Laizer (right) poses with his brother (left).

Laizer

The legend goes that a young boy was carrying his disabled brother on his back when someone asked him if it was hard, to which he replied, “He ain't heavy, he's my brother.” This quote has often been used to show a deeper meaning of unconditional love, support and selflessness within the context of brotherhood. This week, we met a former FAME patient whose story reminded us of this quote. A brother goes out of his way to save his brother's life. 

Laizer* is 13 years old. A few months ago, he got a small pimple on his leg, which he didn't tell anyone about as it was small and he thought it would go away after a few days. However, the pimple kept growing. 

“The pimple kept growing and became very painful, so I had to stop attending school. The school was a long walk away and I couldn’t walk long because of the pain. Also, the area where the school is located is very cold and this caused the pimple to hurt even more. So I had to stay home. I missed my friends terribly!”

— Laizer

Laizer’s brother took him to a local dispensary, where the doctor diagnosed him with tetanus, saying a rusted nail must have grazed him. He then gave Laizer a tetanus injection. This did not work. This is when Laizer’s mother called the local herbalist and sought his advice since modern medicine had failed. 

“My mother called the local herbalist, who came and looked at Laizer’s leg. He said the pimple was easy to treat; he just had to cut it off. I did not agree with this, but taking Laizer to the hospital would be very expensive as the nearest hospital is miles away and this local herbalist was quite cheap. He was only asking for a female cow as payment and since we have many cows, that was not a problem; this was cheaper for us than a hospital. The herbalist asked us to look for the fattest goat we could find and roast it very hard for Laizer. He said that he should eat this to recover faster. But Laizer was very sick and unable to eat anything, so the herbalist ate all the meat. I don’t believe he wanted that goat for Laizer; he wanted it all for himself! I’m still angry about that!”

— Laizer's Brother

After the herbalist’s intervention, Laizer dealt with an open wound that quickly became infected and septic. In the beginning, the neighbors would visit and help take care of Laizer or just visit to see how he was doing, but the wound became more infected and started to smell and nobody wanted to come close to their homestead. 

“Everyone deserted us. Nobody wanted to be around Laizer. His wound was very smelly and had small insects in it. I took care of him myself. I made sure to give him a sponge bath and try to make him eat something. Every day I stayed with him, day and night, I could see his condition deteriorating. That’s when I decided to bring him to FAME, a hospital I had known about for a while. The herbalist kept telling us to give it more time and that he would heal soon, but I could already see there was no chance of that happening.”

— Laizer's Brother

When Laizer’s brother decided to bring him to FAME, he faced a great challenge. Their village is an hour's walk on a dirt, bumpy road to the bus stop and other cars. No cars could venture to their village. So he had to find a way to get Laizer to the bus stage, where he had paid a man 250,000 TZS ($110) to bring Laizer to FAME in his car. The driver charged almost double his usual price because of Laizer's condition.

Laizer’s brother explains how he made a stretcher using two walking sticks and cowhide to carry his brother to the bus stop, an hour's walk away.

“When I decided to bring him to FAME, I asked some neighbors to help me carry him, but they refused. They couldn’t stand the smell and those that could were scared of catching what he had. So I said okay. I’ll carry him myself. I got cow skin and attached it to two sticks such that he could lie down and I could prop him over my shoulder [a makeshift stretcher]. He was very heavy, but I figured if I kept walking and taking short breaks, I might be able to get him to the car waiting for us.”

— Laizer's Brother

When Laizer’s brother left the homestead with his brother on his shoulders and walked a few steps, some village boys ran over to help him. 

“They just came and didn’t say anything. They held the sides of the cow skin and started walking in silence. I was very upset that they had refused to help at first, but I also knew that Laizer did not have much time and with their help, I would get him there faster. So I accepted the help.”

— Laizer's Brother

They got Laizer to the stage, where they found the car he had paid waiting to bring them to FAME. Then they started the four-hour journey. 

“Laizer kept getting sicker and sicker and at some point, I thought he might not make it to FAME. The driver sensed this and drove faster.”

— Laizer's Brother

Once at FAME, Laizer was rushed to the emergency room. He would end up spending four months in the inpatient ward. He had multiple surgeries to save his leg. His brother stayed by his side the whole time. 

He is now healthy and back to his usual self. However, his brother is still cautious.

“He wants to take the cows out to graze just like the old days and I know he can, but I’m too scared. So I tell him to only look after a few cows closer to the home. I don’t want to let him out of my sight in case he gets sick again.”

— Laizer's Brother

Laizer’s brother

Laizer’s brother is grateful for the help they received at FAME.

“When we arrived at FAME, the doctors ran to him and started helping him. They didn’t care about the smell or his condition. They just wanted to make him better. I thank God for FAME and pray that you keep helping people in our community. Laizer was here for a long time, but the price was affordable. I was surprised. I wish I had brought him earlier.”

— Laizer's Brother

“I’m happy you saved my brother; he’s my only brother. Maasai families are usually quite big, but in our case, it’s just the two of us. He is 28 years younger than me, but he’s my best friend and I could not imagine life without him.”

— Laizer's Brother

“Thank you, FAME, for helping me, making me okay and healing my leg. I am stronger now and will return to school soon.”

— Laizer

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.

Namelok

Namelok* sits at FAME’s inpatient ward in a reflective mood. She has been discharged and is getting ready to go home after being admitted for three days. At 50, she was diagnosed with a condition she knew little about, type 1 diabetes, a chronic, life-altering disease where the pancreas does not make insulin. This disease is uncommon in people in her age group, as it usually develops in children, teens and young adults (CDC).

Namelok had started getting sickly about three years ago. She visited her local hospital, where she was diagnosed with gastroenteritis, an illness triggered by the infection and inflammation of the digestive system. She has been taking medicine for this on and off for the past three years. However, her condition had deteriorated fast in the last two weeks. She had pain and tingling in her legs and her stomach hurt. She was also very weak from her significant weight loss; more concerning, she had, in her own words, “turned blind.” 

“I was in a lot of pain. I didn’t know what was happening to me. I was slipping in and out of consciousness all the time. My eyes did not work anymore; all I saw was darkness. My brother and daughter carried me to the bus station, where we took a bus to FAME. However, the journey was long and I kept getting sicker and sicker. The bus was hot and overcrowded. In the evening, we reached a town 30 miles from FAME, where we had to change buses. I was too sick and tired to continue, so we looked for a place to sleep and continued the journey the next morning.”

— Namelok

When they arrived at FAME, Namelok was quickly received and admitted. It was clear to all that this was a dire situation. After laboratory tests, Namelok was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Her blood sugar was five times higher than normal. She was going through diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a serious life-threatening complication of diabetes when there isn't enough insulin being made in the body. The doctors worked swiftly and promptly to stabilize her condition and start her on insulin therapy. They continued to monitor her closely and regularly assessed her vitals. 

“I was sad when they told me I had type 1 diabetes. When the doctors explained what it was and that I would have to give myself injections daily, I told them I think I might have the same disease my son has.”

— Namelok

As it turns out, Namelok’s 18-year-old son is also a type 1 diabetic and has been since he was diagnosed at 14. He receives his insulin from a local hospital close to home and is doing well.

Namelok’s daughter (right) poses with her mother.

“I knew my son had a disease, but I didn’t know the name or what it was. I just knew that he had to give himself injections every day. When the doctor diagnosed him, he was old enough to be shown how to do the injections, so I never had to do them and since he is a responsible boy, I just left him to it.”

— Namelok

The FAME medical staff provided invaluable comprehensive diabetes education to Namelok. This included information about the disease, its management, insulin administration and blood sugar monitoring techniques and how to recognize signs of low and high blood sugar.

“I appreciate all the care and diabetes education I have received from the doctors and nurses, all of which I did not know and was not told when my son was diagnosed. They patiently answered all my questions. This has given me the confidence to face this disease.”

— Namelok

In addition to the diabetes education she has received at FAME, Namelok takes great comfort because she has close family that understands first-hand what she is going through.  

“I take great comfort in the fact that my son is well-versed in managing his diabetes, which means he is in a position to help me! I think I will be okay.”

— Namelok

For many newly diagnosed patients, the psychological aspect of this disease has as great an impact on them as the physical consequences. Coping with the need for constant self-care, potential lifestyle changes and possible long-term diabetes-related complications can often lead to emotional challenges and family support is crucial. Luckily Namelok has her son and daughter to rely on, who are happy that their mother has finally got the right diagnosis and is much better now than she has been for years! 

“Late diagnosis of diabetes is a big problem in rural areas such as our catchment area. This poses significant challenges to patients’ treatment and prognosis, which causes poorer long-term health outcomes for patients. Delayed treatment increases the risk of complications such as cardiovascular disease, kidney problems, nerve damage and vision loss, which sadly happened in Namelok’s case. There is an urgent need for health education and awareness, where the community and healthcare workers are taught to recognize this disease’s symptoms and risk factors.”

— Dr. Josephat Mtuwa

FAME continues to spread diabetes health education and awareness through its health communication outreach. Every Monday, FAME staff have a one-hour show on a local Karatu radio station where they discuss different medical conditions and the treatment options available at FAME. This year, FAME has covered topics related to diabetes on the radio program, including pregnancy-induced diabetes (gestational diabetes), diabetes symptoms and diabetic foot ulcers.

FAME also holds a diabetes clinic every week on Thursdays where diabetic patients are monitored and counseled while new patients are advised on diabetes management. Dr. Josephat Mtuwa runs this clinic. 

Not to mention FAME’s Annual Diabetes Walk held every year on World Diabetes Day, where FAME staff and local community members participate in a 1.6-mile walk highlighting the importance of exercise in managing and preventing diabetes. FAME offers free diabetes screenings at the end of this walk. 

*The patient's name has been changed to protect her privacy and permission was secured to share her story. The quotes have been translated from Maasai to English.

Angela and her daughter.

There is a growing awareness among women around the world about the importance of adequate maternal healthcare and how best to ensure the well-being of themselves and their infants. Given a choice, many women from rural areas in Tanzania opt to travel to urban areas to deliver their children, as rural areas often struggle with limited access to quality healthcare. This scarcity can significantly impact the quality of maternal healthcare in rural areas and puts both the mother and child at risk.

This is the unconventional story of a mother who traveled from Dar es Salaam, the largest city and financial hub of Tanzania, to Karatu in rural Tanzania to deliver her child at FAME, going against the long-held belief that specialized medical personnel and expertise are only available in the cities. 

Angela* is 22 years old and lives with her husband in a bustling neighborhood in Dar es Salaam, 530 miles from FAME. She grew up in Karatu before her family moved to Dar es Salaam a few years ago; however, her mother-in-law lives in Karatu and she visits her often. She just gave birth to her first child!

“When I was 12, I was very sick and brought to FAME. I remember receiving good care that even impressed my parents, who were trying to raise money to take me to a hospital in Arusha. That experience remained with me. When my family moved to Dar es Salaam shortly after, I kept in touch with my friends, who always mentioned FAME and how it’s helping them and saving them from traveling long distances to seek quality healthcare. During one of my visits to see my mother-in-law, I was in my early weeks of pregnancy. I visited FAME and talked to them about childbirth at FAME, the support I would receive during and after delivery and how they could deal with emergencies. I was very impressed with what I learned and saw and after this visit, I decided to deliver at FAME. It helped that my mother-in-law was very happy with my decision and welcomed it!”

— Angela

However, Angela, a hairdresser in Dar es Salaam, needed to seek permission from work to travel. Legally she is entitled to three months of maternity leave, but since she was coming to Karatu, she wanted to be here for six months to ensure the baby was healthy and strong before returning to work. 

“My boss was confused when I asked for a long maternity leave. He asked why I would go from Dar es Salaam to give birth in the village. I told him my heart was set on Karatu and I was ready to resign if that was the only way I could go. Seeing that he couldn’t change my mind, he agreed and has been supportive!”

— Angela

Her biggest challenge? Telling her mother, who also lives in Dar es Salaam, that she would give birth to her first grandchild miles away. 

“My mother was very sad. She was looking forward to supporting me through labor with my first child. I think she also didn’t like that my mother-in-law got to experience this with me. However, I made her understand that without the very best maternal health, her support, as much as it was valued, would not help me. In the end, she understood and gave me her blessings.”

— Angela

Angela also had to let the hospital where she went for prenatal care know she would not be giving birth there. 

“I did all my prenatal classes in Dar es Salaam but told the hospital the truth from the beginning, that despite my prenatal classes there, I would deliver my baby in Karatu. I don’t think they believed me! They kept saying nobody leaves a big town to deliver a baby in the village.”

— Angela

Angela came to FAME for her last prenatal check-up just before delivery. She was happy to have been received well and that FAME did not give her a hard time for not doing all her prenatal visits here. Angela delivered a healthy baby girl and said the service was better than expected.

“The nurses at FAME have been very respectful and kind to me, which was important as I didn’t want anyone to mistreat me when birthing. Some friends have had nurses shouting at and demeaning them during childbirth and I was terrified of this happening to me. So my biggest advantage of birthing at FAME has been the support and understanding I have received from the staff and the doctors.”

— Angela

“I am very happy to be a mama. It’s a good feeling. I have a name for my daughter that I love, but I haven’t shared or discussed it with my husband yet. I’m waiting for him to meet the baby and then hopefully, he will be too distracted to oppose the name! Until then, I’m keeping it a secret.”

— Angela

FAME continues to bridge the gap in maternal healthcare services between rural and urban areas, ensuring that all women have equitable access to quality healthcare regardless of where they come from. According to Angela, the presence of skilled healthcare providers at FAME, trained in handling various complications during childbirth, made FAME her preferred choice for delivery. Being a well-equipped medical facility with advanced diagnostic tools, modern operation theaters and a well-equipped special care nursery (SCN) convinced her that FAME had the resources to manage and address potential complications that might arise during childbirth.

*The patient's name has been changed to protect her privacy and permission was secured to share her story. The quotes have been translated from Swahili to English.

Kosen and his mother.

Kosen* is one and a half years old. He is basking in the sun on the FAME grounds with his mother. Next to them are two other women. Kosen’s mother looks excited as she chats to them in her tribal language. They seem like old friends despite having just met at FAME. Kosen has been discharged to go home from the inpatient ward after a week of admission. Together with his mother, they are waiting for his father to take them home. 

Kosen had been sick for a month before his mother decided to bring him to FAME. His neck had a big swelling, starting as a little pimple and growing.

“When Kosen got sick, we thought the swelling would go down. But it didn’t; instead, it got bigger and more painful to the touch. My husband wanted to take him to the local clinic close to where we live, where we take the children all the time for small injuries, but I refused. I knew of a child with a similar illness to Kosen’s who lost his life at that clinic, so I knew potential risks were involved. I told my husband we must seek an alternative hospital.”

— Kosen's mom

Kosen’s mother already had another hospital in mind, FAME. Despite never having visited, she had heard good things and was confident that FAME could help. 

“My sister-in-law is the one who told me about FAME. She said she had a huge swelling in her stomach, which was surgically removed a few years ago at FAME and she went back to full health. She said she knew many people who still come here and they say it just gets better as the years go by. So I ran to my husband and pleaded with him. He couldn’t argue with what his big sister had said, so he brought us to FAME!”

— Kosen's Mom

When Kosen and his parents arrived at FAME, the doctors ran tests and admitted him to the inpatient ward. 

“He was crying a lot when we got here. I can always make him laugh, but this time I couldn’t! The doctors reassured me that they would do everything possible to help him.”

— Kosen's Mom

Luckily, Kosen’s diagnosis did not require surgery. According to his mother, he is well enough to go home after a week of medications and “many injections”. 

“ I am thankful that Kosen is okay. I ask FAME management and the doctors to continue the same way. You are helping many of us who would otherwise have nowhere else to go. I believe God brought FAME to us because he knew we needed it! I am FAME’s ambassador from today! More people need to know about this hospital, its good service and the fact that they are good with adults and children too! They have been very gentle with Kosen.”

— Kosen's Mom

Why is Kosen’s mother declaring herself “a FAME Ambassador”?

“We don’t live close to FAME. Our home is quite far. We had to take three modes of transport to get here [bus, private car and bodaboda]. Still, despite the challenges involved, I had to prioritize quality healthcare for my son over convenience, as I could see that his condition was serious and out of the ordinary. I want to tell everyone in my village that despite the proximity of our local clinic, we should look for other hospitals, especially for complex cases, to ensure our children get the best care.”

— Kosen's Mom

Kosen’s mother is happy to have met other mothers at FAME from her tribe, who share her experience of traveling long distances to access quality healthcare. They have offered each other support and distracted themselves from their children's illnesses by telling each other stories. 

“I am inspired to see mothers here at FAME who have come even farther than I have in search of quality healthcare for their children. They have overcome many challenges to get here, but it’s all worth it!”

— Kosen's Mom

*The patient's name has been changed to protect their privacy and permission was secured to share their story. The quotes have been translated from Maasai to English.

New first-time mom, Zuri*, cannot hide her joy at FAME's Maternity Ward. She had to undergo an emergency C-section to save her life and child.

21-year-old Zuri* is cradling her firstborn child at FAME’s maternity ward. Zuri first came to FAME after she got married and immediately fell pregnant. 

“My mother, grandmother and aunties came together to advise me once they heard I was pregnant. They said many things, but what stood out was their recommendation that I come to FAME for my prenatal classes and delivery. They claimed that FAME was a safe place for childbirth and had good doctors and equipment that enabled them to handle emergency pregnancy complications. So I started my prenatal classes at FAME, which provided me with information, skills and support to prepare for the birth of my baby. I enjoyed the classes very much!”

— Zuri

At 39 weeks of pregnancy, Zuri went into labor and came to FAME to deliver.

“I am young and my pregnancy journey was very easy, so I was surprised when the doctors informed me that I would have to undergo an emergency C-section due to fetal distress and my baby not getting enough oxygen. I was in shock!”

— Zuri

FAME's OR Supervisor, Moses Kikonya (right), together with Dr. Joselina Mumbee (middle) and OB/GYN Volunteer from Creighton University, Alana Augur (left), safely deliver Zuri's son. 

Zuri’s Son.

Zuri was wheeled into surgery, the fate of her life and her baby’s in the hands of the FAME medical team. 

“I got increasingly scared as they wheeled me into the theater. I didn’t say anything, but the nurses could see how distressed and sad I was. They told me that a C-section didn’t compromise my baby’s chance to be healthy. Hearing my baby cry when they pulled him out was the most reassuring noise ever!”

— Zuri

Zuri is doing well after her C-section and is enjoying time with her new baby boy. 

“If I had delivered at home, one or both of us could have died. I’m so grateful for all the skilled FAME staff who looked after my child and me and ensured our safety. This being my first pregnancy, they held my hand throughout the process. The service at FAME has been good and everyone has been so kind. I cannot say thank you enough. You are the reason I am a mother! Thank You!”

— Zuri

Despite the unexpected events, Zuri is filled with an overwhelming sense of joy and relief. 

“I would advise every pregnant woman to come to FAME. I believed everything would be fine with my delivery, but at the last minute, everything changed and I was very lucky to have good doctors and nurses to help me. We might have to look a little harder in our area to find a good hospital, but finding a good hospital like FAME to support you during pregnancy and delivery can save your baby’s life and your own!”

— Zuri

*The patient's name has been changed to protect her privacy and permission was secured to share her story. The quotes have been translated from Swahili to English.