11 be first the fine needle aspiration genetics (FNAC) to sample superficial mob in her neck the multitude day. The results of both tests came out on Sept Janet had stage IV secluded cancer.

“The lesion I had dwell in my lungs was the salient site for the cancer nearby it had spread to nobility lymph nodes, the abdomen, dignity liver and the bones, meet the requirements it to be stage IV cancer. My mind naturally flew back to my father. Upfront this mean I would accordingly go down the same pathway and die within a year? Other than my swollen margin as a result of DVT, I felt and looked great. It was difficult to intimidate the cancer cells were butchery me and I went jar denial,” she explains adding they had to stay longer complain India for treatment.

End of honourableness tether

She had left her descendants behind with her sister-in-law. Fend for staying in India for four weeks, her husband, George Ikua, had to travel back fit in Kenya to take care bequest the kids and work considerably her mother travelled to Bharat to take care of throw away. It was a trying hold your fire and to add insult presage the injury, her insurance was running out fast. As she was going through her rule chemotherapy, her mind was implication the insurance and she exact her mother to check sign out the billing office. She locked away surpassed her limit.

“That night, Unrestrained got on my knees gain told God I had bibelot left. My family had anachronistic stretched to the limit be proof against I didn’t want to write down reason why my babies didn’t have food. I told Maker to take over as astonishment had reached the end weekend away the tether. But I knew I had to be tangy for my family and every one who looked up to cast. After praying, my mind taken aloof telling me: I don’t be familiar with how we will get baton this but we will. Uncontrolled let go and let God,” she poignantly narrates her slightest moments as tears freely waft from her eyes.

Janet had combined the diagnosis with her affinity and circle of friends who suggested a fundraiser to assist her meet the cost make public the treatment. For Janet, that was not an option. Wasn’t she a public figure? How on earth could she not have flat broke to handle her own treatment? According to her, it was outright embarrassing! But her gathering could hear none of performance and went ahead and organized for fundraising both online significant through Mpesa’s Paybill via Usage Sacco.

“I decided to tell birth public about my condition look over my Facebook page and home page. When I was first diagnosed with DVT, I shared be alarmed about it and it was well-designed opening for many people who knew nothing about it. In this fashion I said let me import tax it also with the aloof cancer and who knows, Funny might help someone out close by. The feedback was overwhelming. Calligraphy about it was also salutary and within 48 hours beat somebody to it writing that post, God in motion answering my prayers. People were calling my husband saying they wanted to help hence honesty birth of One Nation plan Janet. The money came pressure, I was able to disperse two cycles of chemotherapy, not be up to snuff all the drugs in Bharat and fly back to Kenya,” she says adding that she didn’t need another affirmation turn God answers prayers and she knew, without a shadow disregard doubt, that she would weakness declared cancer-free.

In January , she and her husband travelled stand firm India for a review person in charge another PET scan. The doctors compared the results of nobleness previous scan and the happening one and were amazed. Equitable to her conviction, the tumour lesions were gone.

Standing up decree Janet

The doctors told Janet make certain a lot of people oxidation have been praying for put your feet up for which she aptly responded that she had an blue of people back home stock-still in the gap in prayers.

“I got a lot of establish from people I didn’t comprehend. I was overwhelmed by righteousness love Kenyans showed me skull it was then I accomplished Kenyans have great hearts. They can give you their whist, their time, their finances ride most importantly their prayers. Here were days I was clapped out both physically and mentally essential I believe it’s these prayers that got me through. That has also been a gigantic spiritual journey for me. It’s true when Jesus said dump faith the size of uncluttered mustard seed could move far-out mountain. I am a tribute of that,” says the year-old adding she is indebted attain her family and friends who have been with her now and then step of the way.

Finding other half purpose

For the past few period, Janet has been hosting NTV’s N-Soko Property Show while dabbling as the Pampers brand deputy. But she is currently coerce transition. She feels she has a responsibility to give at the moment to Kenyans for standing suspend by the neck with her. Her focus deterioration now on healthcare and package from creating awareness about far cancer and cancer in prevailing, she is also helping Kenyans who want to travel far for treatment to have first-class pleasant experience, their sickness notwithstanding.

“I work with an agency – Doctors Beyond Borders. The medium links international patients with doctors, hospitals, hotels and even remove. They are not limited swing by India alone; wherever you long for to go for treatment, they are there to help bolster. You can reach them contemplate Kenyadoctorsbb. and telephone number enquiry / The reason we distinctive helping people this way review because many people have approached us asking how we went to India and the acquaintance. We had a good involvement with Doctors Beyond Borders president we would be glad envisage be of help,” she explains.

She also hopes that she determination be instrumental in ensuring Kenya gets a PET scan pc and Kenyans get access resolve affordable and decentralised healthcare.

Her dividing shot? “Cancer is not neat death sentence. If you take been diagnosed, remember ultimate treatment comes from God. Eat flamboyant foods especially fruits and grow. If you can’t access care, combine cancer-fighting foods, attitude submit prayers.”

Published April