Help Teacher Grace!

I received this email from my friend Ruth who is still working at AAH in Uganda. I am very concerned about Teacher Grace's condition. THANK YOU to everyone who has helped so far! I ask all of you who are able or willing to give financially or help medically to consider donating to her cause. Please email me if you are interested!

Dear all,

I want to give you an update on Teacher Grace's medical condition, which is extremely serious. Since my arrival in Uganda, Grace has been moving around the country, from doctor to doctor, seeking a clear diagnosis and treatment plan for the discomfort and swelling she has experienced around her right eye since 2006. By May it became clear that she would have to seek treatment in Kampala, and since then she has made approximately five trips to the Mulago hospital eye clinic. I accompanied her on two of these trips, and experienced first-hand the incredibly long waiting times and low standard of care. However, there is currently a team of visiting eye specialists at Mulago, and this week Grace was able to get an appointment with them. Yesterday she updated me, and the news was not good. The visiting specialist stressed that this is an extremely serious condition that should have been operated on months ago. The official diagnosis is "Orbital apex tumor involving the sinus and extending to the optic nerve." She has almost completely lost vision in her right eye, although that may be reversible. The tumor has been steadily growing, and has extended into the brain. It has become a neurological issue and will require a complex surgery that the specialist insists *cannot be performed in Uganda.* He recommends undergoing the surgery in the US or India. That is all the information that Grace was able to give me. The specialist has asked her to return to her previous doctor at Mulago to obtain a comprehensive final report on her condition, and then see him again so that he can make an appropriate referral. Grace plans on doing this during the first week of the term break (August 18th) and I plan on accompanying her. I am hoping to talk to the specialist and get as much information as possible about the condition and a way forward for Grace. One thing is clear though, she is going to require extensive financial assistance in the near future.

Her expenses have already included several tests and scans, as well as the transportation and accommodation necessary for each trip to Mulago. Charlee has been working hard in the States to raise money for this, and raised $700. I loaned Grace an additional $400. However, the expenses outlined above have already consumed the bulk of this money. Although I need a lot more information, I would imagine that Grace is now facing travel and medical costs in the thousands of dollars. I am wondering what AAH can do to help one of our most valuable staff members. Anyone who has visited the school knows that Grace works miracles with the P1 class and is one of the most consistent and capable teachers we have. I will continue to act as a liaison and keep everyone up to date on any information I can gather.

Thanks,
Ruth