By K, KNA
The Social Health Authority (SHA) has fully settled a medical bill of Sh201,400 for 23-year-old Kericho-based Chef, Shammah Joy, who suffered severe burns while delivering a catering service to a client on December 24, 2025.
Jubilation and songs of thanksgiving filled the air today at Medistar Level 4 Hospital, as Joy’s family, friends, and well-wishers gathered to celebrate her recovery and discharge from the hospital ward following two months of intensive care and specialized treatment for burns affecting multiple parts of her body.
Joy’s ordeal began when flammable fluids she was using to light a fire burst into flames unexpectedly, engulfing her and leaving her with extensive burns on the face, head, neck, both hands, forearms, and part of the chest.
She was first rushed to Litein Hospital for emergency care, where doctors stabilized her condition, before referring her to Medistar Level 4 Hospital on December 26, 2025, for specialized burn treatment and intensive care.
A Clinical Officer, Kelvin Kiplangat, who spoke to KNA, revealed that Joy sustained superficial burns covering approximately 24 percent of her total body surface area, including nine percent on the face and head, nine percent on both hands and forearms up to the wrists, and six percent on the anterior and posterior chest.
The Clinician explained that burns of that nature required intensive wound management, pain control, intravenous fluids, antibiotics to prevent infections, nutritional support, and continuous monitoring to avoid complications.
Joy remained under close observation for two months, with hospital staff performing frequent dressing changes, monitoring her progress, and providing constant emotional support that helped maintain her morale and hope for recovery.
She underwent physiotherapy to ensure mobility of her hands and arms, received counseling to cope with the trauma, and benefited from the encouragement and care of health workers at the facility, which significantly aided her healing process.
“The patient responded well to treatment, and all her medical bills were fully covered by SHA, easing the family’s financial burden and allowing them to focus on her recovery,” Clinical Officer Kiplangat said.
Doctors also monitored Joy for potential complications such as skin contractures, restricted movement, and permanent scarring, providing rehabilitation support and guidance on home care to facilitate full recovery.
After two months of intensive care, Joy’s condition improved steadily, and she was discharged on February 23, 2026, with instructions to rest at home for three months before resuming her catering work and to attend follow-up appointments every two weeks.
The hospital marked Joy’s recovery with a small celebration, filled with songs of
thanksgiving and prayers to God for her healing, with a few of those who spoke expressing their gratitude, and hope, some even shedding tears of joy, while she smiled and personally thanked everyone who had supported her through the difficult season of her life.
Shammah Joy’s mother, Victorline Langat, who is a teacher and a pastor, said the family had spent sleepless nights praying for Joy’s survival and thanked God, and the medical team, for making her recovery possible.
She urged parents to always pray for their children and encouraged other patients and families to trust God for healing, saying they should hold on to hope because, just like her daughter, they too can experience recovery, renewed strength, and another chance at living a normal life despite illness.
“As parents, we never gave up hope, and today our hearts are full of joy and gratitude; we thank God the Almighty for protecting and healing our daughter, and we appreciate health workers for their unwavering care and support, our daughter is alive, smiling, and ready to live again after a very difficult time,” she said.
Shammah Joy’s father, Nicolas Langat, expressed profound relief and gratitude, thanking God the Almighty for protecting his daughter, and appreciating the medical team, and everyone who supported Joy during her recovery.
“The good care she has received from Medistar Hospital is indeed a second chance at life and an opportunity to rebuild her future. May God bless you for the good work” Mr. Langat added.
Despite visible scars, Joy left the hospital with renewed strength and hope, ready to rest at home, regain her full strength, and eventually return to her catering business with a brighter future ahead.
Medistar Level 4 Hospital, located opposite Kericho County Referral Hospital, offers both inpatient and outpatient care, providing general consultations, diagnostic support and treatment for various conditions, emergency and surgical care, and rehabilitation services.
