Elizabeth Muthoni, a single mother from Machakos, Kenya, is urgently seeking financial assistance to fund a second brain surgery for her 16-year-old son Lewis Kiama Muthoni. Lewis, a Form 3 student, developed two brain tumours while in Form 2, and though one was successfully removed, the second is still growing and causing him severe pain. The family has already raised KSh 280,000 for the first operation through fundraisers and family support.
Lewis first showed alarming symptoms in 2025 when he began experiencing persistent headaches and progressive vision loss in both eyes. The crisis came to a head when Lewis collapsed at a local market on their way home from a pharmacy visit. He vomited blood and went into convulsions, prompting Elizabeth to rush him to Kangundo Hospital. Medical tests, including an MRI scan, confirmed that Lewis had two brain tumours, one significantly larger than the other.
The family borrowed money and managed to raise KSh 280,000, enough to fund surgery that removed the larger tumour. Lewis was placed in the ICU afterwards and showed some improvement, but the relief was short-lived. The second tumour is still growing and occupying increasing space in his brain, and doctors say there is no alternative to a further operation.
The remaining tumour requires specialised equipment from Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), specifically a machine used to burn growing cancerous cells, which must be hired at significant cost. The SHA scheme currently covers only the bed charges, leaving the family to source the KSh 300,000 surgical bill on their own. Lewis continues to suffer from recurring convulsions, severe and constant headaches, and deteriorating eyesight.
Lewis's condition has made it impossible for him to attend school, and his blood pressure has at times dropped as low as 40. Painkillers offer only brief relief. Elizabeth says the community response has been heartfelt but limited. Fundraisers and a dedicated WhatsApp group have helped, though it is largely the same circle of family members and village neighbours contributing each time.
A media foundation visited the family, and a Safaricom Foundation contribution covered SHA costs, but the bulk of the surgical fee remains unmet. Elizabeth Muthoni, who is unemployed and also caring for an ailing mother, says her only anchor is faith. She is praying for her child's recovery, adding that she is raising her two children entirely alone.
Doctors have not given a hard deadline, but have made clear that the sooner the second tumour is removed, the better Lewis's chances of recovery. Elizabeth has appealed for help to obtain the necessary funds, and the community is rallying behind her. With no income and rent arrears mounting, Elizabeth's situation is becoming increasingly desperate.
Key points
- The family needs KSh 300,000 for the second brain surgery.
- Lewis's condition is deteriorating, and he is in constant pain.
- The community is rallying behind Elizabeth to help raise the necessary funds.
