Eserida is a small-scale farmer and a mother of two. She shared that she recently lost her husband, but he left her a three-room mud house for shelter. Her children are now grown and are both teachers, but they have been out of work due to the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.
About 20 years ago, Eserida began to experience troubling symptoms, including mild neck pains. She later developed a small swelling that progressively started increasing in size and has become more painful over the last two years. She has a hard time breathing and, as a result, she can no longer practice farming. She also likes singing in church but can no longer do this. She came to our medical partner’s care center Rushoroza Hospital for a review by the doctor and has been diagnosed with a multinodular goiter that requires surgery.
Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Eserida receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on January 15th at our medical partner’s care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $333, and she and her family need help raising money.
Eserida says, “I pray that I may get well through surgery and have another chance to live a normal life after living with this goiter for a long time. I believe I am still productive and hope to be more productive after the surgery.”