Oditah is a 50-year-old farmer and mother of seven children. She and her husband have built their life around farming. They own a small banana and coffee plantation, which serves as their main source of income. To supplement their livelihood, they also cultivate beans, maize, and potatoes, mainly for home consumption, but they sell any surplus to earn additional income.
Sixteen years ago, Oditah began to experience troubling symptoms, including a swelling in the front of her neck. Initially, it was painless and did not interfere with her daily activities. However, as the years went by, she began experiencing distressing symptoms, including shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, and a persistent irritation in her throat that triggers a constant cough-like sensation. Additionally, she reports episodes of hoarseness in her voice that come and go. In her search for treatment, she once attended a surgical outreach camp in her home district after hearing about it on the radio. Unfortunately, she was not operated on during the camp. However, a doctor attending the camp referred her to our medical partner’s care center, Karoli Lwanga Hospital, for further evaluation and possible support.
Oditah was diagnosed with non-toxic goiter, an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for various bodily functions, including metabolism and growth. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse.
Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Oditah receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on August 5th, where surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and she and her family need help raising money.
Oditah says, “With surgery, I hope to get better and will continue living a normal and healthy life; however, my finances can’t put me in a position to raise the amount of money needed for my surgery. I kindly appeal for your support.”