Surgical Success Story - #84

Shelley and Megan were two of the team members who were recently in Ethiopia and met some of these beautiful women. When we received Mamite's story and photo shortly after their return home, Shelley had this response: 

“This lady’s story has so much more meaning when you have sat down (like Megan and I did) with the women who have had the surgery.  This poor woman has lived through terrible, unimaginable circumstances for the past 6 years.  Thank God, she will have a new life after her surgery!”

— Shelley Green, Founder

From Dr. Mark:
"Please meet Mamite Arma. She is 61 years old who had a fourth degree prolapse. She has been pregnant seven times and has five living children. She has suffered from prolapse for six years, making it too difficult for her to even leave her house. Thank you for making such a difference in her life. God bless you."

Special Report #3: Megan Stacey from Ethiopia

Originally appeard in the Woodstock Sentinel-Review on February 27, 2017.

There are some moments you just never forget.

Shelley Green greets Sulded, a woman who lives in Soddo, Ethiopia and needed the help of Hearts for Ethiopia to correct a prolapsed uterus. So far the organization has sponsored 83 of those surgeries.

Standing in a small, shadowy room in the middle of a health clinic in rural Ethiopia, listening to incredible women pour out their souls, I had one of those moments.

These stories, centred around a uterine health condition, were horrifying and heart wrenching and inspiring all at once.

The women at the clinic – recipients of a surgery to correct a prolapsed uterus – were so gracious and open. They made themselves vulnerable and shared personal details about their lives, despite Ethiopia’s culture of privacy.

Many lived for years with extreme discomfort. The husband of one woman threatened to leave her if she refused to have sex with him – despite the pain her condition was causing.

The surgery, done by Dr. Mark Karnes at the Soddo Christian Hospital, is quite literally life changing.

“Before the operation, I was taking care of my family, but there was a lot of shame because my smelling was so much. It was not good. Even the wound was bleeding. My life was suffering,” said Amarach, who lived with a severely prolapsed uterus for over a year.

Most women with prolapsed uteruses were severely depressed and some were ignored or shunned by their communities. It’s common to stay away from friends and family and suffer in silence.

“I was hiding myself – I didn’t tell anybody,” said Turngo, a 50-year-old woman from the Soddo region. Most ladies wouldn’t even tell their spouse or children about the problem, despite daily pain and a terrible smell.

“My fear was not being able to be with people ever again,” said Sulded, from a rural area near Bucama, Ethiopia. “I was hopeless and I was ashamed.”

Amarach didn’t have a single person to talk to about her pain.

“I can walk, I can even run. I can stand, I can sit. My body, I can control. It is my own. Everything is new. This life is new.”

— Turngo, surgery recipient

And the nasty odour was a common symptom among the women who have dealt with a prolapsed uterus. In severe cases, the uterus can actually slip out of the body. One woman told the doctor that her uterus hit the floor when she would squat to use the bathroom. In rural Ethiopia, the toilet is often a hole in the ground.

“I was not able to sit with people, even to greet them. The smelling filled all my body. I was full of shame. With the smell, how can I go on?” Turngo said.

She lived that bleak reality for four years. She was in so much pain that she had to get down on all fours to cook because she couldn’t sit or stand.

Another woman was so distraught that she contemplated taking her own life.

It’s a devastating issue, but there are solutions. Karnes operates on dozens of women every year. The surgery comes at a cost of $325, a price tag that’s completely beyond possibility for most Ethiopian families.

“(I had) nothing, not even one cent, one birr,” Amarach said.

Hearts for Ethiopia has so far funded 83 of those surgeries. To say the recipients are grateful is a dramatic understatement.

The most consistent and noticeable change is relief from the bad odour. Women reported smelling “like perfume" post-surgery.

“I can walk, I can even run. I can stand, I can sit. My body, I can control. It is my own,” said Turngo.

“Everything is new. This life is new.”

- Megan Stacey

Surgical Success Stories - #82 & #83

It was a such a privilege for our team to drive these two women from Bucama to Soddo Christian Hospital for their surgeries. Dr. Mark writes, "It is been great having the team here for the past few days. Thank you for making such a great difference in these peoples lives. God bless you.

Shulale Kaba (right) was pregnant six times and has four living children. She has suffered from UVP for four years had a third-degree uterine prolapse before her surgery.

Alana Aba (below) had suffered from third degree uterine pelvic prolapse for five years. She has been pregnant seven times and has six living children. She also is very poor, having come to the hospital barefoot. 

We are so happy for these beautiful women! Their lives have been changed forever by these surgeries.

Surgical Success Story - #81

We'd like you to meet Elfenesh Cholibol. She is 50 years old and has suffered with a prolapse for five years. She has had eleven pregnancies and has seven living children. Her third-degree uterine prolapse, large cystocele and rectocele were repaired in surgery earlier this week. 

Incredibly, Shelley and Val were able to meet Elfenesh and then put on scrubs and watch some of her life-changing surgery. What an amazing opportunity!

Shelley and a small team of volunteers in Ethiopia right now catching up with all of our projects. Our Facebook page has more about what they're seeing and experiencing.

Surgical Success Story - #80

We are celebrating with Beselech today because after suffering with a third degree prolapse and a very large cystocoele for eight years, she is undergoing surgery today! This 60-year-old mother of five is so grateful to the supporters who made this possible.

Surgical Success Story - #79

This is Aykele Koroto who has delivered ten children and has suffered from a fourth degree uterine vaginal prolapse for two years. She is having surgery today! Thank you for making it possible to truly change this woman's life. 

Surgical Success Stories - #77 & #78

Dr. Mark just let us know that his team has successfully performed surgeries number 77 and 78 that were sponsored by Hearts for Ethiopia. We’d like you to meet one of those surgery candidates, Almaz Mena. She had been suffering with a prolapsed uterus and a large cystocoele for two years but is now recovering. Thank you to our wonderful supporters for helping to change her life! ❤️ 

Surgical Success Story - #76

This is Adanech Barato. She is a 45-year-old widow and mother of three children. She had a hysterectomy just a year ago at another hospital and came to Soddo Christian Hospital with a two month history of recurrent complete prolapse. She has had severe pelvic discomfort and has been unable to work. 

She will be having surgery today to address her problem. She is so grateful and praises God for this opportunity. Thanks to everyone for your support and for helping Adanech!

Surgical Success Story - #75

Let us introduce you to Asrese Chekole. She is 50 years old and has seven children. She has been suffering with third degree prolapse for a year.  She is a widow from Gama Gofa and has her surgery scheduled for today. From Dr. Mark: "Thanks so very much for making a difference in her life. God bless you."

Surgical Success Story - #74

We'd like you to meet Dalgite Chusero who has been pregnant seven times and has four living children. She is from Darrow and has suffered from prolapse for over a year as well as urinary stress incontinence and cystocoele. Dalgite's surgery is scheduled for today and we're so pleased for her.

Thank you for supporting these life changing surgeries!