Anna Ekali’s life has been a long road of struggle, from being abandoned as a baby to battling breast cancer today. The 79-year-old was born in Lorkhum, Turkana, in 1946.
Early Life and Childhood Hardship Anna’s mother abandoned her and her brother when Anna was only seven months old, leaving them in the care of their grandmother. Having no father and only a distant grandmother, Anna never had a stable childhood. Her guardian “hardly saw the relevance of education,” meaning Anna never went to school.
When her grandparents died, she was left without direction. At the tender age of 12, she prematurely entered a relationship, seeking stability she didn't have at home. It was during this time that she had...
Anna Ekali’s life has been a long road of struggle, from being abandoned as a baby to battling breast cancer today. The 79-year-old was born in Lorkhum, Turkana, in 1946.
Early Life and Childhood Hardship Anna’s mother abandoned her and her brother when Anna was only seven months old, leaving them in the care of their grandmother. Having no father and only a distant grandmother, Anna never had a stable childhood. Her guardian “hardly saw the relevance of education,” meaning Anna never went to school.
When her grandparents died, she was left without direction. At the tender age of 12, she prematurely entered a relationship, seeking stability she didn't have at home. It was during this time that she had her first pregnancy, which miscarried. Crucially, she received no medical check-up after the miscarriage, which led to serious health complications that caused permanent barrenness.
Journey to Kakamega and a Fateful Meeting Anna's life changed when her brother learned that their mother had remarried and was in Kakamega. Using their meager savings, the siblings traveled there in search of her, but their efforts were unsuccessful. With nowhere left to go, they were forced to join the streets of Kakamega town.
It was there that Anna met Saleh Kalabarter, who had also ended up on the streets of Kakamega after fleeing his own difficult childhood in Turkana. They quickly bonded and began living together, supporting each other. Anna emphasizes that she settled with Saleh, telling him they should stay together as they were both without family. Saleh eventually secured a job at a local butchery and used his savings to rent a house and open a small vegetable stall (kibanda) for Anna, where she sold items like tomatoes and onions.
Illness, Poverty, and Mama Ibado’s Intervention Two years into their life together, their struggles worsened. Anna's efforts to conceive were futile due to her earlier complications. Simultaneously, she began experiencing a sharp pain in her right breast, often accompanied by weakness and exhaustion. When she finally visited a clinic, she was hit with a double blow: the heartbreaking news of her permanent barrenness and the diagnosis of breast cancer.
The disease and the cost of treatment depleted their limited savings, leaving them in extreme poverty. Food became a daily scarcity, with Anna noting, "It was like if I went to the market, that's where I would eat a little, if there was any." Saleh had to quit his job to become her full-time caregiver.
Hope arrived when the Mama Ibado Charity (MIC) visited their home.
Support and Health Focus Mama Ibado intervened, providing the lifeline Anna desperately needed. The charity ensures she receives nutritional support, including a monthly package of seven essential items like milk, flour, sugar, and oil, which helped her regain strength.
Crucially, the charity provides medical support for her cancer. Anna benefits from essential dedicated health care and is taken to the clinic every Thursday for a check-up. This consistent medical attention is vital for managing her condition.
Gratitude and Need for Help Anna is profoundly grateful, viewing Mama Ibado as her only relative. "I'm happy because Mama Ibado takes good care of me... I no longer go to the market to seek public sympathy," she says.
As a 79-year-old woman battling breast cancer, who is childless and entirely reliant on charity, Anna needs continued support. Her advanced age, illness, and lack of family support make her highly vulnerable. Without the consistent food and weekly medical check-ups from MIC, she would be unable to survive or manage her life-threatening disease.
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