PRINCESS ROSE NASIMIYU: What Kenya Can learn From Her

The News Maker of the week in Kenya has to be Princess Rose Nasimiyu. She has graced every reasonable television station in the country, had radio interviews, trended in Twitter and currently has 20000+ likes in Facebook after her page was made yesterday. Rose is a cancer patient, suffering from Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a type of cancer originating from white blood cells.

Princess with her hair and without her hair

              

She was introduced to the media during a the launch of Africa Cancer Foundation by Professor Anyang' Nyong'o, the Minister for Medical Services and survivor of Prostrate Cancer. What awed the crowd was the charismatic, fluent and lively nine-year-old tale of how she learnt her ordeal last December through her mother's whimpers. Her song I Believe literally brought tears to all in the room.

                                     

Princess Rose is not your ordinary nine-year-old kid. She oozes so much hope, and the brilliance she dishes to all those struck by her eloquence changes all the perception about how we Kenyans view situations. We are a known nation that constantly whines on small situations and never realizing the predicament many are facing around us.

                    

When Jeff Koinange asks her in Capital Talk if she ever cries because of her situation, she is almost taken aback by the question. 'I can't,' she replies. 'I am a big girl now, and there are those who are way younger than me that needs a person to talk to. There are those younger, say one-year-olds, they have brain tumors, AIDs and other conditons...'

With Caroline Mutoko of Kiss 100

                               

Having completed seven out of sixteen courses of chemotherapy at St. Gertrudes Children Hospital, the princess is hopeful that she will be a model and Pediatric Oncologist when she grows up. 'But when they keep poking my beautiful skin, how can i be a model?' she poses in reference to chemo which leaves her completely exhausted. 'It takes about eight hours and after that i can vomit up to twelve times and feel better.'

In one of media houses

                                    

Because of the exorbitant amount of money needed for her treatment(a session takes up to 60000kes), Princess Rose has released a song to raise money and help her mother out. 'I told her, "I don't want to see you struggling" that's why i composed the song. It gives hope to those suffering from terminal maladies that there is always hope.'

At Jeff's Bench

                                          

Her story is that of hope, determination and refusing to give up. It shows us that God has a plan for each and every one of us, and though we may be laden with inconceivable plight, He will never forsake us. Many a times we grow uncomfortable with small and irrelevant details in our lives to appreciate how fortunate we are to live our normal lives.

                                       

As Princess Rose says, "Feed your faith and your fears will starve to death" we should truly learn how to appreciate the life we live.

You can support #RoseNasimiyu through M-PESA PayBill 551754 or buy her Skiza tune by sending SKIZA 5050006 to 811.

or

To make contributions you can M-PESA 0724 55 17 54 or contact Princess' mother on pwegesa@yahoo.com

 

You can watch Princess Rose' interview with Jeff Koinange below