The first time you meet Dr. Boateng Nimako, you can tell he’s a special individual. It’s not only his calming voice or infectious smile, but also the way he fiercely advocates for his patients.

After two years of delays due to Covid, and then another delay due to an Ebola outbreak in Uganda, the US team was finally able to hold our second workshop at Uro Care in Kampala. Our committed team treated, connected with and supported 23 families from all over Uganda.

A-BE-C is so proud to be a part of the annual Bladder Exstrophy workshop which celebrated its 15th year in January!!! After two days of extensive discussion and five days of complex surgeries, I can’t thank Civil Hospital enough for their ongoing commitment to our beautiful children and families living with bladder exstrophy.

Anna Artigas, daughter of Executive Director Pamela Artigas, is traveling with A-BE-C for the 2023 International Exstrophy Workshop in Uganda as part of a service project to provide support to teens with exstrophy.

Rachel Althizer is traveling with A-BE-C for the 2023 International Exstrophy Workshop in Ahmedabad, India, as a social worker to assist children and families with exstrophy as they prepare for surgery.

Janet Rankin shares her story of perseverance throughout her life with exstrophy and how the love of her husband saved her life.

A-BE-C recently presented its Richard W. Grady Humanitarian Award to John P. Gearhart, M.D., Johns Hopkins Professor of Pediatrics and Urology. The distinguished award was presented during the 2022 International Exstrophy Conference in Baltimore, MD.

Dr. Canning gave of himself completely in doing his utmost to improve every child’s life that he touched, to the best of his ability. He always put his patients’ care, safety and quality of life first in every conversation and plan of care. The entire BE community will miss his tremendous passion, kindness, availability and great skill. 

“Imagine the feeling of sleeping on a wet bed every night and to wake up very early to clean it and put it on the roof to dry before people wake up.” 

Khadidja’s childhood memories are mostly of struggle. She often leaked urine and kids her age always made fun of her. They criticized her for how she walked, and how her thighs never looked as “normal” as theirs.