Fatima Y., 12

Fatima is a twelve-year-old girl radiating joy, despite coming from a financially struggling household. Her father works as a hunter, and her mother crafts and sells hats to contribute to the family's meager income, which still falls below the poverty line. Fatima dreams of becoming a nurse someday. Until about five months ago, she was in good health, but then she began experiencing pain in her left flank, lower back, and discomfort during urination. After seeking medical advice at various facilities, she was diagnosed with a kidney stone in her left kidney. Unfortunately, due to financial constraints, her parents were unable to afford the medical bills and resorted to using herbal remedies at home, which did not alleviate her symptoms. Recently, after learning about Helpster through a volunteer visiting their slum, Fatima's parents brought her to our health facility, where she can receive the necessary surgery at no cost. This urgent surgery is crucial to prevent permanent damage to her left kidney.

Fatima had a large, persistent kidney stone causing significant pain. The stone could only be removed through a surgical procedure called nephrolithotomy. She was admitted for the surgery on May 7, 2025. The surgery was successful, and he was discharged on May 11, 2025. Both Fatima and the UMD Medical Clinic are pleased with the outcome, as the surgery was successful and fatima is now pain-free and in good health.

Larger stones might require more extensive treatment like using sound waves to break up the stone (lithotripsy), surgery to remove very large stones, or using a scope passed through the bladder to remove smaller stones. Kidney stones can cause excruciating pain as they move through the urinary tract. If left untreated, the stone may continue to pass or become lodged in a position that causes persistent, severe pain.