Jacinta is a 45-year-old woman who works as a small-scale farmer and her husband is a private primary school teacher. They have been married for 26 years and together have five children. Their oldest child is 25 years old and has completed university, and their youngest is 11 years old and in primary school. They shared that they have struggled but managed to raise school fees for their children through farming. They own a four-room old mud house where the main source of energy is firewood.
Three years ago, Jacinta began experiencing troubling symptoms, including a small painless swelling on her neck. The swelling has grown and has become painful. She visited Kabale Referral Hospital and surgery was recommended but she missed a couple of appointments, got discouraged, and gave up. A friend recently referred her to Rushoroza Hospital for help.
Jacinta has been diagnosed with a nodular goiter, an enlarged thyroid gland with cells that have grown into a lump. In addition to the mild pain, Jacinta also experiences periodic airway obstruction which is very concerning for her and her family. Jacinta is worried about the future if she is not treated and has been told she needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse.
Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Jacinta to receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on August 25th 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.
Jacinta says, “I pray for a successful surgery so that I may look and feel my normal self again. I will continue with my farming once I am recovered.”
