Ritah is a six-year-old girl from Uganda. Her mother is a small-scale farmer who spends long hours cultivating crops mainly for family consumption and selling any surplus produce to earn a modest income. Her father is a casual worker around their village and takes on all kinds of available jobs to supplement the family’s earnings. As the second-born child in a family of three children, Ritah is deeply loved by her parents and siblings. She is a cheerful child who enjoys playing with other children and helping her mother with simple household tasks whenever she can.
About two years ago, Ritah began to experience intermittent swelling in her abdomen. Since there was little pain, her parents waited to see if the condition would resolve as she got older. Unfortunately, the pain increased over time, causing her to struggle to play and sleep comfortably. When the pain suddenly became more severe, Ritah’s family visited our partner’s medical care centre, Rushoroza Hospital. There, she received a thorough assessment and was diagnosed with an umbilical hernia. Without surgery to repair the hernia, Ritah will continue to experience pain and will be at risk of further complications.
Fortunately, on August 5th, she will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner’s care center, Rushoroza Hospital. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $170 to fund Ritah’s surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow her to live comfortably and return to the activities that children her age normally take pleasure in.
Ritah’s mother shared, “It breaks my heart to see my daughter suffering in pain. Ritah is a loving and active child, and I dream of seeing her healthy again, able to play, learn, and enjoy her childhood without discomfort. I humbly ask for your support to help her receive the surgery she urgently needs and the opportunity for a brighter and healthier future.”
