A Valentine’s Day birthday celebration turned into an unending nightmare for a Mombasa family after Rose Mwende Mala, 32, collapsed into a deep sleep during the party and never woke up to her former self.
Nine months since that February night, Rose remains bedridden at home, unable to speak or carry out even the most basic daily tasks.
Her family says she has suffered extensive brain damage, and the person they once knew has effectively disappeared before their eyes.
Rose was marking her 32nd birthday with friends when she reportedly fell asleep at the table.
That moment, unremarkable at the time, became the turning point her family now traces everything back to.
Rose Mwende’s last activity
Her mother, who now handles her daughter’s every need, expressed deep anguish over the unanswered questions surrounding that night.
“She fell asleep at the table and has never spoken since, never done anything. I do everything for her. She cannot do anything for herself,” her mother said, adding that the fact that only Rose was left in that condition, out of everyone present, raised serious suspicions about what she was given to eat or drink.
A doctor attending to Rose told reporters that her symptoms were largely consistent with exposure to toxic substances, specifically pointing to lead or zinc as possible culprits, though a definitive cause has not yet been confirmed.
Medical report on Rose Mwende’s situation
The financial burden of Rose’s care has placed enormous strain on the family. Medical treatment, therapy sessions and the cost of medicines have all added up over nine months, and the family says it is struggling to keep up.
“The symptoms we are seeing are mostly consistent with either lead or zinc. We cannot rule that out. We are asking for assistance because the family is under pressure and the costs of caring for her, the medication and therapy, are very high,” the attending doctor said.
The family has opened up a plea for financial support from well-wishers as they continue to seek answers and manage her daily care.
