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One of the top girls in the 2018 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE), Mary Mutua, is yet to join form one as she has been undergoing cancer treatment since receiving her impressive results in November last year.
14-year old Mutua was one of the top performers in Coast Province - she had topped Amani Primary School with 415 marks.
Her father, Josephat Mutua, had learnt of her daughter's condition in October but did not inform her she had cancer to avoid affecting her performance in the national exams.
"She kept complaining of pain in her limb. If it happens again, I would not tell her she has cancer, especially when the national examinations are approaching," Josphat said.
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The younger Mutua eventually learnt she had cancer a week after completing the exam.
"Dad took me to the cancer centre at the Coast Provincial General Hospital. I stood at the entrance and asked him why we were there. I thought it was just a tumour but he put on a brave face and broke the news. I cried like I had never cried before," Mary recalled.
A few days later, KCPE results were announced and the family had something to celebrate as her daughter had aced the exam to score 415 marks.
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Bunyore Girls High School
Mary was admitted to a national school - Bunyore Girls High School in Vihiga county.
Unfortunately, she has not started secondary school as her cancer treatment started immediately.
The family raised Sh1.9 million from well-wishers which facilitated Mary's travel to India where she underwent treatment for a total of 11 weeks. The culmination was a limp salvage surgery on March 4.
The treatment has placed financial pressure on the family and are seeking help from well-wishers to raise money for follow-up chemotherapy sessions.
The family says Mary needs 12 more cycles of chemo which are charged at Sh65,000 per session - bringing the total to about Sh800,000 exclusive of other treatment charges.