Former Tahidi High Actress’ Heart Shrinking

Cherono, who is also a former actor in Citizen TV’s local drama Tahidi High, is suffering from this very sensitive condition that basically causes the heart to shrink.

Mitral Stenosis means that the mitral valve in the heart cannot open enough.

As a result, less blood flows to the body causing the upper heart chamber to swell as pressure builds up.

This then causes the blood and fluid to collect in the lung tissue (pulmonary edema) making it hard to breathe.

The more severe the narrowing, the more serious the problem.

LAST NINE YEARS MORE

Cherono, who is an orphan, was first diagnosed with the condition at the age of 10.

The then President, Retired President Daniel arap Moi, helped her to undergo an operation to repair the valve in South Africa.

According to the doctors, the valve repair was to last her 10 years, but Cherono has made it 19 years.  

Cherono’s life now hangs in the balance, even as doctors term her living a miracle.

Doctors say that her valves have shrunk to 0.4cm a medical miracle since the death parameter stands at 0.7cm.

In such cases, medication can help ease symptoms but surgery to stretch, repair or replace the valve may be needed.

By Wangui Ngechu