Josephine’s diagnosis and surgery, Mombasa, Kenya

Mother of nine needs a mass removed from her jaw and neck.

Josephine and her nine children live in a rural village in Kwale county, where our Mombasa site operates. She is a farmer, and works hard as the sole provider for her children, but has struggled to provide their daily needs, especially school fees. She is thrilled that two of her sons, Nelson and Elias, are studying well because of the support of their Chalice sponsors.

Three years ago, Josephine (38) went to a local clinic because she had swelling on the right side of her neck. She was referred to the hospital for further assessment and treatment. The specialist doctors diagnosed her with a benign cyst on her salivary glands and enlarged lymph nodes around her neck (known as bilateral cervical lymphadenopathy).

At the time, the doctors instructed Josephine to consult an ENT specialist about surgery and treatment. But Josephine knew that the treatment would come with expensive private costs that she had no means to afford. So, she delayed seeking any further treatment.

Three years have passed, and the mass around her jaw and neck has grown, causing her discomfort, pain, and worry. Josephine has been using pain-relievers to control the pain and irritation caused by the swelling. The pain is so severe that it’s hindering her eating and speech. The Mombasa site team have stepped in to help her pursue treatment.

With your support, they ensure Josephine undergoes a CT scan around the neck, lab tests, and a test of the mass. Then they will surgically remove it. The site will also ensure she attends five follow-up reviews with the specialist.

The total budget request for her treatment comes to $6,769.40 CAD, which includes her hospital charges, surgeon’s fees, pharmacy, lab tests, CT scan, and specialized clinic reviews.

Funding Request: $6,769.40 CAD

Critical Need: CNKMP1024

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Please note that any donations that exceed the request will be used to fund other critical need emergencies that may arise.