Kyasimire is a mother of 8 children. She developed a small swelling on her throat during her fourth pregnancy but it disappeared after giving birth. It returned again during her fifth pregnancy and this time it was bigger in size and did not disappear after delivery. The swelling kept growing as time went on and it has now been over ten years.
Kyasimire covers her neck all the time and feels uncomfortable going to public gatherings and functions. She does not feel any pain and that’s why she never went for a medical checkup. If not treated through a thyroidectomy, thyrotoxicosis may result in airway obstruction and difficulty in eating.
Kyasimire and her husband are small-scale farmers who grow beans and potatoes for home consumption. They have 8 children, all with little education history, with the highest educated amongst them having reached primary school class five, partly due to lack of financial support.
Her oldest child is now 27 years old and her youngest is just 11 years old. Kyasimire is not able to get support from any of her older children as they are all working hard to take care of themselves. Kyasimire wasn’t able to go to school herself and doesn’t know how to read and write. Her family lives in a three-room semi-permanent house on their ancestral land.
Kyasimire says, “ After the surgery, I look forward to continuing with farming and be able to comfortably participate in public, communal, and other activities in our village.”