Meet Gaudensia

12-year-old Gaudensia was diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease a year ago. She had symptoms of heart failure — a swollen face, tummy, and limbs. She needs surgery to replace her mitral valve but cannot afford it. She takes heart failure medication.

After both her parents passed away 10 years ago, Gaudensia moved to Kilimanjaro to live with her sister and 5 yr old nephew. Gaudensia works at the market, buying and selling vegetables, a small-scale business.

For the past 5 yrs Gaudensia’s sister could not afford to take Gaudensia to school. There were good people who came around a few months ago, and they were willing to support Gaudensia to start her studies. She was unable to read and write, but now she begins to learn. She hasn’t been to school lately because of her heart failure symptoms. That’s when she was admitted to the hospital.

KCMC’s Dr. Lameck Marcel is treating her. He says: “If she could have surgery, it’s an opportunity to survive and fulfill her dreams in her studies, and it will keep her from being admitted again and again in heart failure, as has been happening these past years.”