Joy is a young girl from Uganda. Joy lives with and is cared for by her single mother, who is a small-scale farmer.
Two months ago, Joy developed a swelling around her abdomen accompanied by mild pain. At first, her mother thought she had been injured while playing with other children and hoped the swelling would go away on its own. As the swelling persisted, her mother sought medical guidance. Joy was diagnosed with a supra-umbilical hernia, a condition that occurs when part of the abdominal contents pushes through a weakness in the abdominal wall above the belly button. If left untreated, the hernia may grow larger and can lead to serious complications, including incarceration or strangulation of the trapped tissue, which may become a surgical emergency.
Fortunately, on October 13th, Joy will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner’s care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $234 to fund Joy’s surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably and confidently.
Joy’s mother shared, “I hope my girl will be able to associate well with her fellow children.”
