K24 TV's Riddim Vybz hypeman John Maina alias MC Fullstop has opened up on his battle with tuberculosis (TB), which has seen him lose one lung.
In a post on Twitter, MC Fullstop revealed that he was diagnosed with TB in 2021, which affected his lungs before another diagnosis in 2022 showed that his throat had been affected too.
"My left lung has totally collapsed nimebaki na moja. In 2021 i was diagnosed with TB ya lungs ikasosi lungs kabisa. 2022 nikapata TB ya throat nayo ikanimaliza sauti, Running, walking, kuongea ni shida (sic). (My left lung has totally collapsed, I now remain with one. In 2021 I was diagnosed with TB of the lungs. In 2022, I was diagnosed with TB o the throat which has taken away my voice. Running, walking and talking is a challenge)," he wrote.
A collapsed lung, according to Penn Medicine, occurs when air escapes from the lung. The air then fills the space outside of the lung between the lung and chest wall. This buildup of air puts pressure on the lung, so it cannot expand as much as it normally does when you take a breath.
"Alafu lungs zina lungs ufala unlike Liver, haiwezi ji heal itabidi nijipange hapa naona niki hang boots. I just wanna say thanks kwa wale wamekuwa wakini support in this difficult moments God awa bless tu sana (sic). (Unike the liver, lungs cannot heal on their own, so I'm forced to make a (hard) decision. I just want to say thank you to all those who have supported me during these difficult moments, may God bless you.)," he wrote.
According to John Hopkins Medicine, most people can get by with only one lung instead of two, if needed. The hospital says one lung can provide enough oxygen and remove enough carbon dioxide, unless the other lung is damaged.
In cases where one lung has failed, the affected lung is removed and the patient is left with one. In some cases, some people get donors and the lung is replaced.
