Didan Opiyo (in crutches) posing a photo with colleague after work in Migori//Photo Courtesy
Born charming as the fifth in a family of one girl and five boys, Didan Opiyo June, could not tell that his tomorrow would be of great pain and suffering, and later be a doctor. His mother Mary Akinyi and father Ezekiel June can bear witness that indeed a prince was born. If his father could have known author Margaret Ogolla with her book, the River and the Source, he would have said, ‘ another rock for my sling.’ For indeed Didan Opiyo was that rock.
Hailing from Suna East Constituency in Migori County, Didan started his search for knowledge at Wi Kodongo primary school back in 2002. His life was successful and blossoming until when he was in class seven when things fell apart. His life took a different dimension.
Didan fell sick. His bones were aching. Disability knocked his door and his promising journey turned dull, with his hopes subdued prematurely.
“It had a sudden onset when I was in class seven then after being put under some medication it faded away, then recurred when I got to form one,” narrated Didan.
His parents sought for medication and this made him miss his certificate of primary education. He was later transferred to Angaga primary school where he sat for his KCPE and passed with flying colours and got a calling letter to Migori Boys High School.
However, due to financial difficulties, his parents could not water his dreams to flowering. They in turn requested for a chance at Osingo Mixed Secondary School where he eventually got admitted. Unfortunately, the dream killer was not gone. The bone disease could not give him peace. It reappeared and this time, it seemed serious.
“…because of financial constrains, my parents could not afford taking me to that school (Migori Boys) but instead requested a chance at Osingo Mixed Secondary School where I got admitted in 2015. Second term into that school, I could not walk due to pain in my left thighs,” he said painfully.
Teachers and students were touched by this incident and stretched their hands for help. They contributed towards his medication. Didan was admitted to the hospital for months and a surgery was done on his knee and returned to school for the third term.
” My class teacher and my classmates contributed some amount for my treatment. I stayed in the hospital for almost two months after sequestrectomy was done on my affected bone. I came back home and returned to school for the third term.”
Thereafter, the 26 year old Didan continued with his studies at the school until 2018 when he did his KCSE. However, the disease did not leave tormenting him. It kept him his antagonist and made him a friend to the hospital, on and off.
Turn of Events
Being an ally to the hospital, Didan’s story changed. A motivation was building up his skull. He changed his perception about his disability. He visioned his suffering into a blessing, and eventually table turned.
While doctors and medical practitioners were busy finding solutions for his disease, he was busy falling in love with the job. He desired to be part of the team, despite not knowing if he would get hold of the beast or not. But he kept his prayers inside, raving with his mind that one day, he would turn around and take his oppressor- the bone disease, by its horns, and treat people who are going through what he has passed through.
” I fell in love with how medical practitioners serve humanity. I kept praying for the same. I needed one day to work in an hospital set-up. I needed not only work but to bring smiles, joy to the sick and moreso with bone- related problems, and getting back to their normal mobility was all I longed for,” he asserted.
Having been treated and hope lit again by the doctors, Didan did not bury his dreams in a way land. Once he got hold of himself, he rose to fight the bone- related disease, something that has been tormenting his life, leaving him with scars of disability. This disease has left him in crutches since one of his legs is short. He resolved to look for a medical school in his plight to fight this savage.
Due to his condition, one college rejected his bid to further his studies. His hopes that seemed rejuvenated were again being dimmed. He took some time and came up with reverberating thoughts. After staying home for almost a year making bricks, he applied for a course in orthopaedics and trauma. Fortunately, through resilience, he got admitted to KMTC- Mbooni Campus in Makueni.
“My ambition and desire made me drop a letter to a certain TVET where I was to go and understand a course in fisheries and aquatic science. In 2019 I went to that college with my parents but I got rejected. We came back home, stayed for a year trying to figure out how I can follow my heart. During my stay at home, I started making bricks and got some cash from it. I silently went and applied a course on orthopaedics and trauma in a Kenyan college, and by God’s grace, I later got the letter,” Didan said happily.
Dream Comes True
Now as an orthopaedics and trauma officer in Migori County Referral Hospital, Didan remembers how it was tough for him as a disabled doctor to render his services to his patients since others could not come in terms with his condition. Most of his patients did not see his abilities but rather were clouded by his disability. They did not believe that he is capable of helping them. But later, patients would realise that indeed there was hidden abilities in his disability.
Having worked as a volunteer health provider at Ombo Mission Hospital in Migori County, Didan is grateful of his achievements of making his dream come to light and finally accomplishing his mission of putting smiles and giving hopes to people who have been terrified by bone related diseases.
” Having gone through what most of my patients go through, gives them a lot of hope of life after all the ill-health and this makes them always motivated,” Didan concluded.
