BOMET, KENYA – In the specialized wards of the Tenwek Hospital Cardiothoracic Centre, a 24-year-old nurse moves with a quiet confidence that belies a history intimately tied to the very institution she now serves. Maureen Cherotich is not just a caregiver; she is a living testament to the life-saving procedures performed here, having survived two open-heart surgeries as a child within these same walls.

Her return as a nurse to the cardiothoracic unit completes a remarkable circle of hope and healing, offering a powerful source of inspiration to the patients she tends to. “Not only do I work as a nurse, but also as a bearer of hope for heart patients who have the same condition I once had,” Cherotich stated in a recent interview on Monday, 17 November 2025. “I am living proof that having a heart condition is not the end of a patient's life.”

A Childhood Defined by Illness

Cherotich’s ordeal began in 2009 at the age of nine, when she was diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease (RHD), a serious condition resulting from damage to the heart valves caused by rheumatic fever. RHD remains a significant health burden in Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa, often stemming from untreated streptococcal throat infections. According to the World Health Organization's 2020 data, RHD accounted for 408 deaths in Kenya annually. Studies in Western Kenya have shown that RHD is a leading cause of cardiovascular mortality in the region, disproportionately affecting young people and females.

Her condition necessitated her first open-heart surgery that same year. Eight years later, at 16, she faced a second, more daunting procedure in 2017, which she recalls lasted between eight and ten hours. “I was 16 and so scared, but God made it successful. I am now completely healed,” she said.

The Making of a Specialist Centre

Cherotich’s story is inextricably linked to the rise of Tenwek Hospital as a leader in cardiothoracic surgery in the region. The rural, faith-based hospital in Bomet County conducted its first open-heart surgeries in November 2008 on 12 patients. Since then, its program has grown exponentially. Today, Tenwek performs approximately 250 open-heart operations annually, accounting for about half of all such procedures in Kenya.

The hospital’s capacity was dramatically enhanced with the recent opening of the Billy Graham Memorial Cardiothoracic Centre on 24 October 2024, a project supported by international partners like Samaritan's Purse. This new 176-bed facility aims to increase the number of surgeries to 2,000 per year, addressing a long waiting list of over 850 patients. According to Dr. Russ White, the centre's director, the vision is to create a hub for both treatment and training, reducing dependency on Western doctors by equipping African medical professionals.

Kenya's Broader Battle with Heart Disease

The development of specialized centres like Tenwek is critical for Kenya. The country faces a dual burden of congenital and acquired heart diseases. The prevalence of congenital heart disease (CHD) in school-aged children in Kenya has been estimated at 1.8 per 1,000. A 2022 study published in *Cardiology in the Young* found that the most common defects were patent ductus arteriosus (29.2%) and ventricular septal defects (28%). Crucially, the study revealed that 60.6% of CHD cases in Kenya are diagnosed late (after one year of age), complicating treatment.

The cost of care remains a major barrier. Open-heart surgery can cost between KES 800,000 and KES 1.5 million in private and public hospitals. This forces many families into financial hardship and pushes others to seek more affordable, yet still expensive, treatment in countries like India. Tenwek Hospital has established a compassionate fund to assist needy patients, aiming to raise KES 48 million to support those unable to afford the life-saving surgeries.

From Patient to Provider

The compassionate care Cherotich received from doctors and nurses during her treatment directly inspired her career path. She pursued a diploma in community nursing at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) in Sigowet, Kericho County, graduating in 2023 before joining the Tenwek team.

Her presence in the ward provides a unique form of patient support built on shared experience. She understands the fear, the pain, and the hope that define the cardiac patient's journey. Looking ahead, Cherotich plans to specialize further in cardiac nursing to enhance her skills. “The doctors and nurses at Tenwek gave me more than treatment—they gave me a future,” she affirmed. “That is why I returned to work at the hospital.”

Her journey from a scared child on an operating table to a skilled professional at the bedside symbolizes the profound impact of accessible, high-quality local healthcare and the enduring power of hope.