Caroline

My name is Caroline from Kenya, I was a caregiver to my late mum, who died 4 years ago. After her demise I decided to be a cancer advocate so that I can help others and walk with them in this cancer space. I'm a councillor and a trainer on cervical cancer and HPV vaccine. I'm also a member of Kilele Health Association.
My experience with my mum's treatment was so stressful. My mum had leiomyosarcoma at first which led to the removal of her left eye, and part of her left jaw before the cancer metastisised to other parts.

She started chemotherapy and a year later she developed an infection which led her to be hospitalised every now and then. Most of the time she was in ICU because of a serious bacteria infection. The doctors kept doing blood culture to find out what drugs to give her and after some treatment we would go home.

Two years after the surgery, the place where the eye was removed developed a hole and it started oozing pus and blood... We were in and out of hospital several times, mum kept on fighting for her dear life.

I kept wondering why the doctors kept changing her antibiotics drugs. At some point the doctor called us for a family meeting and explained that as well as mum having multiple cancers, from leiomyosarcoma, to brain and lung cancer, mum had a very serious infection (sepsis) and it was not responding to medication. I was devastated. I kept praying to God to save mum but instead God took her away from me.

I have now dedicated my time to cancer advocacy and offering psychosocial support to affected people and their families.