UPDATE 25th April 2021:
Rachel’s Surgery a success at Coptic Private Hospital in Nairobi on April 24th, 2021.
Led by our expert Paediatric Surgeons Dr. Andrews and Dr. Mwika, *Rachel had her major reconstruction surgery on April 24th at 7am. She is recovering extremely well and is with her mother at our partner and preferred Hospital. The Surgery was extensive and lasted just under 4 hours, and we are extremely pleased to announce that there were no major surgical complications, and no Colostomy bag needed to be attached.
The toddler is recovering very well and is claiming to be almost completely pain free. *Rachel and will progress to a full soup diet in the coming days and is already active and socialising. The child, her mother and her extended family are incredibly grateful to everyone who has provided them with support, particularly during this intense period and long admission.
COVID 19 meant that the Dr. Dan the lead surgeon from Canada could not perform this procedure with our Nairobi team in April 2020 as planned. The decision was made by our CEO and the Surgeons to proceed with the operation to ensure a better chance of success and optimum recovery in such a young patient. The case was posted on our website in 2019 and you can read about it below, however we do warn the details are extremely graphic and disturbing.
After one of the most vicious assaults we have ever encountered in our 7+ years, and after extensive delays due to COVID, we are extremely happy to share this wonderful news with you all.
Rachel will be able to commence preschool this coming June 2021, and live a normal life thanks to our incredible donors and CSR partners.
Regards,
Genevieve de la Reux, Michael Maina and the team at the GBV Trust.
Rachel was violently raped five months ago on her second birthday. She has had four surgeries to date, and still had multiple internal injuries that need to be surgically repaired.
She was raped and sodomised so badly, she was transported by MSF ambulance when discovered, and placed in ICU in a Private clinic / small hospital in Nairobi.
Police OB number : 67/2/2/2019 BURU BURU, Nairobi
Rachel was raped vaginally and anally – and the degree in which she was sodomised, resulted in coma, touching death and four surgeries. She lived for two months with colonoscopy bag as her intestines, rectum and pelvic region were so destroyed they were deemed completely unfunctional, and her bodily fluids were redirected to an external bag in hope her internal injuries could heal.
Rachel’s mother was in grave danger due to knowing the rapist, and fled her area. She was unable to care for the child or deal with her trauma, and sent her two year old out of Nairobi County.
Rachel came into my care and protection just over 1 month ago, and still has severe post rape injuries due to botched surgical care and zero post rape care and follow up. I had to find her, and I’m glad I did.
She presently has a bowel that is non functional despite care that should have resolved this, and the surgeon decided to let all bodily functions to just divert to her vagina. She has at least one known Fistula needing urgent repair, and possibly more that we were unable to examine without general anaesthetic.
She is leaking from everywhere due to her Fistula and smells awful. She has no control over her body due to her savage rape and sodomy.
SHE IS TWO AND A HALF YEARS OLD.
I cannot show the complete and close up details images of Rachel’s injuries, but I will show you her colonoscopy scar from the most savage assault I have ever come across. And I mean it. This is as bad as I have seen. EVER.
This is as bad as it gets in my world. It even brings someone as seasoned as me in the field of baby rape to absolute tears.
Her Examinations Under Anaesthetic ( EUA) are next week, and will cost $2,400-$2,700 USD at Gertrudes Children’s Hospital, Muthaiga. Her surgical team and Paediatricians are at MP Shah and have been looking after Rachel, and will perform her EUA and Surgery at Gertrudes Childrens’ hospital.
Rachel needs to be put under General Anaesthetic so that we can porperly assess her repairs. Her surgeon needs to put her under, and perform the following:
- Trotoscopy
2. Sigmoidoscopy
3. Cyctoscopy
Time under anaesthesia is costly, and we need a thorough Exam to best plan her repairs and FINAL surgery.
Her surgery and admissions costs will range from $5,500 USD up to $9,000 USD as her rectum may need to be diverted to a colonoscopy bag (again), while she has a long hospital stay, and then this procedure reversed.
Please help make this Rachel’s FINAL SURGERY.
She is not even 2 1/2 years old and deserves to have normal bodily functions at the very least.
Two expert surgeons, one from Canada will perform her FINAL reconstruction surgery in February 2020. The estimated cost is $13,000 – 16,000 USD