For those of you who have been following the story of Agot Deng Leek, the lady from the Bor region who has been suffering from obstetric fistula since 1990, when her only child died in the womb during delivery, we do have an update. The investigative process is continuing and all is not as cut and dried as we had hoped it would be. Twenty four, almost 25 years is a terribly long time to have lived this way. Medical staff at the Hamlin Fistula Hospital in Addis have carried out extensive tests & they have sent her to other facilities for xrays & tests on internal organs. Agots greatest wish was that she might have a child, just 1 child. Sadly, thats not meant to be. One kidney has completely shut down & the other is extremely compromised. The bladder is destroyed, to the point, the fistula cannot be simply repaired. There is one option only and that is to do what is known as an ileal conduit. This is a major surgery, which creates a urinary diversion, meaning that urine will collect in a bag that attaches to the outside of the stomach. This procedure would definitely give Agot some control over her problem but it could prove difficult to care for in Sth Sudan. AGot is afraid she has no one to care for her in Sth Sudan as grown up children usually help to care for parents who are unwell. She is quite understandably frightened about the procedure and unsure at this stage whether to have it or not. She wants desperately to fly home & discuss this with her parents but our CEO Abraham Maluk spoke with her & her husband today to explain that she needs to make a decision whilst she is at the hospital. Our fundraising for Agot doesnt extend to her flying home & then returning again, plus this would place added stress on her body. We realise the importance of family involvement in decision making in Sth Sudan and hope that consultation with her parents can be done over the phone. We truly hope she makes the decision to have the ileal conduit because we feel it would improve her quality of life. At least she would have control over her bodily fluids. Without this surgery, her life continues to be at great risk.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Sep 2014 12:23:23 +0000
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