'Candle in the wind' flickers out after illness bravery borne

By ALLY JAMAH

To his family, Vincent Asa Mutai has been a symbol of resilience, bravery and will to hold on to life.To those who worked hard and gave what they could to save his life, his demise was not in vain.

Mutai survived eight major surgeries and clung to one lung as he bravely fought for his life. He was the proverbial candle in the wind that finally flickered out last week.

Mutai’s sad, yet inspiring story attracted the attention of the nation when The Standard first featured his struggles with pulmonary tuberculosis last year.

Vincent Mutai, right, with friends in happier times. [PHOTOS: COURTESY/STANDARD]

Thanks to his steely resilience, Mutai, 29, appeared to be winning the battle. But last Monday, he passed on after losing lots of blood.

"That day, Vincent woke up in high spirits as usual, spent time with family and friends," said Anthony Kibet, his brother. But her later developed a cough and was rushed to hospital, where died later.

Vincent had been steadily recovering from the severe complications in his surviving lung after successfully undergoing treatment in Fortis Hospital in Bangalore, India late last year.

The Standard Group paid his return ticket to India in a show of support and goodwill.

One of the last entries in his personal diary shortly before he died last week read thus:

"Lord, I pray that you may hold my hand and direct me towards your will. Let me know what I ought to do now. Lord have mercy and forgive and completely heal me."

"Tragic and sudden as Vincent’s demise was, we find hope in the fact that he fought the good fight, taught many of us resilience, courage, endurance and was an instrument used by God in the short time he was with us," said his father, Andrew Kimutai.

In late July last year, Vincent’s ordeal of undergoing many major surgeries and having one lung removed was published in The Standard as he sought help to seek treatment in India.

The story attracted overwhelming support and empathy from Kenyans and more than Sh3 million was raised to help him get medical attention.

By then, his family had spent close to Sh10 million to keep their beloved son alive.

In May 2007, things were looking good for the young graduate who had just started working as a Business Analyst. At that time, he started experiencing a simple cough which seemed like a normal cold.

One day, he fell suddenly ill with endless bouts of coughing and upon being rushed to Aga Khan University Hospital, he was diagnosed with Pulmonary TB that was at an advanced stage. One lung was eventually removed, but it developed complivations and he had to seek help in India.

Before his death, Mutai had offered his energies to take up the work of advocacy against the dangers of TB.

As his family prepares for his burial tomorrow in Kericho, they hope his efforts will not be in vain.