29/09/2025
A Mother's Fight: The Miracle Journey of Triplets Thelma, Amanda, and Juliana
The journey of my triplets, The Ima, Amanda, and Juliana, began with a terrifying rush. On January 18, 2015, severe abdominal pains forced me to see my Gynecologist, Dr. Otieno Akula
A scan revealed a rupture, and the doctor immediately recommended admission.
I was only 27 weeks pregnant , and the news that followed was devastating: my life was in danger, and the babies had to be delivered prematurely to save me. Despite my fear that their survival would be minimal, my husband and I agreed, pleading with the medical team to try and save all of us.
Born at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga
On January 24, at 6:30 a.m., I delivered three beautiful, tiny babies via a cesarean section at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) in Kisumu. Their birth weights were critically low:
0.945 kg, 0.989 kg, and 0.849 kg. After the operation, I blacked out, regaining consciousness nine hours later.
Seeing them in the nursery was a shock; their bodies were so tiny and scary. They were fully formed, except for hair, but I struggled with denial. Thankfully, the hospital staff and my husband assured me they would survive.
A week later, the triplets lost more weight, dropping to about 0.7 kilograms. Doctors introduced them to
FM Fortifier milk, a supplement mixed with the small amount of breast milk I could express. They were fed through nasal tubes, a schedule made even more hectic by the rule that only my husband and I could be in the nursery. Sleep was non-existent as I constantly fed and cared for them.
The dedication of the medical staff and the presence of students from universities and medical colleges were a huge help. There was always someone in the room to remind the babies to breathe, as they would occasionally forget and turn blue, necessitating a rush to the oxygen. At one point, all three were on oxygen. Exhausted and overwhelmed, I considered running away, but the nurses and the support of my mother and mother-in-law kept me committed.
A Glimmer of Hope and the Kangaroo Room
A month after birth, the babies began to gain weight in small grams, but I could finally "see life in them". Once they attained one kilogram, they were moved to the next room, with two of them waiting for the third to reach the milestone.
After two months, they reached 1.6 kilograms and were transferred to the Kangaroo room. This stage proved vital; lying down and placing the babies on my chest to feel the warmth helped them add weight remarkably well. Since there were three, I rotated them on my chest.
It was at the two-month mark that we finally had the courage to name them, having held back due to the constant fear of losing them. Their names are a testament to the heroes of their birth:
Amanda Akula is named after Dr. Akula, the gynecologist who performed the C-section.
jeanine Juliana is named after Dr. Juliana Otieno, the then Medical Superintendent of JOOTRH, for her pivotal role and continued advice .Thelma Robinah is named after the lead nurse who resuscitated her when she was "almost slipping through our hands".
I was discharged in April, after three and a half months in the hospital. By then, they weigh 1.9 kg, 2.0 kg, and 2.2 kg.
The Heart Condition and a Good Samaritan
Life at home was a challenge. We kept them covered and warm with the lights on constantly, which strained our finances after closing my business for months. Identifying them was so difficult that we pierced their ears and gave them different colored earrings. Their father had taken compulsory leave to help manage the delicate care, which included rushing them to the hospital day or night at the slightest sign of choking. The financial burden was heavy, compounded by the cost of two house helps and medication, where misidentification was still a risk.
Despite the challenges, these miracle triplets strengthened our family bond and faith. However, difficulties with feeding—accompanied by sweating—and persistent breathing issues prompted us to seek a consultation with Dr. Misore
An echo scan at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) confirmed our worst fear: the triplets had patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA), commonly known as a hole in the heart. This condition was causing their dangerous weight loss and breathing difficulty. A second opinion in December 2015 confirmed the diagnosis. By January 2016, their weight had dropped drastically to under 6 kilograms.
After fruitless appeals to various organizations for the life-saving open heart surgery, we were almost giving up. Then, in February, a good Samaritan saw their story in the Standard newspaper and came to our rescue.
The Nairobi Hospital, through a team of doctors, performed the surgeries for all three, absolutely free of charge.
The triplets healed faster than expected, and since the successful operations, they have never suffered from a heart-related illness. Today, the girls are
10 years old and weigh around 40kgs each. The surgical scars are a constant reminder of how far they have come.
The Ongoing Appeal
Caring for three pre-term babies, who require triple the resources for everything from clothing to education, completely depleted our finances. We have had to rely on well-wishers and our daily hustles. Providing for their basic needs, including the nutritional supplements they needed as pre-term babies, remains a struggle.
My prayer is that the government and well-wishers will put in place measures to cushion parents facing similar predicaments. A sponsorship for my girls' education would be a deeply appreciated blessing.
The girls are a living testimony to the fact that when government institutions like JOOTRH are well-equipped and managed, proper healthcare provision can be realized.
I extend my deepest appreciation to Dr. Juliana Otieno, Dr. Misore, the JOOTRH fraternity, and above all, The Almighty God, for the special care and healing upon my girls
