Costance is a 52-year-old primary teacher from southwestern Uganda. She is a mother to three children, two of whom are already married, and the youngest is in in the sixth grade. Costance’s husband is a retired builder and has a cancer-related condition that prevents him from working. Costance’s family can afford only the day-to-day essentials on her teaching salary. Costance is near retirement, but her medical condition may end her career early if not treated.
Several years ago, Costance began to experience troubling symptoms, including anterior neck swelling, difficulties in speech, and coughing. These long-term symptoms have now affected her profession as a teacher making it difficult for Costance speak loud enough for students to hear. Costance is troubled by this as teaching is the only source of income for her family. Costance was diagnosed with a Thyroid Goiter and is at risk of having airway obstruction if not treated soon.
Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Costance receive necessary treatment. Constance is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on March 29th where surgeons will remove part of her thyroid gland. AMH is helping Costance and her family raise $252 to cover the cost of the procedure.
Costance says,”I no longer sleep well these days as I sometimes stop breathing to the extent I feel like I am dying. I will be very grateful when my condition is treated soonest so that I may resume my profession.”
