Atuzarirwe is a 49-year-old farmer from Uganda. She is a mother of six children, five of whom are still in school.
For the past five years, Atuzarirwe has had a worrisome anterior neck swelling. The swelling affects her breathing and causes her voice to be hoarse, especially when she is singing, a hobby she loves practicing especially in the choir. Atuzarirwe was referred to our Medical Partner’s Care Center Nyakibale Hospital by a friend for treatment. Doctors there completed a scan and diagnosed a multinodular goiter, an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. Atuzarirwe will need to have the goiter removed to prevent her symptoms from getting worse.
However, Atuzarirwe faces financial constraints and is unable to raise the funds needed for her care. Together with her husband, she practices small scale farming to make ends meet. They work hard to make enough to support their daily needs, children’s education fees, and basic healthcare costs. Atuzarirwe appeals for financial support for her surgery.
Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Atuzarirwe receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on February 23rd at our medical partner’s care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and she and her family need help raising money.
Atuzarirwe shared, “I have really travelled from far and all I wish for is to regain my health once again and continue with farming.”