Kisumu Family’s Struggle with Rare Spinal Deformity in Infant
By James Okoth
Inside a modest home in Kisumu City, the air is thick with both love and worry. A ten-month-old baby boy, the youngest in a family of four, lies quietly in his mother’s arms, his small frame struggling against a condition too complex for his tender age. The diagnosis, kyphosis, is a rare spinal deformity that has disrupted not just his physical growth but also the rhythm of family life.
Kyphosis, a curvature of the spine that causes a pronounced rounding of the back, is more commonly observed in older adults due to degenerative bone changes. In infants, however, it is rare, and when it occurs, it often signals deeper developmental or congenital complications.
For baby [name withheld], the condition has already shown visible effects: difficulty sitting or crawling, and an unusually large head and eyes, signs that have left his parents anxious about what the future holds.
His father, Pastor George Odhiambo Wanyando, recalls the moment doctors at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital delivered the news.
“They told us to go for an MRI and when the results came, they said he has a deformity at the back, kyphosis. I didn’t even know what that meant at first,” he says softly. “But I could see something was not right. He can’t sit properly and his back is curved.”
The family’s heartbreak runs deeper. Pastor Wanyando painfully remembers losing another child to a similar condition in 2020, a tragedy that has left emotional and financial scars. Now, as they face a repeat of that nightmare, the family’s strength is being tested once again.
A Rare and Costly Condition
According to paediatric specialists, congenital kyphosis occurs when the spinal bones do not form properly before birth. It can worsen as a child grows, leading to complications with mobility, breathing and overall posture if not corrected early through surgery.
Treatment, however, comes at a steep price. Advanced imaging, orthopaedic interventions and corrective surgery can cost hundreds of thousands of shillings, well beyond the reach of many Kenyan families.
In Kisumu and across the region, cases like this often go unnoticed, lost in the noise of more common health crises. Yet, for families like the Wanyandos, kyphosis is a daily reality, a condition that demands constant care, financial strain and deep faith.
Faith Amid the Struggle
Despite the hardships, Pastor Wanyando remains grounded in his ministry and hope. A trained social worker by profession, he now spends most of his time tending to his small church and caring for his son. His wife balances hospital visits and household duties, while their older children face their own challenges: the eldest preparing for Form Four, another in Grade Two, and the third in PP2.
“I’m not working now, but I believe God will make a way,” he says. “We just need support for treatment and care. We don’t want to lose another child to the same condition.”
A Call for Help
As the medical team recommends urgent corrective intervention, totalling over Ksh. 1.5 million, the family’s financial ability remains the biggest obstacle. Pastor Wanyando is appealing to well-wishers, friends, churches and organisations to help raise funds for his son’s treatment and surgery.
“Every little contribution will go a long way in helping my son get the medical attention he needs. We need 1.5 million for spinal cord surgery and head surgery,” he says. “We’ve come this far through faith, and I know with your support, my child can live a full and healthy life,” he adds.
The Hidden Faces of Disability
Health experts note that congenital spinal deformities are often underdiagnosed in rural and peri-urban Kenya due to limited access to early imaging and paediatric orthopaedic services. Without timely intervention, many affected children develop lifelong disabilities, yet early surgical correction can dramatically improve outcomes.
The story of the Wanyando family is more than a medical case; it is a window into the silent struggles faced by many families battling rare childhood deformities without adequate support. It is a reminder that beneath the statistics are real lives, small children fighting silent battles and parents clinging to faith in the absence of financial means.
As Pastor Wanyando looks at his son, a soft smile crosses his face, one that hides years of pain and unspoken fear.
“He is a strong child,” he says. “If only we can get him the help he needs, I believe he will live to testify of God’s goodness.”
