“Surgery at FAME Saved My Life”
Lorewo
When 32-year-old Lorewo* got a job after a year of unemployment, he was elated! It didn't matter that it was 300 miles from home; he was excited to provide for his family again. He was heading to Singida in central Tanzania to work as a guard at the Uganda–Tanzania Crude Oil Pipeline construction project.
“I was told that the pipeline construction was a long-term project and that I would have job security for at least four to five years if hired. This made me happy as my family had struggled a lot since I lost my job. My wife and I agreed that I should take it and visit home whenever I got time off. This was my first time away from my village and I was scared, but I knew I had to do it for my family.”
Unfortunately, Lorewo’s big break was short-lived. After two weeks at his new job, he fell terribly ill.
“It started with a bad stomach ache. I had not been eating very well, as I couldn’t afford much food until I got my first paycheck, so I attributed it to hunger. But it got worse. After two weeks of this, I called home and asked my brother to send me money for the hospital. He sent me 200,000 Tshs ($82), but the local hospital could not figure out what was wrong with me; they gave me panadol [paracetamol] for the pain and that was it.”
Lorewo’s Brother
As Lorewo's condition continued deteriorating, his family grew concerned and asked him to return home.
“We were all worried. At this point, he had been there for a month and every time I talked to him, he sounded sicker than the previous day. So our relatives came together and contributed money for him to catch the next bus home.”
Lorewo was, however, concerned about his job. Since he had only just started, he would lose his job once he left.
“I tried to stay and work. But I was getting weaker and weaker and towards the end, it was clear that I couldn’t even stand for short periods when my job required me to be on my feet at least eight hours a day. I had no choice but to resign and leave.”
Lorewo took the next bus to Karatu. He planned to meet his brother in Karatu, who would return him home to his village
“I was so sick when I boarded that bus. The bus was overcrowded and hot, but I tried to remain strong. We stopped several times for passengers to buy food, but I was too sick and nauseous to eat or drink anything, so I tried to sleep as much as the pain would let me. I was also running a high fever which made my condition worse. It helped that most of the journey was on a tarmac road and thus was a smooth ride. I don’t think I would have been able to handle the rocking back and forth on a dirt road.”
When Lorewo got to Karatu, he was in bad shape.
“He couldn’t even get out of the bus. He was on his knees in pain. People said a sick man on the bus had just arrived from Singida and couldn’t move. I ran closer to see it was Lorewo. I was very scared but knew I had to act quickly. I took a taxi and brought him to FAME.”
Lorewo’s brother knew of FAME, as he had been here a few years ago.
“When my wife couldn’t conceive a baby after many years of trying, a local clinic in Ngorongoro referred us to FAME. We came and saw the doctors and after a couple of months, we conceived; our son is now 3 years old! So I knew that FAME was a place with doctors who always help people.”
Once at FAME, Lorewo was rushed to the emergency department. After numerous tests, the doctors recommended emergency surgery: a laparotomy. He was diagnosed with a rupture in the small intestine that leaked contents into the abdominal cavity. This caused an infection that required urgent medical attention and surgical intervention. Lorewo’s recovery would be more complicated because he suffered from malnutrition.
“It has been a long journey. Lorewo has been at FAME for more than three weeks. His recovery has been very complicated, but we thank FAME doctors for being able to see what was wrong with him and heal him. I’m not sure if he would have survived if we had taken him elsewhere.”
“Surgery at FAME saved my life. I was very, very sick when I got here. When the doctor mentioned surgery, I was hesitant; I was already in so much pain I didn’t want him to add to this by cutting me with a knife. But the surgeon talked to me and explained what he would do and why it was necessary. Once I understood the reasons behind the surgery and the potential benefits, one of which was to stop the pain, I agreed to the surgery.”
Lorewo now looks forward to reuniting with his wife and kids.
“I am looking forward to being home again. I’m sad that I am going back home just as I left, with nothing, but I am grateful for my health and I know once I am fully recovered, I will get another job, provide for my family and repay my brother for all his kindness. Thank you, FAME, for this second chance.”
*The patient's name has been changed to protect his privacy and permission was secured to share their story. The quotes have been translated from Maasai to English.