Beth is a 33-year-old woman who lives in Kenya. Last spring, she noticed swelling in her abdomen that became so painful that she sought help from her cousin, who helped her reach our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), for consultation.
Doctors at AMHF determined that Beth has an adnexal cyst, a fluid-filled sac within one of her ovaries. Beth also has an incisional hernia, which occurs when the intestines protrude through a previously made incision in the abdominal wall, usually after a caesarian section or appendectomy. Both conditions cause abdominal pain and swelling, and require surgical treatment.
“Beth requires a curative laparotomy [to remove the cyst] and a hernia repair to be performed later, and that is why she is seeking Watsi’s help,” says AMHF. “If not treated, Beth will continue experiencing this pain, and she will be unable to work.”
Due to previous health issues, Beth has been unable to work to support herself and her daughter for more than one year. Having lost her husband and one of her children, she has had to rely on donations from neighbors and friends to make ends meet. She cannot afford to pay the school fees for her daughter, who attends high school with the assistance of a government scholarship.
$620 will fund for the laparotomy that Beth needs as well as a three-day hospital stay, blood tests, pain medicine, and antibiotics. “After the treatment, Beth will be relieved of the pain,” says AMHF. “She will be able to work and earn for her child.”
