Show Me:
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Padma
Nepal
“I have a second life. I am so thankful to Dr. Shirley, and so thankful to my husband who stood by me.”
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Nanyoor
Tanzania
Nanyoor experienced a terrible obstructed labor when she was only 16 years old. She is a member of the Maasai tribe in northern Tanzania, and her remote community is miles away from any major healthcare facility.
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Aneni
Zimbabwe
Before finding treatment through Fistula Foundation, Aneni* suffered with a terrible fistula for 35 years.
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Dembe
Uganda
Dembe did everything right during her pregnancy—she kept up all of her prenatal doctor’s appointments, and made sure that both she and her baby stayed healthy. When her labor began, Dembe walked the 10 kilometers from her home to the nearest heath center. She expected a normal delivery, but tragically, this would not come to pass—Dembe experienced a wrenching, prolonged labor, and her child did not survive.
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Vitasoa
Madagascar
Vitasoa is from the village of Manja, approximately 250km from the nearest city, Morondava. She developed fistula during the birth of her first child.
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Tovisoa
Madagascar
Tovisoa is hopeful as she waits for fistula surgery that could change her life.
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Sodreine
Madagascar
Sodreine is from Iabomora Village, about 56km from Vangaindrano in Madagascar. She gave birth to her first child at the age of 17, but her labor did not progress as planned. As a result, she developed obstetric fistula.
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Soazara
Madagascar
Soazara's husband abandoned her, because he could not stand her smell. Life became almost unbearable for her.
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Rose
Madagascar
Rose developed obstetric fistula at the age of 16, during her first delivery. Life became very difficult for her, in a number of ways. She is not married, and her father is dead. Survival became a challenge.
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Romenisoa
Madagascar
Today, Romenisoa is happy because her free surgery was successful, and she is no longer leaking. She is happy and grateful that now she can do her farming in peace, free from fistula.
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Rasoanirina
Madagascar
Extremely shy, and embarrassed by her condition, Rasoanirina stopped going to school.
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Ndatsaha
Madagascar
Ndatsaha developed fistula when she went in to labor with her third child. She sought the services of a traditional birth attendant, as she had with her previous pregnancies, and as most women did in her community. But this time, things were different. The baby did not come, and Ndatsaha labored in excruciating pain for three days.
