Loisi is a mother of three children between the ages of 2 and 12 years old. She separated from her husband around the time when her youngest child was seven months old. Loisi lives with her children and her mother, and she owns a small business selling vegetables to support her family. One of the locations where she sells is at our medical partner’s care center and she learned that treatment may be possible to help her finally heal.
In 2019, Loisi had a Cesarean section during the birth of her youngest child. It took up to four months for her wound to heal and, six months later, her abdomen never decreased and continued to grow. Loisi’s business has suffered as a result. She has difficulty carrying large baskets of vegetables and walking long distances, and she has had to spend parts of her income on new clothing. She also shared that mockery from the community regarding her appearance has affected her self-esteem.
Loisi visited the hospital where she received a C-Section but was not able to receive help. However, when selling vegetables at the care center, a nurse referred her to a surgeon. Loisi was diagnosed with a hernia, a condition where part of the abdominal wall is damaged or weakened, causing parts of the small intestine or abdomen to bulge outward. If not treated, hernias may cause pain and discomfort and, in rare cases, cause life-threatening strangulation of blood flow to part of the intestines. On October 5th, surgeons will perform a hernia repair surgery. AMH is requesting $575 to help fund this procedure.
Loisi is hopeful that this surgery will improve her ability to sell vegetables and provide for her family’s well-being, as well as restore her position in her community. She shared, “This condition has caused me a lot of mockeries, and it even cost me my marriage. I believe, after the surgery, I will regain the size of my normal tummy. I will live an improved life.”
