A team of surgeons at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has successfully removed 20.86 kilograms of breast tissue from 17-year-old Lydia Musivi, who was suffering from gigantomastia, a rare condition causing abnormal breast growth.
The 11-hour surgery, performed on September 22, 2025, is believed to be one of the largest of its kind globally.
The removed tissue accounted for 37% of her body weight, freeing Lydia from pain, infections, and emotional distress that had forced her out of school.
“The weight is now over. I feel free, lighter, and ready to return to school,” said Lydia. “I can finally live the life I was meant to live and follow my dream of becoming a high school teacher.”
The procedure was led by Dr. Benjamin Wabwire, KNH’s Head of Specialized Surgery.
“This was more than a surgical success; it was the restoration of a young woman’s dignity and future,” he said.
The multidisciplinary team included Prof. Lew and Dr. Kim from Yonsei University, South Korea, and KNH doctors Claire Odero, Agnes Wanjiru, and Joy Mwangi.
The anaesthesia team was led by Dr. Eileen Towett and Dr. Hellen Mwari, with nursing care coordinated by Esther Munga and Eun Jin Chae.
Lydia’s mother, Naomi Mutendwa, expressed gratitude:“We felt hopeless until we were referred to KNH. They didn’t just treat her; they gave me back my daughter.”
KNH Acting CEO Dr. Richard Lesiyampe said the case underscores the hospital’s global-standard expertise. “World-class medical breakthroughs are happening right here in Kenya,” he said.
Lydia has since been discharged and is recovering at her home in Mwingi, Kitui County, with plans to return to school in January 2026.
