Give Esther a Healthy Heart and Future

Earlier this month, I met Esther at Kisoro District Hospital in Uganda, where I am working alongside fellow medical students, residents, and attending physicians from Hofstra/Northwell and Einstein/Montefiore. This global health program has been operating full-time in partnership with Doctors for Global Health since 2007.

Esther is a bright and kind 13-year-old girl from Kisoro, Uganda, who dreams of becoming a nurse. She loves school—especially English class—and enjoys spending time with her friends, jumping rope, and eating her favorite food, Irish potatoes.

But Esther is facing a serious challenge. She has rheumatic heart disease -- a disease in which one of the heart valves is severely damaged. The only treatment for rheumatic heart disease is surgery to replace the failing valve. Without this surgery her heart will struggle to keep up, putting her life at risk.

In many parts of the world, children like Esther receive early antibiotic treatment with penicillin to prevent rheumatic heart disease from developing. However, in Uganda, access to even basic medical care remains limited for many people, making early intervention challenging.

Your donation could change Esther's future. Esther is full of dreams and determination. She wants to grow up, become a nurse, and make a difference in the lives of others. But first, she needs this surgery to give her a fighting chance.

Esther's follow-up care post-surgery will continued to be managed by Kisoro District Hospital and the Montifiore/Doctor's for Global Health Program.