Read our powered by our community 🙌 Check out our 🙌
Meet another patient

Watsi logo blueWatsi

Success! Judith from Uganda raised $319 to fund a hysterectomy.

Judith
100%
  • $319 raised, $0 to go
$319
raised
$0
to go
Fully funded
Judith's treatment was fully funded on June 29, 2022.

Photo of Judith post-operation

July 15, 2022

Judith underwent a hysterectomy.

Judith had a successful total abdominal hysterectomy with our medical partner at Rushoroza hospital. She is currently a very happy woman because she feels so much better! Judith is hopeful that she will be able to continue with farming and take good care of herself and her family. She thanks the donor program and Rushoroza hospital for jointly making her surgery a success.

Judith says, “I had lost hope because my family and I could not afford the surgery, I thank the donors for intervening. I believe that I will live a better and improved life.”

Judith had a successful total abdominal hysterectomy with our medical partner at Rushoroza hospital. She is currently a very happy woman bec...

Read more
June 13, 2022

Judith, who is 49, is a small-scale farmer, living in Uganda. Together with her husband, who is also a farmer, they have nine children. The oldest is 28, while their youngest is just 4 years old.

For the past seven years, Judith has been experiencing mild lower abdominal pain. She visited a doctor, and was treated several times, without seeing any improvement. Recently, she started experiencing heavy bleeding along with severe lower abdominal pain, and extreme backaches and joint pains. She’s also having difficulty eating now. Despite everything, Judith must continue to farm, as this is her family’s only source of income.

Judith has been diagnosed with endometrial hyperplasia, chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, and endometritis. The doctor at Rushoroza Hospital has recommended surgery to address Judith’s medical issues. Fortunately, our medical partner African Mission Healthcare is here to help, as Judith cannot afford to pay for her surgery.

On June 14th, Judith will undergo a hysterectomy, and African Mission Healthcare is seeking $319 to fund this procedure, which should allow Judith to be able to return to farming and to caring for her family, without all of the debilitating symptoms she has been experiencing.

Judith says: “I have been in pain for a while but I finally hope to live a normal life once again through surgery. I will resume farming as soon as I recover completely.”

Judith, who is 49, is a small-scale farmer, living in Uganda. Together with her husband, who is also a farmer, they have nine children. The...

Read more

Judith's Timeline

  • June 13, 2022
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Judith was submitted by Ruth Kanyeria, SAFE Program Coordinator at African Mission Healthcare.

  • June 14, 2022
    TREATMENT OCCURRED

    Judith received treatment at Rushoroza Hospital in Uganda. Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.

  • June 21, 2022
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Judith's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • June 29, 2022
    FULLY FUNDED

    Judith's treatment was fully funded.

  • July 15, 2022
    TREATMENT UPDATE

    Judith's treatment was successful. Read the update.

Funded by 1 donor

Funded by 1 donor

Treatment
Total Abdominal Hysterectomy
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $319 for Judith's treatment
Hospital Fees
$218
Medical Staff
$12
Medication
$14
Supplies
$53
Labs
$6
Other
$16
  • Symptoms
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Cultural or regional significance

​What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Symptoms vary depending on the condition that requires the total abdominal hysterectomy. If the cause is cervical, uterine, or ovarian cancer, there may not be symptoms, especially if the cancer is early-stage. In more advanced cases of cervical and uterine cancers, abnormal bleeding, unusual discharge, and pelvic or abdominal pain can occur. Symptoms of ovarian cancer may include trouble eating, trouble feeling full, bloating, and urinary abnormality. If the cause is fibroids, symptoms may include heavy bleeding, pain in the pelvis or lower back, and swelling or enlargement of the abdomen.

​What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

Fibroids can grow large, cause abdominal pain and swelling, and lead to recurring bleeding and anemia. Cancer can cause pain and lead to death.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

Most cervical cancer is caused by a sexually transmitted infection called human papillomavirus (HPV), which can often occur alongside a HIV infection. As a result, cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among African women in areas of high HIV prevalence. Cervical cancer is also more prevalent in Africa than in the United States due to the lack of early-detection screening programs. The other conditions treated by a total abdominal hysterectomy are not necessarily more common in Africa.

  • Process
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Risks and side-effects
  • Accessibility
  • Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

The patient first reports for laboratory testing. The following day, the patient undergoes surgery. After the operation, the patient stays in the hospital ward for three to four days, during which she is continually monitored. The surgery is considered successful if the wound heals without infection, bleeding, or fever, and if the patient no longer experiences urinary dysfunction.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

In the case of uterine fibroids or early-stage cancer, a total abdominal hysterectomy is curative.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

If performed early enough, this surgery is low-risk and curative, with few side effects.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

This surgery is available, but many patients cannot afford it. Many women are screened for cervical cancer with a low-cost alternative to a pap smear. This is common in HIV treatment programs. If necessary, the woman is referred for surgery, which she often cannot afford.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

If cervical cancer is caught early enough, some minor procedures can solve the problem. Women with fibroids who still wish to have children may opt to undergo a surgery only to remove the fibroids, which is called a myomectomy.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Dennis

Dennis is the first born in a family of four children. When he finished high school, he was reluctant to join college because of his condition. He currently is not able to work because he gets easily tired and cannot carry heavy loads. He joined college just recently but has been out of school for the past two months. Now that he is at home, he helps his mother who picks tea for a living. He does not have a health insurance coverage and cannot raise the required amount of money to cater for his hospital bill. In 2019 while he was sitting for his national school exams, Dennis experienced sharp pain in his esophagus. He took a glass of water, and the pain went away for a few weeks. The pain used to occur roughly two times in a month and a glass of water would help a lot. Late last year, the pain worsened. He was not in a position to swallow food. He went to a herbalist and was given some medication to use for some time. When the dose was over, the pain was still persistent, and he still could not swallow food normally. He was then referred to Kijabe Hospital by a friend where he was examined and given some medication to use. He didn't feel better and decided to go back to the herbalist for different medication but there was no change. Later he finally returned to Kijabe Hospital and scans and tests revealed that he has Achalasia. He is scheduled for a heller's myotomy which is a curative laparotomy surgery for his condition. Now he needs $1,074 to pay for the surgery. Dennis says, "I feel very sad. If I was healthy, I would be able to work well and be comfortable with myself.”

58% funded

58%funded
$629raised
$445to go

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.