Beatrice is a 46-year-old single woman from Kenya who is fighting cervical cancer. She works as a security guard and lives in a single-room house where she pays rent from her small salary.
In 2013, Beatrice began experiencing uncontrolled vaginal bleeding. She visited a dispensary and received medicine, but the bleeding began again in October of 2015 and has persisted since then. A pap smear performed in June revealed that Beatrice has high-grade cervical cancer. She requires a hysterectomy, but she cannot afford the surgery or even medicine to help control the bleeding. If Beatrice does not receive treatment, the cancer will likely spread, leading to her premature death.
Due to frequent hospital visits and lower abdominal pain from her condition, Beatrice has not been able to work consistently and barely earns enough money to meet her daily needs. Her four brothers face their own economic challenges and are unable to provide financial support. In addition, Beatrice’s elderly mother has been hospitalized several times this year.
For $800, Beatrice will undergo a hysterectomy to remove her uterus and cervix and prevent the spread of the cancer. Funding also covers the costs of four days of inpatient care, including meals, blood work, and medicine.
“My only wish is to get well and reduce the pain I have,” shares Beatrice, who has had difficulty coming to terms with her condition. “I want to live and be there for my mother.”
