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We were honored to travel to Nairobi, Kenya, alongside Dr. Ken Moise and our Allo Hope Africa Ambassador, Rose Murage for a deeply impactful and meaningful trip. This visit was dedicated to raising awareness and creating treatment plans for alloimmunization and HDFN, while also gaining crucial insights into the most urgent needs of patients in Kenya. 

Our schedule was packed with meaningful engagements, each one an opportunity to deepen our understanding and expand the reach of our mission.

Women’s Meeting and Support Group: Strength in Resilience

We began our journey by meeting with over 50 Rh-negative women affected by alloimmunization or unexplained pregnancy losses. These women, who have endured so much, were gathered for a support group where we offered ICT testing, thanks to the generous donation of Sanquin Laboratories. Dr. Moise led an informative session on alloimmunization, answering questions and providing valuable guidance. Most importantly, we facilitated peer-to-peer emotional support, creating a safe space for these incredibly resilient women to share their stories.

Though we came to offer education, we left deeply moved by the strength, advocacy, and resilience these women exhibited. Their shared experiences highlighted the urgent need for more resources and support for alloimmunized patients in Kenya. Our heartfelt thanks to Rose Murage, our Allo Hope Africa Ambassador, for organizing this transformative event, and to Dr. Moise for his expertise and commitment to this cause.

Celebrating Miracles: The Stories of Njeri, Lucas, and Blessing

During this meeting, we were joined by three miracle babies: Njeri, Lucas, and Blessing—each a symbol of hope and perseverance. These babies were born to mothers who had tragically lost older siblings to HDFN. But thanks to the determination of these mothers, and the medical care they received, each baby defied the odds.

• Njeri’s journey took her from Kenya to Ethiopia for intrauterine blood transfusions (IUTs) after one failed attempt in Kenya.
• Lucas’s mother traveled all the way to the US to receive treatment from Dr. Moise in Austin, Texas.
• Blessing, a true milestone, is the first baby to receive successful IUTs at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi.

These stories are a testament to the power of hope and persistence. While much work remains to be done, these babies inspire us to push forward in our mission for a future where every baby with HDFN has access to life-saving treatments like IUTs. We are deeply grateful to Dr. Rosa Chemwey (Kenya), Dr. Abdulfetah and Dr. Abdulhakim (Ethiopia), and Dr. Moise (USA) for their tireless efforts in saving these lives. And a special thank you to the blood donors who generously gave the gift of life.

Visit to Kenyatta National Hospital

Our next stop was Kenyatta National Hospital, the largest referral hospital in Kenya and the only one currently performing successful intrauterine blood transfusions. Dr. Moise led a lecture on maternal alloimmunization, offering insights on complex case studies. We also had the privilege of touring the hospital’s maternity and neonatal units, where we were inspired by the dedication of the care teams despite limited resources. 

A heartfelt thank you to the KNH staff for their warm hospitality and for allowing us to learn more about their facilities and challenges. We are excited to continue working together to bring about positive change for alloimmunized mothers and their babies in Kenya.

What we learned during our travels: