Facebook fundraising: Kevin returns

Ms Josephine Nakiberu with her three-year-old son Kevin Kasumba

What you need to know:

After fundraising which involved using social media platforms like Facebook, over Shs47m was raised enabling the boy to travel for his operation on June 25.

Kampala- “To think that I can now see my boy smiling and very healthy gives me much joy. I had been told he would not grow let alone live for long.”
Those were the words of Ms Josephine Nakiberu, the mother of three-year-old Kevin Kasumba who got a successful heart operation at the Manipal Hospital in India. They returned to the country on Tuesday.

The happy mother explained that she was grateful to God for her son’s good health.

Kasumba who has gained some weight, underwent a gruelling nine hour operation to correct his heart ailment.

The toddler will however undergo another operation in six months’ time after doctors in India discovered another medical condition that needs attention too.
“The doctors discovered that Kevin had a narrow throat that was not fit for his age. However, since he has just undergone the heart operation, they decided to postpone the second operation to six months from now,” Ms Nakiberu added.

On June 16, Kasumba got ill and was bedridden at Mulago hospital where his mother was informed that he had a hole in his heart. He was born without a pulmonary artery, a crucial part for the proper functioning of one’s heart.

After fundraising which involved using social media platforms like Facebook, over Shs47m was raised enabling the boy to travel for his operation on June 25.

Ms Joan Mugenzi, who headed fundraising drive, was excited that Kasumba is recovering.

“We began the fundraising with only Shs10,000 in June. We picked every shilling we could get. Daily Monitor’s Chris Obore was very helpful, in getting us more connections and money,” Ms Mugenzi said.

VOTE OF THANKS

Speaking to the Daily Monitor, The mother of the child, Ms Josephine Nakiberu, extended her gratitude to individuals and organisations that came to her son’s help.

She thanked members of staff of Bank of Uganda, Uganda Revenue Authority, World Vision, the Inspectorate of Governmnet, Lohana community of Kampala, Sanjay Tanna (MP Tororo Municipality), New Clans Group, Global Treatment Services Group, Premier Dairies, Spear Motors, The Daily Monitor’s Chris Obore, Mama Tendo foundation, Charles Mbiire, Ben Kavuye, Secretary to the Treasury Keith Muhakanizi, Mable Birungu Lutalo, Albert Muganga, Joan Mugenzi, Bright Assimwe, Lions Group of Masaka, Hussein Kashilingi, and the entire media fraternity.