Improve Quality Childhood Cancer Care in Uganda

In March 2020, when Jonathan was two years old, he first had signs of cancer. He developed non-tender swelling in his right lower abdomen. His father brought him to a local health center nearby the village where his family lived. At the health center, he was diagnosed with and treated for malaria – without improvement. The health center then referred him to a higher-level health center. He remained at the higher-level center for three days before being referred to the Lira Regional Referral Hospital (Lira RRH). Unfortunately, his parents did not have the necessary funds to take him to the hospital in Lira until August 2020. When Jonathan was seen at the Lira RRH, he underwent an abdominal ultrasound scan which revealed a mass in the right kidney. The staff at Lira RRH referred Jonathan to the national hospital in Kampala, Uganda for further tests and treatment. Because his father was unable to afford the costs associated with travel to Kampala as well as the funds required to stay in Kampala, he declined to take Jonathan to the national hospital.

After Jonathan’s father had further discussions with a staff member at the Lira RRH and his church members, he was advised to take Jonathan to our hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor in the nearby district of Gulu. Jonathan arrived at St. Mary’s in September 2020. He had a full work-up and was found to have a huge mass in the right kidney. A biopsy was performed which revealed that he had Wilms Tumor, a cancer that arises in the kidney that is typically seen in young children like Jonathan.

Jonathan began pre-operative chemotherapy in late September 2020 and then underwent a removal of his right kidney in early January 2021.  He resumed chemotherapy after his surgery and completed all chemotherapy in May 2021.  He achieved a complete remission.  His father ensured that Jonathan completed all treatment as planned and has brought him to all scheduled post-treatment follow up visits.  Jonathan’s last visit was in October 2022.  He is now four years old.  His father reported that he is healthy and growing. 

Jonathan’s father is grateful to the team at St. Mary’s and to everyone - including individuals who donate to this project - because his son was able to receive cancer treatment. For poor families like Jonathan’s, they often struggle financially to provide food and shelter for themselves and their children. When faced with a child with cancer who requires treatment that can be cost-prohibitive, they face even greater financial challenges that can be overwhelming. Thanks to your generous donations, children like Jonathan can receive free treatment and accommodation and have the best chance for cure. Thank you again for your support!

Elizabeth is an only child. Her father abandoned her and her mother when she was four months old.  Her 18-year-old mother receives no financial support from her husband.  Mother and daughter live with Elizabeth’s maternal grandfather. 

Elizabeth was referred to our hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor in Gulu, Uganda by the Lira Regional Referral Hospital (LRRH) which is in a nearby district. Her mother reported that in January 2021, Elizabeth had a poor appetite and suffered from weight loss that began when she was one and a half years old. At the age of three, Elizabeth began to develop swelling in the left abdominal/lumbar region. She reported that Elizabeth also had pain, fever, night sweats, and a total loss of appetite. Her mother took her to a nearby health center that immediately referred her to the LRRH. She spent three weeks at the LRRH where she received treatment for malaria, but because there was no reduction in the abdominal swelling, she was referred to our hospital for suspected cancer. She was admitted to our hospital in early April 2021 - four months from the onset of symptoms of cancer.

After a complete evaluation, Elizabeth was diagnosed with Wilms Tumor – a type of childhood cancer of the kidneys. She started pre-operative chemotherapy in mid-April 2021 and when this initial treatment was completed, she underwent a nephrectomy (a total removal of her left kidney) in July 2021. After recovering from surgery, she was given post-operative chemotherapy and completed all treatment in late October 2021. She achieved a complete remission and was discharged home with a schedule of appointment dates for routine follow-up visits.    

During treatment, Elizabeth and her mother were never visited by any relatives.  They did not receive any type of support from the family.  After discharge from St. Mary’s, Elizabeth’s mother did not bring her back for a routine follow-up visit in January 2022, but when they both returned a month later, Elizabeth was diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition and her mother was equally weak and wasted. They were both started on nutritional rehabilitation at the hospital. Both are much better now.  Our team decided that it would be in their best interests to remain at the hospital’s Family Home until Elizabeth completes at least six months of follow up check-ups to ensure that they have the necessary psychosocial support, including food.  Elizabeth was last evaluated in May 2022 and found to be in complete remission.

Elizabeth and her mother live in very poor circumstances and faced many challenges before, during, and after the completion of treatment – largely due to the lack of family support, even while at home after her initial discharge post treatment completion.

Thanks to your generous donations, children like Elizabeth can receive treatment for free and other support – food, accommodation, and transportation – which were all beyond the means that her mother could provide. While it is good news that Elizabeth remains in remission, we are concerned about the struggles that they will face once they leave our hospital. Your donations make it possible for us to care for children like Elizabeth and continue to care for them when they have been successfully treated. Thank you again for your support!