<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img src="/nairobi/PublishingImages/scoliosis%20Body.jpg" alt="" style="margin: 5px;"/></span> </p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><em><strong>Purity Mwende at Aga Khan University Hospital two monthat after she successfuly underwent surgery to correct her spine</strong></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At just 23, Purity Mwende stands tall with a radiant smile - a smile made brighter by the fact that, only months ago, severe scoliosis threatened to steal her confidence, her health, and her future. Today, she stands tall literally and figuratively after a transformative spine surgery at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, that changed the course of her life.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Purity was born in 2001 in Kibwezi Sub-county, Makueni County. She remembers a happy, active childhood. She could walk for long distances to fetch water, play with friends for hours, and help with chores without difficulty. “I was just like any other child,&quot; she recalls. But in 2012, something unusual began to happen, her left shoulder blade started popping out. At first, she dismissed it, thinking it was just from working too hard.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It was the start of adolescence, a time when appearance matters more than most adults ever remember. Soon, other children noticed and commented. The stares, whispers, and occasional cruel remarks made her increasingly self-conscious. She began to bend slightly forward to hide the protrusion, developing habits that would later make her posture worse.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">By 2018, while in campus, the discomfort had turned to searing pain. One day, while doing laundry, a sharp, unbearable pain shot through her left side. At the campus medical centre, the doctor suspected scoliosis - an abnormal curvature of the spine but sent her to an orthopedic clinic for confirmation. The X-ray showed a spinal curve of 28 degrees and the doctor recommended she undergoes bracing to prevent the curve from progressing. But there was another problem, the bracing cost of Ksh25,000 was far beyond what her parents, both teachers, could afford.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It wasn&#39;t just the finances that hurt; it was the moments in between. She remembers going to take a passport photo and the photographer insisting she “stand straight.&quot; No matter how hard she tried, she couldn&#39;t. The misunderstanding stung. So did the glances from strangers and the teasing from peers.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Purity worked through student leadership roles to save for treatment but by the time she could afford it, her curve had worsened by 20 degrees, now at 48 degrees. In 2020, an orthopaedic doctor, seeing her dedication, offered free adjustments for her brace and even free physiotherapy. But despite all the effort, the brace could not reverse the damage. By 2023, the curve was still 48 degrees, and surgery was her only option.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The news was daunting. Spinal surgery is no small matter, and Purity feared the risks. She also doubted whether it could be done safely in Kenya. She began exploring ways to raise money for treatment abroad.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Then fate stepped in. One day, while at a restaurant in Nairobi&#39;s CBD, Purity crossed paths with one Dr. Sandra, an orthopaedic surgeon. Dr. Sandra noticed her back and struck-up a conversation. When Purity shared her fears, Dr. Sarah reassured her: “You can have this surgery done right here in Kenya. And you can have a normal life afterwards.&quot; She then connected Purity with her colleague, Dr. Fazal a spine surgeon at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Encouraged, Purity booked an appointment. When she finally sat across from Dr. Fazal, she immediately felt at ease. “He was polite, kind, and really listened,&quot; she recalls. After thorough examinations, he confirmed what she already knew, surgery was the only way forward. The cost, however, was another hurdle about Ksh 3 million.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When Purity explained her financial reality, Dr. Fazal referred her to the hospital&#39;s Patient Welfare Program. After an assessment by the Welfare team, she qualified for treatment support financed by the program.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It was more than just financial relief, it was hope. In July 2025, Purity underwent her surgery. Her spine, which had once curved at 48 degrees, was straightened. The procedure was successful, and within two weeks, she could walk without much support. The pain that had shadowed her for years was almost entirely gone. Seeing herself in the mirror post-surgery was surreal. “I could hardly believe it was me,&quot; she says. “I felt free.&quot;</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Purity is deeply grateful not only for the skill of Dr. Fazal and Dr. Sarah but for the compassion of everyone she encountered at Aga Khan University Hospital. She describes the care, cleanliness, and professionalism as unmatched by any hospital she&#39;s been to. Today, Purity dreams of giving back. “This surgery didn&#39;t just fix my back, it gave me my life back. The care, the kindness, the hygiene, the professionalism… I&#39;ve never experienced anything like it. If I ever have the chance, I will give back so that other patients can receive the same gift I did.&quot;</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Her journey is a reminder that healing is rarely just about medicine. It&#39;s about people those who notice, who care, who connect you to the right hands at the right time. It&#39;s about resilience in the face of pain, and the courage to believe in a better tomorrow. And for Purity, that tomorrow has already begun.\</span></p>