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Success! Joseph from Uganda raised $170 to fund surgery to heal his hernia.

Joseph
100%
  • $170 raised, $0 to go
$170
raised
$0
to go
Fully funded
Joseph's treatment was fully funded on February 7, 2023.

Photo of Joseph post-operation

March 6, 2023

Joseph underwent surgery to heal his hernia.

Joseph had a successful surgery to repair his hernia at Rushoroza Hospital. He was discharged home from the hospital already feeling much better. Joseph is showing signs of great improvement and his parents noticed he is back to his normal, playful, self already.

His parents are very happy and thank the donors for their support towards their son’s surgery. Joseph’s mother says, “I am happy that my son had a successful surgery. Many thanks to the donors and Rushoroza hospital for the support and the job well done. He will be able to return to school once schools reopen soon.”

Joseph had a successful surgery to repair his hernia at Rushoroza Hospital. He was discharged home from the hospital already feeling much be...

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January 8, 2023

Joseph is a young boy from Uganda. He is the second born in a family of two children. His father is a boda boda taxi driver who transports luggage in and outside of their village for a living while his mother offers casual labor in one of the factories near their home. They rent a single room for shelter. His elder sibling is six years old and in top junior class and Joseph is in preschool class. Their home is a walking distance from our medical partner’s care center Rushoroza Hospital.

For one month, Joseph has had a left inguinal hernia. He developed a small on and off inguinal swelling that was painless. He is very playful and therefore it normally appears when he plays for a while. Currently, the swelling has increased in size and his father believes that his condition will continue to worsen if not treated. His family came to Rushoroza Hospital and after examination, the doctor recommended surgery, which the parents cannot afford. Fortunately, on January 10th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner’s care center.

Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $170 to fund Joseph’s surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently.

Joseph’s father says, “My son is not well and feels uncomfortable when the swelling appears. I believe he will live a normal life after surgery so that he may be able to take on his studies comfortably.”

Joseph is a young boy from Uganda. He is the second born in a family of two children. His father is a boda boda taxi driver who transports l...

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Joseph's Timeline

  • January 8, 2023
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

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

  • January 12, 2023
    TREATMENT OCCURRED

    Joseph 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.

  • January 12, 2023
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Joseph's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • February 7, 2023
    FULLY FUNDED

    Joseph's treatment was fully funded.

  • March 6, 2023
    TREATMENT UPDATE

    Joseph's treatment was successful. Read the update.

Funded by 4 donors

Funded by 4 donors

Treatment
Hernia / Hydrocele Repair
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $170 for Joseph's treatment
Hospital Fees
$87
Medical Staff
$0
Medication
$17
Supplies
$33
Labs
$25
Other
$8
  • Symptoms
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Cultural or regional significance

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

A hernia occurs when a portion of the intestine protrudes through the lower abdominal wall, usually for one of two reasons. The first is a congenital abnormality in which the tissues did not close. The second is excessive stress in an adult, often due to heavy physical labor or pregnancy. Patients experience a bulge or lump in the affected area. The hernia may cause the patient to feel pain, discomfort, weakness, pressure, and sensations of heaviness or aching. These symptoms are often exacerbated when the patient coughs, bends over, or lifts heavy objects. In some cases, hernias have no symptoms and are only detected during routine medical exams.

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

Patients with uncomplicated hernias may experience only annoyance or discomfort. As the hernia opening expands, the discomfort will increase. Small openings are more likely to trap the intestine, potentially leading to intestinal damage or death.

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

Hernias are common in Africa. People often do very hard physical labor and lift heavy objects. Women tend to have more children than those in developed countries. It is possible that some hernias have infectious or genetic causes.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

Surgery lasts for three to eight hours, depending on the age of the patient and the severity of the hernia. The patient will stay in the hospital anywhere from two days to eight weeks, again depending on the age of the patient and the severity of the hernia. The patient is continually monitored.

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

Treatment is curative. The chance of intestinal strangulation or bowel obstruction reduces significantly.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

Hernia repair is not a high-risk procedure, and it comes with few side effects.

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

Many patients will ignore a hernia until it becomes uncomfortable and seek care at that time. Some people will wear supportive bands or clothing around their waist to prevent the intestine from protruding.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

If the hernia is not “stuck,” patients tend to ignore it and adapt to living with it. However, this could lead to future complications.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Prossy

Prossy is a hospital cleaner and a mother of three children, all of whom are currently studying. After completing high school, she joined a nursing school to pursue a certificate in midwifery. Unfortunately, her father, who was paying her school fees, passed away while she was in her second year. Due to financial constraints, she had to drop out of nursing school. However, her passion for caring for the sick never faded, and she decided to become a cleaner, a job she has held for over 25 years at a local health center. Prossy's husband is a farmer, and they live in a two-roomed house. Their income is not sufficient to cover the cost of her surgery, and she is, therefore, appealing for support. For the last five years, Prossy began to experience troubling symptoms, including shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, palpitation, and pain while swallowing. Concerned about her health, Prossy sought medical attention and went to a local health center. She needed specialized care and was referred to Nyakibale hospital where surgery was recommended. She was diagnosed with a bilateral goiter and needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Prossy receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on March 7th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and she and her family need help raising money. Prossy says: “I hope to get healed and have normal health like any other person once I am given your support to undergo surgery.”

7% funded

7%funded
$20raised
$232to go

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Prossy

Prossy is a hospital cleaner and a mother of three children, all of whom are currently studying. After completing high school, she joined a nursing school to pursue a certificate in midwifery. Unfortunately, her father, who was paying her school fees, passed away while she was in her second year. Due to financial constraints, she had to drop out of nursing school. However, her passion for caring for the sick never faded, and she decided to become a cleaner, a job she has held for over 25 years at a local health center. Prossy's husband is a farmer, and they live in a two-roomed house. Their income is not sufficient to cover the cost of her surgery, and she is, therefore, appealing for support. For the last five years, Prossy began to experience troubling symptoms, including shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, palpitation, and pain while swallowing. Concerned about her health, Prossy sought medical attention and went to a local health center. She needed specialized care and was referred to Nyakibale hospital where surgery was recommended. She was diagnosed with a bilateral goiter and needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Prossy receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on March 7th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and she and her family need help raising money. Prossy says: “I hope to get healed and have normal health like any other person once I am given your support to undergo surgery.”

7% funded

7%funded
$20raised
$232to go