Sofia is 18 years old. She is back at Hamlin Hospital to hopefully be repaired once again.
Her first visit to Hamlin at 15 years old was with the birth her 1st child. She suffered a prolonged labor before she made it to her nearest hospital in western Ethiopia where her child was delivered still born and by caesarian. She was left with fistulas and leaking urine. They referred her to the Hamlin Hospital.
SofiaŹ¼s husband was there for her. He found missionaries who took her to Hamlin where she stayed for 9 months and received treatment and care until her fistulas repaired. She waited, “stayed” for 2 years till she conceived again. This time she arrived at her local hospital in the west and her beautiful baby boy was delivered by caesarian.
She realised later she was leaking urine again and made another journey to Hamlin hospital. I met her on her 15th day at Hamlin. She was overflowing love for her precious baby boy. I told her of my niece a little older that her with 2 children and extremely happy with her family. She lit up as she held her son and said how happy she was too to have her boy. It seemed she felt extremely lucky after her first child birth experience.
All the women in the ward were awaiting the births and were hopeful for more children after this. Sofia was different in this respect. When I asked her if she if she wanted more children, she said” for now he is enough but who knows what the future will bring” . After 2 caesarians and 2 fistulas Sofia was a little worn out. Hamlin was a place that offered immediate expert care for fistulas and the much needed rest she need to get well.
In Ethiopia having children is a great blessing and a sign of wealth and prosperity.
Hamlin gives support to mothers and mothers to be, to continue to be a vital members of their community. Hamlin aim to continue and expand their Midwifery training in order to have experts at hand closer to villages and towns like the one where Sofia lives.
More Stories from our trip and other great photographer can be found in our book Hamlin Fistula and SalaamGarage. All the proceeds from this book go directly to The Hamlin Hospital through Blurb for good. See the link below
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