Ngoy (left) is a fistula survivor who was treated in May 2021 by our partner FisPro
in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kombi Janvier (right), an administrator
in charge of the reintegration program at FisPro, met with Ngoy
in late February to learn about her post-fistula life.
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Dear Friend,
With so much going on in the world—so many troubles, so many challenges—it can be hard to keep up a brave face. But if there’s an antidote to weariness, it just might lie in the soul-warming smile of a fistula survivor. Today, I have plenty of smiles to share with you.
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This Spring, You Honored Mothers Everywhere
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We are all constantly flooded with worthy causes to fund and moral fights to take up. Most of these causes beckon from close to home. So I am overwhelmed with gratitude and awe for the kind people who are inspired to help fistula patients—women they will likely never meet who suffer from a condition that they will probably never encounter. This Mother’s Day proved to be no different. Our donors showed up in characteristic force, and we reached our $200,000 challenge match ahead of the May 8 deadline.
Thanks to our loyal supporters, women like Cristobel (pictured above) will gain access to the healing provided by our partners in the Fistula Foundation Treatment Network (FFTN) in Zambia. In total, we raised more than $270,000, and we will send every dollar of that sum to Zambia, where it will fund outreach programs, train surgeons and healthcare staff, and support the cost of life-transforming care. Amid the noisy fray that surrounds us, that is something to smile about.
Please take a moment to meet Cristobel—a patient treated at Mbala General Hospital in Zambia—and learn about her path to recovery from a devastating childbirth injury.
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Fistula Care Is a Team Sport
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In my previous letter, I mentioned that Lindsey Pollaczek, vice president of programs, and Jesse Dubow, program manager, were in Kenya for the first in-the-field trip by our staff since before the Covid-19 pandemic. Jesse came back to the United States with deep gratitude for our partners and program colleagues in Kenya, and with a heightened appreciation for the undaunted spirit of fistula patients.
Learn about her experiences in Kenya, including the time when she graciously accepted a chicken—a gift that conveys high esteem—from Caroline, a fistula survivor.
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Pay Tribute with a Card That Heals
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While each of us alone can’t change the world, together we can change one woman's world forever. For as little as $15, you can bring joy to someone special, while also contributing to a woman's healing journey. We’ll send a handwritten tribute card on your behalf to celebrate a birthday, commemorate a loss, or honor a living hero.
As Jesse learned in Kenya, it all comes down to the connections we forge with others. None of us can achieve anything important without a team of support behind us. With these tribute cards, you can pay tribute to the people on your support team.
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Contributions are deductible for federal income tax purposes in the U.S. in accordance with applicable law. Registration in a state does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation of Fistula Foundation by the state.
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