A Survivor’s Story: Obstetric Fistula, Family Healing, and New Opportunities
A Survivor’s Story: Obstetric Fistula, Family Healing, and New Opportunities
Deborah’s story is one of unimaginable loss—and even more extraordinary hope. During the delivery of her fifth child, she suffered a devastating stillbirth, a ruptured uterus, and an obstetric fistula. This triple tragedy not only threatened her physical well-being but also brought emotional and economic hardship to her family.
What Is an Obstetric Fistula?
An obstetric fistula is a severe birth injury that occurs due to prolonged, obstructed labor without timely medical intervention. It creates a hole between the birth canal and bladder or rectum, causing chronic incontinence. Sadly, these injuries are entirely preventable through improved maternal care—but in many low-resource settings, still too many women like Deborah fall through the cracks.
The Impact on Deborah & Her Family
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Physical pain and isolation: Daily leakage and shame drove Deborah away from community and social life.
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Emotional toll: She faced depression and anxiety, fearful of ever giving birth again.
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Economic pressure: Unable to work or farm, the family struggled to make ends meet—educating children became a monumental challenge.
How Maternal Health Foundation Helped
Through targeted outreach, community support, and clinical partnerships, the Foundation’s support offered Deborah:
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Surgical repair of her fistula—restoring continence and dignity.
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Psychosocial counseling—regaining her confidence and community ties.
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Livelihood training and small grants—helping her family start a poultry farm for steady income.
A Turning Point: Family Healing and Opportunity
Post-treatment, Deborah describes her recovery as both physical and spiritual:
“I’m no longer ashamed. I can laugh with my children again. My marriage is healing.”
With renewed health and a functioning herd of chickens, the family now earns enough to cover school fees. They’ve also become advocates—raising awareness about maternal health, obstetric fistula prevention, and early labor intervention in their community.
Why Deborah’s Story Matters for Maternal Health Advocacy
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Empathy through storytelling: Personal narratives humanize global health crises, making donor engagement more powerful.
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Awareness and prevention: Highlighting preventable birth injuries underscores the need for skilled birth attendance, emergency obstetric care, and improved rural healthcare access.
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Community-led change: Survivors and their families can champion maternal health issues at grassroots levels, driving demand for quality care.
Call-to-Action: Support Healing & Prevention
You can make a real difference:
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Donate to help more women receive life‑changing fistula surgery.
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Share Deborah’s story to raise awareness about obstetric fistula and safe motherhood.
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Partner with us to bring maternal health initiatives—including labor care training and local clinics—to underserved areas.