By Thabisani Dube
Mutawatawa District Hospital, located in Mashonaland East Province, is home to a heartbreaking story of resilience and hope. Shekina Mususo, a one-year-seven-month-old girl, has spent her entire life in hospital battling severe congenital health conditions and her mother, Patience Kachidza, is appealing for urgent assistance to bring her daughter home.
Shekina was diagnosed with a chronic heart condition at just six weeks old, with missing heart valves that required repair within the first three months of life. Unfortunately, the surgery could not be performed, and her condition has worsened over time. Shekina also suffers from a vaginal fistula, which prevents her from using her anus for bowel movements, further complicating her fragile health.
Despite efforts by medical teams, including specialists from Italy, Shekina’s conditions remain untreated due to the risks posed by her heart defects. She is oxygen-dependent, relying on hospital equipment to survive. Her mother, Patience, has been by her side for over a year, unable to return home to care for her other children.
The hospital is willing to provide an oxygen concentrator to allow Shekina to be discharged, but the family cannot afford the solar panels needed to power the equipment at home. Without this support, Shekina remains confined to the hospital, separated from her siblings and unable to experience life outside its walls.
Shekina’s mother, Patience, shared her plea:
“My child has been through so much. She needs solar panels at home to power her oxygen concentrator so she can finally leave the hospital”.
She added: “I have been in hospital for over a year with my daughter. She needs soft food and constant oxygen. I am asking for help to get solar panels so she can come home. It has been so long since I saw my other children.”
This is a call to action for anyone who can assist. Donations towards solar panels and other essential supplies could transform Shekina’s life, allowing her to leave the hospital and reunite with her family.
For those willing to help, may contact Patience Kachidza at 0774039810. As any support will make a difference in giving Shekina a chance to experience life beyond hospital walls.
