By Faith You Will Walk’: Busia Man Defies Severe Spinal Injury and Walks Again After Tophill Surgery

A 55-year-old man from Butula Constituency in Busia County is celebrating a remarkable recovery after a road accident left him with severe multiple injuries, including a serious spinal injury that rendered him unable to walk. Godrick Pancras Opondo, who was born and raised in Busia County, says his life changed dramatically after he was involved in a road accident in Busia town while riding his motorcycle.

Opondo was hit by a vehicle and sustained serious injuries to several parts of his body. His leg was badly injured, he suffered head injuries, and his abdomen and spinal cord were also affected. He was rushed to Busia Referral Hospital for treatment, but his condition required further specialised care. He was subsequently referred to a private hospital where doctors performed surgery on his abdomen. After the operation, Opondo returned home to Busia to recover. However, despite the treatment he had received, he could not walk.

A month of uncertainty

About a month later, Opondo went for a medical review, where doctors and his family became concerned that his inability to walk could be linked to an underlying spinal injury. His cousin, who had previously been treated at Tophill Hospital in Eldoret, suggested that Opondo seek specialised treatment at the facility. An MRI scan conducted at the private facility revealed serious damage to his spine, prompting his family to take him to Tophill Hospital. Opondo was admitted at the Eldoret-based facility and underwent surgery on the same day.

He spent approximately two weeks under close medical observation before being discharged and continued returning to the hospital for regular reviews. For months, his recovery remained uncertain. Having arrived at Tophill Hospital in a wheelchair and unable to move properly, Opondo says he had reached a point where he had almost completely lost hope. He recalls telling his family goodbye because he feared that his condition was too severe for him to recover.

‘By faith you will walk’

Opondo says his hope was restored when he met Dr Florentius Koech, the lead surgeon and CEO of Tophill Hospital. According to Opondo, Dr Koech examined him and encouraged him not to give up, telling him that through faith he would eventually walk again. At the time, Opondo says he could barely feel his legs. When the doctor tested his legs, he struggled to respond to the examination. Despite the severity of his condition, Dr Koech encouraged him to keep strengthening his legs and reassured him that recovery was possible.

Opondo says those words gave him confidence that he was in the right hands. He now says he can stand and walk slowly, a development he considers a major turning point after months of being confined to a wheelchair.

‘God has healed me’

Reflecting on his recovery, Opondo says his faith in God remained central throughout the difficult journey. He expressed gratitude to Dr Koech and the entire medical team at Tophill Hospital, saying he believes God used the surgeon and the medical team to help him regain his mobility. Opondo praised Dr Koech for what he described as his exceptional surgical skills and said his family has developed immense confidence in the treatment he received. He also commended the hospital for the way he was treated during his stay, saying the medical team focused on his recovery and wellbeing.

According to Opondo, his experience at Tophill Hospital was different from what he had expected, with the medical team prioritising his recovery before other considerations. He says the experience has inspired him to encourage other people suffering from serious injuries not to give up hope and to seek specialised medical attention. Opondo is now urging patients with similar conditions to seek professional assessment and treatment, saying his own experience demonstrates that recovery can still be possible even after severe injuries.

Dr Koech explains the extent of injury

Dr Florentius Koech, who led Opondo's treatment, said the patient was referred to Tophill Hospital from Busia after being involved in a serious road accident that left him with multiple injuries. Dr Koech said Opondo had sustained significant injuries to his abdomen and had initially undergone surgery after being taken to a hospital in the region. However, following the surgery, Opondo developed paralysis and was unable to move his hands or legs. Further medical investigations, including scans of his neck and spine, revealed a severe dislocation involving the cervical and thoracic regions.

Dr Koech said the bones in Opondo's spine had become completely displaced, resulting in serious injury to the spinal structures. The extent of the injury, he said, made the patient's eventual recovery particularly remarkable. After Opondo arrived at Tophill Hospital, the surgical team conducted an operation to correct the spinal injury and remove the fracture. The patient was then placed under close medical observation and continued with follow-up care and rehabilitation.

A recovery doctors describe as remarkable

Dr Koech said Opondo's current condition is encouraging, noting that he is now able to walk and perform some activities independently. The surgeon described the recovery as one of the remarkable outcomes he has witnessed, considering the severity of the spinal injury that Opondo sustained. He said the medical team was grateful for the patient's progress and attributed the positive outcome to treatment, rehabilitation and faith.

Opondo's journey has taken him from being unable to move and confined to a wheelchair to slowly walking again. The recovery has also renewed his confidence and given him a new outlook on life.

From despair to hope

Before seeking specialised treatment, Opondo says he had already begun preparing himself and his family for the possibility that he would never walk again. His inability to move after the accident had left him emotionally devastated, and he feared becoming permanently dependent on others. The successful surgery and subsequent rehabilitation, however, gradually changed his situation. He says every improvement, no matter how small, gave him more confidence to continue with the recovery process.

Today, being able to stand and take steps is a milestone he once thought was beyond his reach. He says his family has also been encouraged by the progress and now considers the journey a testimony of hope, faith and specialised medical care. Opondo says he and his family will continue sharing his experience with others who may be going through similar challenges. He describes himself and his family as ambassadors for Tophill Hospital because of the care and treatment he received.

His message to patients facing serious spinal injuries is that they should not lose hope and should seek appropriate medical attention and specialist assessment.

A new chapter

For Opondo, the road to recovery is still continuing, but the ability to stand and walk represents a major victory. From the day he was brought to Tophill Hospital in a wheelchair, unable to move properly, to his current ability to walk slowly, his journey has been marked by uncertainty, perseverance and renewed hope.

His story also highlights the importance of timely diagnosis and specialised treatment for patients who continue experiencing paralysis or mobility problems following major accidents. As Opondo continues with his recovery and follow-up, he says his greatest gratitude is to God, his family and the medical team that helped him through one of the most difficult periods of his life. At 55, the Busia man is now taking steps again — a journey he says he once feared he would never make.