Help Treat Priscilla's Cancer

My name is Katherine Munson. I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Botswana (southern Africa) in the early 1990s where I met Priscilla Dhlamini. She was an immigrant working in my village as a dress maker, struggling to make ends meet for herself and her daughter. We became lifelong friends, staying in touch for 30 years, during which time she returned to her country, Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is among the poorest nations in the world, and has become less stable over the last 30 years, with serious economic problems and political violence. Priscilla is a talented dressmaker and hard-working and entrepreneurial, but many challenges beyond her control prevented her from reaching a life of much affluence. Over the past 30 years we tried selling baskets and other items she would send made by local women, to boost her and their income (Thank you to friends and family who purchased items over the years).

In the past year she developed abdominal and back pain that took months to diagnose. She was finally diagnosed this week at age 57 with neuroendocrine cancer that has spread to her liver. She has no health insurance and there is no social safety net in Zimbabwe that would provide free medical care. I have been paying so far with help of two others for the cost of hospitalization and testing at a private hospital.

Following another CT scan and more tests, the oncologist will prescribe a treatment. At this time the costs are uncertain. As I get more information I will update and may have to raise the goal amount. The good news is that generally medical costs there are much lower than costs in the US.

She is in great pain, weak and has lost weight. Her liver function is declining. No human deserves this lack of access to medical care she is facing.

Thank you for donating any amount. Without us, she has no hope.

I will update as more information becomes available about treatment plan and costs and also her condition.

I am deeply grateful for your help and concern.