Nyakatuura, a 57-year-old pastor in Uganda, works to support his nine children, his siblings, and his mother. “He still has four children in secondary school and two in primary school,” shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “Nyakatuura pays for their education in installments.”
For the past year, Nyakatuura has had increased swelling in his scrotum. He went to the hospital in October 2015 and was diagnosed with hydrocele, an accumulation of fluid around the testicle. "If not treated, the testis can become huge, interfering with daily functioning and becoming painful," says AMHF.
Doctors recommended Nyakatuura have surgery. However, he could not receive treatment “because at that time his son was also in the hospital and he still had a debt at his son’s school," AMHF explains.
With $215, Nyakatuura can get surgery to drain the excess fluid from his scrotum. He explains, “All my children, my siblings who are unemployed and my mother depend on me. The little income I have would be enough to pay for my treatment had it not been for the responsibility I have to look after these people.”
After successful surgery, Nyakatuura hopes that he can return to his work free from discomfort and without worry over what might result from further swelling. He can then continue to put his children through school and to care for his other family members.
“Thank you for offering to help the poor. God bless you,” he says.