Grace is a 42-year-old woman living in rural Kenya with her husband and 24-year-old son. Grace’s husband is disabled following an accident, and depends fully on Grace, who works doing laundry for neighbors.
Grace has multiple fibroids, which are common benign growths that develop in the muscular lining of the uterus. In some people, the presence of fibroids doesn’t cause any symptoms. In other cases, such as Grace’s, the size and location of these fibroids can cause pain and heavy bleeding.
“Grace has been suffering from this condition for around two years. The excessive bleeding has led her to stay indoors as it is difficult to move around and even to maintain a social life. She has visited many hospitals without help. Grace came to our clinic and was diagnosed but could not raise the money to have the surgery,” our medical partners at African Mission Healthcare Foundation tell us. “If not treated, the fibroids will continue to grow, affecting surrounding body organs. Grace will continue to feel pain and the excessive bleeding could lead to anemia. Grace will not have the strength to care for her sick husband.”
“My husband looks up to me for all his and our needs. Without this surgery, we have no hope in this life. If I am treated, I hope to work hard and start a salon business to support my family” says Grace about her own hopes for treatment. To treat Grace’s condition, her doctors will perform a total abdominal hysterectomy, removing her uterus where the fibroids are located. It will cost $790 to fund this crucial treatment for Grace – let’s come together and do this!
