The A-BE-C Uganda initiative continues to grow with each passing year. This October, A-BE-C was represented by a dedicated team of surgeons (Dr. Ran Mathews & Dr. Anthony Schaeffer), nurses (Marlo Eldridge, Holly Shimomura & Alexa Penton), a social worker (Emily Haddad), and patient advocates (Janet Gibson & Noelani Shimomura) who traveled to Uganda to teach and train local Ugandan medical professionals in the care of bladder exstrophy. Patients who had previous surgeries came for follow-up care and others for surgeries, including two primary closures and consultations to discuss future surgeries.

A few highlights from the trip: 

Seeing Balam, a 23-year-old young man who had his first surgery in February, 2023. Balam grew up in a remote village in eastern Uganda where he rarely left his home. Prior to surgery, he was quiet, reserved and uncommunicative, but as he shared, “I now have the freedom to leave my home and do what I want to do. I want to be a teacher, a preacher and a mechanic and now I believe I can do all of those things.” 

Balam’s confidence and his smile are a reminder of the importance of the work being done to better the care of those living with bladder exstrophy in Uganda and around the world. 

Visiting BE Patients in Their Villages

Forests, sugar cane fields and many dirt roads led to the homes of Rachael and Collins, where the team was welcomed with big smiles and lots of hugs.