Amid the sterile, fluorescent-lit hallways of Nakuru Regional Cancer Centre that have witnessed many heart-wrenching tears, prayers and embraces, stands a quiet force of compassion bearing the name Ann Njeri Muiruri.

Ann Njeri’s first encounter with the cancer centre was earlier during the year.

“Back in May, my sister-in-law was diagnosed with cervical cancer in a hospital in Naivasha. The hospital recommended her to treatment at the Nakuru Referral and Teaching Hospital which we came to immediately,” the 48-year-old shares.

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On top of the financial drain that the diagnosis would cause for their family, they all had to witness their family member in pain and have to relocate from Thika.

The mother of three shares, “What shattered me completely was seeing her in pain and especially after her cancer treatments. It immediately made me aware of how many people at the centre were going through the same immense pain that my sister-in-law was going through.”

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At this moment, Ann’s heart was filled with so much love and an insatiable hunger to help alleviate the pain of other cancer patients at the cancer center.

As if the universe was trying to affirm her decision to help, she happened to witness a needy family in distress.

“The first person I ever helped was a young lady who had a three-month old baby and a cancer diagnosed grandfather. What pulled at my heartstrings was the dilemma the young mother constantly seemed to be in,” Ann narrates.

“Apart from constantly walking around with a young baby, heavy luggage and a sick grand dad, she had no one to hold her baby for her as she accompanied her sick relative for his chemotherapy treatments.”

Soon after witnessing this heart breaking scene, she offered to hold the three-month baby.

After two to three interactions with the young mom, Ann came to learn of the family’s financial struggles and how the lady’s husband had deserted them.

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Ann notes, “It was then that I pondered on how to step in to make the situation for her and many other families like her better. I offered to drop them home and pick them up every day that the grand-dad needed chemo.”

This began the extension of Ann’s charity to other cancer patients and their families which greatly shocked not only her family but also the cancer centre’s staff.

“After the first family I helped, I couldn’t wait to help more families. Whenever I’d meet cancer patients that came from struggling families, I’d offer to drop them either at the hospital gate, in the town center or at their areas of residence if they were really badly off,” Ann highlights.

Shortly, her means of aiding the families grew from providing free transport into bringing food items or fruits for those that were in dire need and even stepping in to foot the bills for patients that couldn’t pay for a particular treatment session.

A challenge she faces is having to balance between her philanthropic efforts and being there for her family.

“My children at times feel that they have to share their mum with so many people,” she shares while laughing heartily.

When asked for advice to any aspiring humanitarian, she shares that it is important to note that there will be days that are tough but to keep reminding yourself why you started out in the first place.

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From Mtaa Wangu to Ann Njeri Muiruri and many other people that strive to make life a little more bearable for those in need, Happy Mashujaa Day!

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Shujaa: Woman who selflessly helps cancer patients at Nakuru cancer centre

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Diligence Odongo