Andrew
ONIAS Providence Mawodza has for the past two years been having trouble ingesting anything, be it food or drink.
He contracted a rare disease that is often found in people over the age of 50 — oesophageal stricture.
However, he was only 27, when he was diagnosed with the disease.
Initially, he could not take anything other than spaghetti and mahewu. However, in May this year, he stopped eating and drinking completely.
It is not because he is fasting or dieting. The explanation is, not even water or spit can go down his oesophagus — a relatively straight muscular tube through which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach.
It contracts or expands to allow the passage of food.
When Mawodza swallows something, he either chokes or vomits the food as it will be stuck in the oesophagus and will not go down to the stomach.
Research showed that the human body can only survive without food and water for eight to 21 days.
Doctors at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare had to drill a hole and insert a plastic tube that goes straight into his stomach.
To survive, he pumps liquefied food into the tube.
On visiting Mawodza at his Chikanga home in Mutare recently, he was having liquefied potatoes and milk, which he was pumping straight into his stomach before adding water.
A blender does the chewing for him as it crashes all the food that ends up in his body.
Mawodza revealed that he does not enjoy food as much as he enjoyed it while consuming it through his mouth.
“When I pump the food into my stomach, I just feel that I am full, but I do not enjoy it. I am doing it to survive because one cannot live without food and water. I know that I am full when I feel like vomiting. The same with water. When I am full, the contents that I would have pumped into my body fill my oesophagus from the stomach,” he said.
He pumps liquid food into his body four times a day — at 6am, 9am, 4pm and 7pm.
Mawodza does not swallow even his spit as it also chokes him.
He said the diagnosis shocked him as he never imagined surviving without ingesting anything using his mouth.
“I first started choking while eating because the food would not go past my oesophagus in 2020, so, I went to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital, where I was given some throat infection medication.
“I was told that I would be fine in a few days. However, my condition did not change, so I turned to faith healers,” he said.
Mawodza further said for the past two years, he spent most of his money consulting prophets and traditional healers, who made him believe he would recover.
“I have been to different prophets across the country and have wasted a lot of money in the belief that I would be healed, but my condition actually worsened.
“They would tell me that evil spirits from my family were causing my throat to close, but they never gave me any solutions,” he said. Mawodza finally went back to the provincial hospital, where he was referred to Karanda Mission Hospital in Mashonaland Central, then Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals. It was at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals that he was diagnosed with oesophageal stricture.
An endoscopy was performed and it was concluded that he had a 13cm long stricture and, therefore, needed oesophageal dilation. Strictures cause malnutrition and dehydration, conditions which Mawodza struggles with daily. Since the day he started having challenges with swallowing food, he has lost more than 20 kilogrammes.
He currently weighs 58 kilogrammes.
Doctors tried to perform another surgery on his throat, to no avail. An endoscope could not pass through the throat.
They ended up performing a surgical operation on his stomach, instead, so that he at least has a way of consuming food, while doctors explore other means of opening his throat.
Vimbai Zengeni said the family is facing financial challenges due to her husband’s condition as he was the breadwinner.
Mawodza is due for an endoscopy and dilation procedure on his oesophagus at a private clinic in Mutare and is in need of US$530. The operation costs US$1 200. He is appealing for assistance in cash or kind.
Those who wish to assist Mawodza can contact him on 0771 080 769 or 0717 000 609. — Manica Post
Online Reporter