For nine-year-old Eugene Kimuthu Wambui, a student at Ichagaki Primary School in Murang’a County, the day appeared normal, filled with laughter, learning, and play. As part of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), his morning was packed with engaging activities such as singing and knitting. However, what began as a joyful break time turned into a life-threatening ordeal. During recess, Eugene joined many of his schoolmates in plucking ripe plums from fruit trees planted within the school compound—an initiative aimed at boosting students’ nutrition. With excitement, he climbed up a tree, carefully selecting the juiciest plums and tucking them into his backpack. Soon, he was back on the ground, eager to share his harvest with friends. Laughter filled the air as the children enjoyed the fruits—until tragedy struck. In an unfortunate turn of events, Eugene accidentally swallowed a plum seed. What followed was an unrelenting series of chest pains and persistent coughing.
Unbeknown to his family, the seed had lodged itself in his lung, leading to months of discomfort and worsening health. It was not until seven months later that he was brought to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), where a team of specialists successfully removed the seed through a bronchoscopy procedure—without surgery. Newsline spoke to Eugene’s mother, Ms. Judy Wambui Kimotho, who shared her harrowing experience. “My son had been struggling with a persistent cough since June 2024, so I resorted to buying over the-counter cough syrups,” she explained. “Since I do menial jobs in Machakos County, I left him under his grandmother’s care while I worked to provide for him.” Initially, the cough syrups seemed to provide temporary relief. Eugene confided in his grandmother that he had swallowed a fruit seed, but she believed it would pass naturally. In an attempt to help, she gave him hot ugali, thinking it would push the seed through his digestive system. Unfortunately, the discomfort only worsened.
By January 2025, Eugene’s condition had deteriorated significantly, forcing Ms. Kimotho to rush back home. Desperate for answers, she took him to a local dispensary, where lab tests were conducted. However, results failed to reveal any infections. Despite taking pain medication and additional cough syrups, Eugene’s suffering persisted. “My child would vomit everything he ate for days. He cried through the nights, writhing in severe pain, his ribs aching intensely,” Ms. Kimotho recalled tearfully. Realizing the severity of the situation, she rushed him to Maragwa District Hospital on February 7, 2025. A chest X-ray revealed an alarming accumulation of fluid around his lungs, prompting an urgent referral to KNH. Upon arrival, Eugene was placed under observation and given oxygen to stabilise his breathing. Further tests, including a CT scan, pinpointed the underlying cause: a fruit seed trapped in his left lung. A multidisciplinary team at KNH, led by the Head of the Department of Medicine, Dr. Wanjiku Kagima, alongside consultant pulmonologist Dr. Andrew Owuor and respiratory nurse Ms. Joan Kagema, swiftly intervened. Utilizing a flexible bronchoscope and transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC)—a procedure that employs a cryoprobe to remove foreign bodies from the lungs— the team meticulously extracted the lodged seed. The procedure took less than an hour and was a success, allowing Eugene to breathe easily again.
Speaking to Newsline, Dr. Kagima said, “We were
able to save Eugene’s delicate lungs by employing the cryobiopsy technique. His
lungs are now clear.” However, she cautioned that due to prolonged use of
over-the-counter medication, Eugene had developed pneumonia. He was immediately
admitted to Ward 4B Critical Care Unit, where he received treatment for
pneumonia and other infections caused by the foreign object. Ms. Emily Onyuro,
the Nursing Team Leader of Ward 4B, confirmed Eugene’s stable condition. “He
was placed under our care immediately after the bronchoscopy. For three days,
he received antibiotics, chest physiotherapy, pain relievers, and cough
medication,” she said. Following the treatment, a final chest X-ray confirmed
his full recovery. Eugene has since resumed school, with dreams of becoming a
driver in the future. Dr. Kagima urged parents to seek immediate medical
attention whenever a child swallows a foreign object. “Unorthodox home remedies
can do more harm than good. Parents should take their children to a medical
facility for timely intervention,” she advised. “Additionally, prolonged use of
over-the-counter medication—especially cough syrups—can put unnecessary strain
on a child’s lungs.” As Ms. Kimotho returns to Murang’a County, she carries
immense gratitude in her heart. “People may sometimes criticize this great
institution, but that’s because they don’t fully understand its expertise. As I
go back to the village, I will be your number one crusader because you saved my
son’s life without discrimination. In your hands, my child was safe,” she
concluded, overwhelmed with relief.