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, nurses, a social worker, and patient advocates.

Realizing that care for the entire patient – beginning with appropriate surgical counseling and preparation, to psychosocial support and postoperative management – is key to successful outcomes, the sessions focused on the challenges patients and families face through a spectrum of discussions and provide tools to show that BE Doesn’t Limit ME!  

A-BE-C recently presented its Richard W. Grady Humanitarian Award to Dr. William Reiner, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Urology. Dr Reiner, a world-renowned Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, spent his career focused on the psychological aspects of bladder exstrophy. 

Like many of yours, our story is one of Acceptance of our son’s diagnosis, Bravery in the face of the unknown, Empathy for one another, Courage instead of fear, and Faith in God’s plan.

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.