FAME's Lifesaving Impact: Saving Mothers and Premature Babies
This is a strikingly similar story of two women, both from the Ngorongoro region in northern Tanzania, but living in different villages. They had never met before until they ended up in FAME's maternity ward. As you read their stories, you'll be amazed by the similar experiences these two women shared!
Nangiki
Nangiki (foreground) and her mother-in-law (background) captured at FAME's Maternity Ward.
Nangiki* was 30 weeks into her pregnancy when she fell seriously ill. The illness began during the day, but by 1:00 a.m, it was clear that something was seriously wrong. In her distress, she called for her mother-in-law, who quickly came to her side. Realizing the severity of the situation, she summoned Nangiki's father-in-law. Together, they swiftly arranged to borrow a car from a neighbor to urgently transport Nangiki to FAME, which was more than a 4-hour drive away.
“I suddenly fell ill. At first, I didn’t want to mention anything because I’m staying with my in-laws while my husband works in Kenya. They’ve been incredibly kind to me and my children and I didn’t want to disturb them. However, when I went to bed and woke up a few hours later in intense pain, I knew something was wrong. I had already given birth to two children before this one and had never experienced this pain before.”
When Nangiki reached FAME, it was evident to the medical team that she required an immediate C-section to ensure the safety and well-being of both her and her baby.
Nangiki’s daughter in an incubator at FAME's Special Care Nursery.
“When the doctors said I needed an operation, my in-laws asked for my decision. I had given birth to both my kids at home and wasn’t used to hospitals, so everything felt strange and scary. But the doctors made sure we understood the situation by having someone explain everything to us in our language, Maasai, since we don’t speak Swahili. After I understood what was happening, I said yes to the surgery.”
Nangiki gave birth to a healthy baby girl weighing 2.4 lbs. Because her baby was born prematurely at 30 weeks, she was transferred to FAME's Special Care Nursery (SCN) and placed in an incubator.
“I was so happy when they told me I had a girl! I already have two boys, but they often spend time with their father or prefer to be with their uncles and male cousins. I’ve always dreamt of having a daughter to share stories with and my dream came true! However, I was very worried about her size, but the doctors told me that she would grow strong quickly. True to their word, she’s getting bigger every day and we’ll go home soon. I am grateful for the help and kindness my family and I have received at FAME.”
shomo
Shomo poses outside FAME’s Maternity ward.
Twin 1 in an incubator at FAME's Special Care Nursery.
FAME's nurse, Nditoya Mollel, checks on Twin 2 in the incubator at FAME's Maternity Ward.
Similar to Nangiki, Shomo* was in her 30th week of pregnancy when she started experiencing lower abdominal pain. She was away from home as she had been accompanying the cattle in their search for pasture.
“I suddenly felt intense pain and asked one of the women to accompany me back home for some rest. However, the pain kept getting worse and after a few hours at home, I decided to go to the local clinic because I knew something was wrong. It was not my time to give birth, so I knew the baby wasn’t ready to be born. I’ve given birth to three children before, so I could tell this pain was different. While en route to the hospital, I began to feel that the baby was on its way and to my surprise, it turned out that the baby was indeed arriving right then, even though we were still on the road! In the chaos, after helping deliver the baby, one of the women shouted, ‘I can see another one’ and I thought she was confused due to the stressful situation. But as it turns out, I was carrying twins!”
Upon arriving at the local clinic, the doctor wasted no time directing them to FAME, saying, "Only FAME can save such small babies."
“When we arrived at FAME, my children and I were in critical condition. I was dizzy and in pain; my children were cold, very cold to the touch. I just knew there was little chance we would leave this hospital alive.”
Shomo had experienced significant blood loss by the time she reached FAME. Her newborn twins, born prematurely at 30 weeks, suffered from hypothermia. Time was of the essence. Fortunately, the FAME medical team is always well-prepared for emergencies and thanks to their quick intervention, Shomo and her children's lives were saved.
“It seems I fell into a deep sleep. When I woke up, they told me I had delivered twin daughters and believed they would be fine. I was very, very happy! I already have three boys at home and I have always wanted a girl and now, God has blessed me with two!”
Shomo had no idea she was carrying twins because she couldn't attend any prenatal classes due to the distance to the local clinic. Like Nangiki, she had given birth to her previous children at home without any issues, so she anticipated a similar experience for this pregnancy. She mentioned that the only thing that stood out as different was that her stomach felt "much tighter" than her previous pregnancies.
After spending several weeks in the Special Care Nursery (SCN), where their daughters lay side by side, FAME sent these new mothers and their daughters back home.
Access to maternal newborn healthcare in rural Tanzania is still incredibly limited. FAME is proud to serve as a lifeline, particularly for women like Nangiki and Shomo, who face sudden complications requiring specialized care for themselves and their children.
*The patients' names have been changed to protect their privacy and Permissions were secured to share these patients' stories. These interviews have been translated from Maasai to English.