Komuhimbo is a 27-year-old mother of one child who lives in Uganda. She owns a retail shop selling herbicides for tomatoes, onions, oranges, and eggplants. She also grows food for her family. Her husband works as a porter at construction sites.
In 2013, Komuhimbo developed a growth on her right shoulder. Over time, it increased in size. The growth was painful when she worked, especially when she washed clothes or fetched water. Komuhimbo visited a hospital, where she was diagnosed with a lipoma.
Lipomas are benign, fatty tumors that grow between the skin and the underlying layer of muscle. They can occur anywhere on the body. Lipomas can be painful if they press on nearby nerves or blood vessels.
“I am afraid the swelling might prevent me from taking care of my family in the future when it grows bigger,” shared Komuhimbo
Komuhimbo was advised to have surgery to remove the lipoma. Knowing she could not afford healthcare, she decided instead to use herbal medicines. When her symptoms did not improve, she visited our medical partner’s hospital, Holy Family Virika Hospital. There, she underwent a mass excision procedure on November 16. Surgeons removed the lipoma from her shoulder.
Komuhimbo earns little money from her shop. She and her husband cannot afford this surgery, so our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $196 in funding.
After surgery, Komuhimbo hopes to continue with her retail shop and to work hard on her farm to produce enough food for the family.
