Choosing Hope: Naomie’s Journey Through Rheumatoid Arthritis

Naomie’s battle with rheumatoid arthritis began in 1997 at the age of 19. A student at Utalii College in Nairobi, she first noticed a burning pain in her right knee, hand, and elbows. Mornings became a struggle as she fought to stand, and persistent fevers and shivering followed her into the classroom. Initially, the pain came and went, but soon, it settled in as an uninvited lifelong companion.

Her visits to the school infirmary became more frequent. The nurse, recognizing the severity of her symptoms, recommended an external medical test. The results confirmed rheumatoid arthritis—a term unfamiliar to Naomie at the time. When she called her parents in Mombasa, her mother, a nurse, immediately grasped the gravity of the diagnosis. She became Naomie’s strongest pillar of support, guiding her through the complexities of managing her condition.

After graduating, Naomie began working in hotel housekeeping in Mombasa. She pushed through the pain, but within months, her struggle became apparent. HR took notice of her slow movements and limp, summoning her for a discussion. Fearing for her job, she concealed her diagnosis, instead blaming an accident. HR asked her to get the necessary treatment. But as her health declined, she was forced to seek further medical evaluation—an action that would change her life’s trajectory.

Naomie’s mother was her anchor, knowing exactly what medications, massages, and treatments would ease her pain. But in 2003, her mother passed away, leaving Naomie heartbroken and uncertain about her future. Suddenly, she faced a household with only her father and two brothers, struggling to navigate a world where her biggest source of comfort was gone.

As her condition worsened, doctors advised knee replacement surgery at Kikuyu Mission Hospital. A fundraiser helped make it possible, but complications led to an extended hospital stay at Kenyatta National Hospital. The immediate need for physiotherapy was unavailable to her, making her recovery incomplete.

Several months later, she returned to Mombasa, where she began physiotherapy. But two years later, she found herself unable to walk to her sessions. Without family support for home physiotherapy, her progress stalled. It was a childhood friend, Habiba, who stepped in, sponsoring two months of sessions—an act of kindness that rekindled Naomie’s hope.

New X-rays revealed worsening joint damage, leading to the need for a hip replacement. On speaking with her family, some members of the family did not welcome the idea grounded on the fact that her knee surgery seemed to bring about more complications as the knee could not bend. The reality was, that the knee surgery was okay, it was the lack of physiotherapy that caused a decline in her progress. Meanwhile, her fingers and toes became deformed, making every movement excruciating.

Between 2021 and 2022, she raised Ksh. 500,000 through the help of some family and friends and underwent a hip replacement in Nairobi in 2023. However financial struggles meant she couldn’t continue physiotherapy until June 2024, forcing her to start from scratch once again.

Naomie urges caregivers to show love and understanding, emphasizing that neglect is often more painful than the condition itself. She stresses the importance of early diagnosis and proper treatment, wishing she had received specialized rheumatoid arthritis medication earlier instead of years of painkillers.

Through it all, she remains grateful for her support system:

Groups of Autoimmune Warriors

Thrive Community

The Mombasa Arthritis Trust

Autoimmune Warriors group

KIHBT Alumni

Her family

Brothers Patrick and Winston

Mama Norah

Cousins - Simon, Susan, Nicodemus, Kijala, Eddah, Janet M

Aunty Grace

Her physiotherapists in Mombasa and Nairobi 

Counseling therapist (Dorcas)

Naomie's friends group

Ribe girls alumni

Utalii College HL-96

Help Naomie Walk WhatsApp Group 

Buxton estate tenants group 

Some long-time friends and supporters namely

Lydia M, and her dad: Donald M

Frida C

Violet K

Ruth W

Jane M 

Nicholas M 

Tracey K

Anne M

Anne K 

Violet K.

Levi

Verona G

Though some have come and gone, many have stayed. Naomie cherishes them all and is ever grateful for their continual support.