Imagine holding your newborn, so small and delicate, while a hidden fear takes root.
Picture watching your baby’s head swell, being told there’s nothing to worry about, only to learn it’s a serious illness.
Think about wanting to do anything to save your child, and then waking up to find those you depend on have disappeared.
This is the story of Peter Kabete, a father we met during our weekly neurology clinic every Thursday at BethanyKids Kenya, Kijabe.
Peter tenderly held his baby girl, his eyes burdened with a sorrow that seemed unbearable.
His daughter, Angel Nanjala, now nearly two, was born prematurely and spent her first month in the hospital.
Before they went home, Peter noticed swelling on her head. He brought it up, but the nurse dismissed his concerns.
However, his instincts were correct.
At Angel’s first check-up, doctors diagnosed her with hydrocephalus and tuberculosis.
They treated the TB, but they sent them to BethanyKids for surgery to address the hydrocephalus, which the first facility couldn’t manage.
By the time Peter and his wife could afford the journey to Kijabe, Angel’s head had grown significantly. Panic and fear consumed them.
Finances were a constant struggle.
They scraped together enough for the initial ETV surgery, but Angel needed more. She required hospitalization.
Her nutrition was precarious.
The costs escalated rapidly. Peter begged his employer for help. He fought with the determination of a father.
With support from BethanyKids and our partners, the surgery was performed, and Angel began to recover.
Just as hope emerged, tragedy struck again. Peter’s wife, unable to cope with Angel’s condition, left.
She just vanished, leaving only a message saying she couldn’t bear it anymore.
Peter faced it all alone. He had no parents to lean on, and his two sisters offered no support after learning of Angel’s condition, so Peter embarked on this journey, stepping into the roles of both father and mother.
He quit his job to dedicate himself entirely to Angel’s care. It was a tremendous sacrifice, made without a second thought.
They still needed to eat, Angel still required daily attention, rent was due, medical appointments continued, and putting food on the table felt like a constant struggle.
Yet somehow, he carried it all. Despite tears, hunger, and moments of doubt, they persevered.
Today, Angel is thriving, full of life and a smile that melts your heart.
Though she can’t walk yet, Peter holds onto the hope that with the right care, she will not only walk but run towards a future filled with possibilities.
He dreams of her going to school, learning, growing strong, and becoming independent.
“I just pray that one day she’ll be able to stand on her own two feet—not just physically, but in life,” Peter says.
“And maybe then, I’ll also be able to find a job and give her the future she deserves.”
Peter consistently brings her to appointments in Kijabe, never missing a visit, never giving up.
He is her anchor, her caregiver, her protector, her everything.
