TURKANA, Kenya – While the birth of a child brings joy and happiness to a family, for one deaf couple in Turkana County, getting three babies at once was the last thing on their minds.
Our recent visit to the couple’s homestead in the Methewan area within Lodwar, Turkana County, was met with a deafening silence.
We meet Xavier Ekaran and his wife Mildred Mukonzo, who are both deaf, as they go on with their normal activities.
Here, cries of children pierce through the house. This family has been blessed to bring forth triplets at a time. This blessing comprises two boys and one girl who were conceived almost three weeks ago.
What Xavier Ekaran and his wife Mildred Mukonzo have to endure
To Xavier and his lovely wife, this blessing is also a big litmus test for them. Xavier, who also has a disabled leg, opens up about their current life after his wife delivered the triplets.
“When my wife gave birth to these triplets, it was a very big blessing for us because it was historical. There is no place in Turkana County where this has happened before,” Xavier explains to us through an interpreter.
He stated that the couple didn’t know that they were expecting the triplets.
“It wasn’t until my wife went to the hospital here that a CT scan was conducted on her and we learnt of the good news,” Xavier added.
However, Xavier disclosed that they have a very big challenge at home.
“When the young ones start crying, we may not realise it because we can’t hear them. It isn’t until they touch us that we learn that they are in distress. They might even cry for almost one hour before we realise what is happening,” explains Xavier.
How the Turkana County government can support the deaf couple
Xavier has also appealed to the area Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai to help the family hire a caretaker to help them raise the kids, as it is becoming a big challenge for them.
The other challenge is that when the babies fall ill, they may not immediately know the cause of the illness.
“Breastfeeding is also another challenge because my breasts are not enough for all three babies. So, when I breastfeed one of them, the other starts crying, and the cycle goes on and on. The boys breastfeed a lot, and when their sister attempts to breastfeed, they push her away. It’s hectic,” lamented Mukonzo.
As we go on with following up the lives of this family, we realise through the help of our translator that a lot is going on in this homestead.
“I want to appeal to the county department in charge of people with disabilities (PWDs) to come to the rescue of this family. This department should look at how best it can support this family, especially to get food and other basic commodities, because their lives are very difficult,” said Betty Wanjala, a friend to the couple who is also hearing impaired.
What do medical experts think about deaf couples having children
Zesta Wekesa, a neighbour, also appealed to the government to hire a caretaker for the family to help the couple raise the little ones.
“We would appreciate it if the government supported this family to the end. Even if it helps Xavier secure a job, it will be a good idea. We don’t want to witness a situation where these kids might end up deaf just like their parents, because if there is no caretaker, they will just keep silent without talking,” explained Zesta.
According to medical experts, a hearing-impaired couple can give birth to babies with a range of hearing abilities, not just deaf babies.
While a deaf couple can have a deaf child, it’s more likely for them to have a hearing child, with statistics suggesting around a 10% chance of a deaf child if neither parent has a known genetic cause for their deafness, according to the American School for the Deaf.
Many deaf individuals have recessive gene mutations, and if both parents carry a mutation in different genes, their child will likely inherit one working copy of each gene, resulting in normal hearing.
