Colorectal
Patient Stories | Meet Olivine

Online Research Leads Kenyan Family to Cincinnati Children's for Daughter's Colorectal Surgery

Olivine Tindika was born in Kenya with a severe colorectal condition that could have caused her to die shortly after birth. 

But her parents fought to save her. 

Doctors in Kenya performed her initial surgery, but she needed more complex surgeries. 

Her parents, Randolph and Olive, searched the Internet for help. An email to Dr. Alberto Peña at Cincinnati Children's led them to what they call "a miracle." 

They met doctors and the Colorectal team from Cincinnati Children's during the team's mission trip to Ghana. 

A year later, Olive came to Cincinnati Children's and her family stayed at the Ronald McDonald House so she could be treated by specialists. 

"Cincinnati is a Disneyland for children with medical issues," Olivine's mother says. "Because here is where miracles are happening."