Thanksgiving is a cherished American holiday and a time-honored tradition that centers around gratitude and sharing. Families and friends celebrate the spirit of togetherness, share a festive meal and reflect on the blessings of the past year.
But families elsewhere in the world do not have as much to be thankful for. When a woman in Ethiopia does not receive the medical care she needs during childbirth, the consequences are both heartbreaking and profound.
Jittu woke up in a hospital bed, alone, on soaking wet sheets. A nurse at her local hospital told her that, as well as losing her precious baby, she had sustained a devastating childbirth injury called an obstetric fistula. Later, she found out that her double tragedy was entirely preventable.
Her pregnancy had progressed smoothly. But after two agonizing days in obstructed labor, she made the long and difficult journey to find help to deliver her baby. When she arrived on foot at the nearest health clinic in Risko, Jittu was turned away. Nobody there had the skills to help her.
Jittu was transported to a nearby rural hospital by ambulance but it was too late to save her baby or prevent an obstetric fistula injury from occurring. Jittu returned home in despair with no baby to love and leaking urine uncontrollably. She told us:
“This leakage continued for a year. I rarely left my home and isolated myself. I also had pain in my leg that made it difficult to move around. My husband and my family hated me because of the condition.” - Jittu
This is the unimaginable situation faced by around 1,000 Ethiopian women like Jittu every year. Without timely access to skilled midwifery care, too many women lose their babies and sustain horrific childbirth injuries which devastate their lives for years and sometimes decades.
Fortunately, after hearing about Hamlin’s Harar Fistula Hospital, Jittu was welcomed with the gift of a beautiful Comfort Package. Each Comfort Package includes a lovingly hand-knitted Hamlin blanket, hygiene items, a clean new nightgown and slippers and a lovely homecoming dress.
After free life-changing surgery, Jittu returned to her family and community with her health and dignity restored.
“In the hospital, they took excellent care of me - providing food, washing my clothes and giving me the necessary treatment. I am very grateful to the staff for giving me back my health and confidence. When they told me I was cured, I was overjoyed and felt at peace.” - Jittu
Will you donate this Thanksgiving to make a woman like Jittu feel seen and loved when she arrives at a Hamlin fistula hospital for life-changing surgery?
