Celebrating 100 Surgeries: Amarach's Story

“Now I am glad, I am joyful, I can do whatever I want.”

Amarach, 45, from a rural community near the Bucama Health Clinic outside Soddo, Ethiopia

Those are the words of Amarach, a 45-year-old mother of 11 children who suffered with a prolapsed uterus for a year. What she remembers most about the condition?

The shame, the pain, and the smell.

“I was smelling, it was not good. Even the wound was bleeding,” Amarach told us when we sat down to chat at the Bucama Health Clinic in Ethiopia.

No one understood what was wrong – but they could smell it. So Amarach hid herself away and share her suffering with anyone.

Her kids noticed something was afoot. But Amarach felt ashamed about what was happening with her body.

When her family asked what was wrong, she said, “oh, I don’t know.” Her husband threatened to leave her, and told her “there is no pain.”

Amarach was tired. She’d been leaving with near-constant pain. She felt so weak.

The nuns at Bucama tried to help Amarach, giving her medication. But three weeks later, the pain came back with a vengeance. She was referred to Soddo Christian Hospital. She needed surgery to correct her prolapsed uterus.

Without Mothers with a Heart for Ethiopia, the procedure would have been impossible.

“I had nothing, not even one cent, one birr,” Amarach said about paying for an operation.

She was overwhelmed with gratitude, thanking us profusely. Amarach raised her arms to the heavens to thank God for answering her prayers when she spoke about the surgery.

It gave Amarach her life back.

“Now I am glad, I am joyful, I can do whatever I want.”

— Amarach

“I am so sorry for those who did not have a chance to have this surgery like me,” she said.

Everything has changed for her.

“Now I am happy. My body smells like perfume – better than perfume.”

Thank you, Amarach, for your courage, your heart, and for inviting us to share in a moment of beautiful vulnerability. We are so thankful.

Surgical Success Stories - #98, #99 and #100 (WOW!)

We are thrilled to be introducing you to the latest three women who have had their prolapse uterus surgeries sponsored by MWAHFE. What a joy it is to know that 100 women have had their lives changed by the generous donors who have made their surgeries possible!

Ukume Aniulo has 10 children and has been suffering with a total prolapse for two years. Now she will be able to live her life again!

Alemitu Chemere has been pregnant nine times but only six of her children are living. She has had a total prolapse for nine months. She says that it is very difficult for her to walk because of this problem and is it very excited to have her life back.

Tirame Fremo has suffered from third degree UVP for more than 2 years. She has been pregnant 10 times and now has seven living children. She was able to make a small down payment towards her surgery but the vast majority was covered by MWAHFE. Thank you for helping this woman regain her dignity. 

Surgical Success Stories - #93... all the way to #97!

Dr. Mark and his obstetrics team at Soddo Christian Hospital have been busy! They have just sent us the photos and stories of six more women who have had their lives changed through surgeries sponsored by Mothers with a Heart for Ethiopia. 

Majute Badacha is a 45-year-old woman who has had four pregnancies and four children. She has had prolapse for six years and has been a widow for four years. Thank you so much for making a big difference in her life.

Dinkenesh Folla has been pregnant five times and has been a widow for 10 years. She was suffering from third-degree UVP for eight years. Thank you for helping her.

Guneshe Olecha has been pregnant nine times. She delivered six children, had three miscarriages and has three living children. She has suffered with a very large cystocele for six years. She has been a widow for nine years. She is so grateful that she underwent surgery.

Marta Mota Gravida is an extremely poor woman. Her husband left her eight years ago to raise her children by herself. She had severe abnormal bleeding and cystocele. Thank you for making such a difference in her life. She received two units of blood before surgery and one unit at the end of her surgery. She is now doing very well!

Dupase Ducho has delivered 10 childrenand sadly, only two are living. She has been a widow for 16 years and has suffered with severe prolapse for six years. She is very grateful for her surgery.

Surgical Success Stories - #88... all the way to #92!

We are so pleased to introduce you to three women whose surgeries were sponsored by Mothers with a Heart for Ethiopia. Thank you too all of our donors who have helped to change these lives.

This is Mune Desalegn. She is 80-years-old and has delivered 14 children. Seven of these children are still living. She has been a widow for 20 years and has suffered with prolapse for several years.

Mane Eligo has been a widow for eight years. She has delivered seven children and has four of them remaining. She has suffered greatly with severe prolapse for four years. 

Burkinesh Birahanu has suffered from 4th degree uterine vaginal prolapse for over six years. She is married and has been pregnant seven times. Burkinesh underwent surgery earlier this week.

Galene Esrael is a 60-year-old mother who has had 4th degree prolapse for six years. She is married and is very grateful that she is having surgery done. This is going to make such a tremendous change in her life.

Kongit Kolicha had 3rd degree uterine prolapse and underwent surgery earlier this week. Her family only had funds to pay for 20% of her care. The rest of it as being under written by MWAHFE. She is very happy for this great contribution that will help change her life. She had suffered from prolapse for greater than six years. She is married and has six children. Thank you thank you so very much for your help!

Surgical Success Stories - #85, #86, #87

We're so pleased to introduce you to the latest three surgery candidates.
For more information about sponsoring a life-changing surgery, click here.

This is Aster Kebede. She has never been pregnant but has cared for her sick husband for many years. It is very unusual for a woman who has never conceived to have third-degree UVP.

Her work is very hard and she has carried heavy loads that has contributed to this condition. She will be undergoing surgery today.

This is Asnakech Manduro. She has been pregnant nine times and has eight living children. She has a very large sister cystocoele/rectocoele and will be undergoing surgery tomorrow.

This is Alemetu Toga. She has delivered six children and has suffered with a third degree prolapse for three years. She is also scheduled for surgery tomorrow.

It has been our great joy to be a part of changing these women's lives!

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 of MWAHFE

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 Mothers with a Heart 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.

Mothers with a Heart 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 Mothers with a Heart for Ethiopia supporters who made this possible.