The following are recent examples of patients receiving life-changing care, free of charge, at Hope Ward:
NJ
This 25-year-old lady was admitted with uncontrollable leaking of urine, from which she had been suffering for 3 months. This was due to a vesicovaginal fistula, which is a hole that was created between the vaginal wall and the bladder following a difficult labour. This caused her a lot of excruciating pain and suffering as she had a caesarean section, lost her first born, and became a social disgrace. An operation to close the hole (VVF repair) was done and NJ was able to control her urination thereafter. She was so delighted as this radically changed her life.
NM
A 5-year-old girl, a known patient with hydrocephalus, admitted with increased swelling of the head which for 4 months had caused severe headache and mental deterioration. She had an operation in which a shunt (an artificial drainage system for the brain) was put in by our neurosurgeon. This relieved the pressure, her headaches stopped and she was discharged happy and playful.
MS
A 37-year-old man came with a painful rotting and foul smelling wound on his leg. For 2 months these wounds had progressed from small wounds to huge ulcers. He had sought treatment through various herbalists in a bid to find a cure for his illness. In fact he had lost all confidence and all his friends had abandoned him. In such a desperate situation he came to Hope Ward where an operation that involved the removal of this bad leg was done in a bid to save the rest of the thigh. With compassionate care he managed to recover fully and today he is healthy and can move with crutches.
KJ
14-year-old boy was knocked down by a taxi and presented to IHK with a head injury, in deep coma and fitting. He was admitted to the intensive care unit, put on assisted breathing (using a machine) and several drug treatments initiated. However KJ’s condition continued to worsen. Thanks to the ICU team, 1-week later KJ’s condition had improved, he could breathe on his own and was transferred to the Hope ward. Three weeks later KJ was discharged, fully conscious and able to perform activities of daily living with some assistance.
NE
A 19-year-old teenager came to the Hope Ward in tears, very desperate for love and hope. He had suffered from extensive and multiple ulcers on both legs for the last 4 years. He was bed ridden, stinking, very thin and in a lot of pain. Having been separated from his parents, he had no hope of getting better. While on the Hope Ward several investigations were done to establish the exact cause of his problem, among which was a biopsy that indicated pustular psoariasis. Upon this specialized treatments were started, daily dressing done, high protein diet given and blood replaced, as he was anaemic. Before long the young boy began to improve, until he could walk by himself. As the wounds healed, hope was restored and he started planning to go back to school. 2 months later he was discharged through Hospice Uganda to prepare him for resettlement into his family. He went home very grateful.
OKA
This 31year old male patient had suffered with mutilated lips for 4 years. Having been abducted by the LRA in 2003, his lips were cut off using a hand knife, a situation that caused a lot of trauma and suffering. When he returned home his wife deserted him because of his disfigured appearance. OKA was so devastated as he was seen as a social misfit. In November 2006 he had reconstructive surgery done on his lips, which was successful. A few days later, he was allowed home, happy and so grateful.
NR
This 44-year-old mother of 5, had a vascular disease that caused poor circulation of blood to the peripheral parts of her body; when she was first admitted she had been suffering from this for 7 months. Due to this problem one of her legs had to be amputated, and most of her fingers are just stumps as they continuously dry off owing to the deficient blood supply. In due course they have also been cut off to avoid further spread of the disease. When she came to the Hope Ward she was so depressed and had lost a lot of weight as she had lost control over her life. While she was on Hope Ward, she was seen by our physiotherapist who taught her exercises and soon she was able to move using special braces that were designed for her condition. Today NR is at home and her life has greatly improved.
NL
This one-month-old baby girl came with extensive wounds all over her head. She had caught this infection when she was 4 days old. This caused her a lot of pain and restlessness. Having been to several hospitals she was brought to the Hope Ward and went through theatre where a skin graft was done. A few days later the wound site healed well and she was able to go home.
MN
This 16-year-old patient was knocked down by a vehicle on her way to school. She suffered extensive bleeding, both her legs were broken and she was in untold pain. She was rushed to the Hope Ward for complex care, and treatment to help fix her broken bones. Emergency care was given and immediate investigations done. The orthopaedic surgeon operated on her and put a metallic internal fixation. She remained in the ward for several weeks going through various exercises with the physiotherapist. By discharge she was much better and could walk with the use of crutches.
AZ
A 15-year-old girl came to the Hope Ward with a laceration on the lip following a human bite. This girl was extremely anxious and worried about her changed appearance. She was bitten during a fight about a week before coming to the Hope Ward. By the time she came to IHK, the lip had started to go septic and had become foul smelling. Repair of the lip was done in theatre by the plastic surgeon, and she was able to go home happy because her face had been restored.
ME
A 73-year-old man who was abandoned in the village for the past one year. He had been involved in a road traffic accident where he sustained multiple fractures on his left hand and leg. He could hardly help himself in any way and thus required support for his activities of daily living. Amidst all this he was brought to Hope Ward where he was under the care of a specialist orthopaedic surgeon. He was taken through theatre where an open reduction and internal fixation was done and he was discharged thereafter having gone through several sessions of physiotherapy. A month later, he returned to the ward having broken his left leg again and was in severe pain. He was taken back to theatre and an external fixation done. Weeks later the fixation was removed and he continued to come for outpatient physiotherapy sessions until he could safely use braces for his hand and leg. Braces were designed for him to aid movement and stability in all he does and he is happy and now settled in his home again.
NO
An 18 year old teenager, a newly diagnosed seropositive patient who has suffered with a necrotic head of the femur bone of her left leg for the last 7 years with inability to walk for 6 months. Her leg was so painful and this caused her a lot of depression and self pity. She also had a big bedsore on her back as she remained in one position for long hours. Whilst on the Hope Ward several investigations were done and she was started on several antibiotics. She had several sessions with the physiotherapist and a month later was discharged as she could move by her self with the aid of crutches.
