64-year-old Jane is a mother of two living in Kenya. “Jane and her husband are farmers and depend on their small farm produce for their basic needs,” says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). The couple is also supporting the younger of their two children, who attends a university.
Both Jane and her spouse have recently fallen ill. “About four months ago Jane woke up with severe pain on the lower right side of the abdomen,” AMHF tells us. An ultrasound revealed that Jane has uterine fibroids, or tumors in the wall of her womb.
Although uterine fibroids typically are not cancerous, Jane’s have been causing her increasingly acute pain, as well as bleeding. This combination of symptoms “has made it difficult for Jane to socialize,” AMHF shares. Furthermore, “the excessive bleeding may cause development of anemia.” Jane will need a total abdominal hysterectomy to remove her uterus and cervix.
Several weeks ago, Jane’s husband underwent a procedure to address his own medical issue. Unfortunately, paying for that operation left the family without adequate funds to pay for the hysterectomy that Jane needs.
$790 will fund this procedure for Jane, and will also cover the cost of her postoperative hospital stay as she recovers.
“I am praying and hoping for a successful surgery. I need to be well to take care of my family, especially now that my husband is also sick,” Jane says.