EdithMary is a primary school teacher and the loving mother of five children. She has a diploma in primary education. Her husband is also a teacher, but both of them have been laid off from work for a while due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Three of their children have graduated from higher education institutions but none of them has been employed yet to support the family. They have always managed to pay school fees for their children through the acquisition of manageable loans along with their small salaries. They are now relying on small-scale farming as they await the reopening of schools.
For three years, EdithMary has been experiencing severe lower abdominal pains. She once visited a health facility where she was treated for a urinary tract infection. Three months ago, she was diagnosed with blood brucellosis and had it treated but still, the lower abdominal pains persisted. Currently, she can no longer do farming due to her pain. She experiences severe backache and can no longer bend down. She also has menorrhagia.
EdithMary has been diagnosed with uterine fibroids and the surgeon at Rushoroza Hospital has recommended surgical treatment. However, EdithMary is unable to afford this surgery. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus.
Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $319 to fund EdithMary’s surgery. On November 2nd, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner’s care center. Once recovered, EdithMary will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain.
EdithMary says, “My condition has always affected my performance in class and has always kept on worsening over time. I pray and hope that I may get normal again through surgery so that I may continue teaching comfortably and live a better and improved life.”