Baringo Woman Recovers After 15-Year Medical Ordeal Following Life-Saving Diagnosis at Tophill Hospital

 After suffering from severe headaches, fainting spells, paralysis, and debilitating illness for more than 15 years, a Baringo woman has finally regained her health following a life-saving diagnosis and treatment at Tophill Hospital in Eldoret.

Vicky Maiyo, a resident of Eldama Ravine, had battled an undiagnosed condition since 2008, enduring years of pain and repeated hospital visits without answers. According to her husband, Benjamin Kibet Birech, the family sought help from numerous hospitals across Baringo, Nakuru, and Uasin Gishu counties, but no conclusive diagnosis was ever made.

Benjamin recalls years of desperate moments:
“She had severe headaches, she could not eat, sometimes she fainted for an hour and we struggled to wake her. Her head felt like it was burning. We visited many hospitals and were told it was blood problems. Others said it was sinusitis. But her condition kept getting worse,” he narrated.

The family sought help at Mogotio, Nakuru, and was eventually referred to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret, where several tests were done, including CT scans. However, no definitive cause for her deteriorating health was found. Vicky’s condition worsened—she could neither walk nor feed herself.

Breakthrough Diagnosis at Tophill Hospital

With Vicky’s health deteriorating rapidly, she was referred to Tophill Hospital, where a team led by Consultant Neurosurgeon and CEO Dr. Florentius Koech conducted an MRI scan that finally revealed the root of her suffering: a brain tuberculoma — a rare form of tuberculosis affecting the brain.

Dr. Koech described the case as a "diagnostic enigma" that had eluded several health facilities for years.

“Vicky had really suffered. She had been to Eldama Ravine, Nakuru, and had been admitted multiple times at MTRH. But her condition continued to deteriorate. When she came to us, she had severe headaches, seizures, and partial paralysis. Her family support system was also overwhelmed,” Dr. Koech explained.

He said advanced testing at Tophill uncovered a lesion in the brain consistent with tuberculoma. “We conducted a series of tests which showed it was an infective process, most likely tuberculosis—almost 80 percent probability. We immediately started treatment for brain tuberculoma.”

A Remarkable Recovery

After just two days of treatment at Tophill Hospital, Vicky began eating again. Within seven days, she was walking and completely pain-free. She was discharged and given a one-year TB treatment regimen, which she successfully completed.

Today, Vicky is fully recovered.

“I can now walk, eat, and sleep well. Before treatment, I could not stand or wake up by myself. My head felt like it was on fire. Many people had lost hope and said I would die,” she said, thanking Dr. Koech and the medical team for saving her life.

A Hospital That Put Compassion First

Benjamin praised Tophill Hospital for prioritizing patient welfare over money.

“At Tophill, they don’t put money first. We were admitted even though we had no money left after paying for the MRI. The doctors understood our situation. Other hospitals could not diagnose the problem, but Tophill did. They saved my wife’s life,” he said.

Community Gratitude and Medical Excellence

Dr. Koech commended Vicky for her resilience and urged communities to seek medical help early for severe or persistent symptoms. He said brain tuberculoma is treatable when detected in time.

Vicky’s recovery has been celebrated in her home area, where many had feared she would not survive after suffering for nearly two decades.

The family now looks forward to rebuilding their lives, grateful for the medical expertise and compassionate care that finally brought an end to a long and painful journey.