“For us to have food to eat, my husband and I have to struggle,” explains Jane, a 48-year-old woman and mother of four from Kenya. For five years, Jane has been dealing with uterine fibroids—benign tumors in or just outside of her uterus that develop from abnormally-growing uterine muscle cells.
According to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), Jane sells old clothes to her neighbors to make a living and thus does not have enough money to afford treatment. Meanwhile, “her husband does casual jobs wherever they are available” and none of the children are educated enough to provide support to their parents. “This is a really needy family,” reports AMHF.
Due to her financial situation, Jane has only been able to afford painkillers these past five years. As a result, she experiences abdominal discomfort, painful menstruation, and a swollen/enlarged stomach. The problem recently worsened to the point where Jane could not leave her bed.
Thanks to Jane’s neighbor, a past Watsi beneficiary, Jane was taken to the hospital and evaluated. Jane had to borrow money for the bus trip to the hospital, along with ultrasound scan that was needed for the evaluation. After examination and further detection of Jane’s fibroids, the surgeon ordered a total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH).
For $790, we can fund a TAH for Jane—a surgical procedure that involves the removal of the uterus and cervix through an incision in the lower abdomen. With this treatment, Jane will recover fully from her condition and be able to resume work and provide for her family. She will no longer experience pain and avoid the risk of the fibroids affecting surrounding organs.
AMHF describes Jane as a “strong willed lady.” This is clear in her desire to help her husband and children: “This illness has made it very difficult for the family to survive as they can only depend on my husband. If I get well, I can start again selling the old clothes and make some money for our family’s survival.”