Jane's* Story

My parents died when I was little and I was sent to live with my aunt who abused me and made me do hard labor.

She married me off to an older man who already had six wives. I became his seventh.

Soon after, I found out I was pregnant with twins. During the pregnancy, I was bedridden for four months. I did not see a doctor during the pregnancy.

After a difficult labor, the first twin died the day after delivery and the second twin died the following day.

One day I was working, grinding millet, when suddenly I felt my uterus fall out between my legs.

I didn’t tell anyone because I was so embarrassed. I tried to hide it for years. Besides, I had no money for surgery.

I couldn’t go to celebrations or social gatherings, I didn’t mix with people. They all said I was sick. My husband took me to a traditional healer who told him that I was hiding a pregnancy so he divorced me.

Others have been able to accomplish so much but I have been dragged down by this disease. I have lived with it for five long years.

I went to Mekelle because I heard I could be healed at the University. I got the surgery and now I am cured.

I was dead and buried but now I feel like you have brought me back to life.

*Name changed for privacy

Photos courtesy Joni Kabana.