“It was the night of 23rd March, 2015, when I suddenly woke up and started coughing and vomiting blood. So, my parents took me to the hospital and I was given medicine, then it stopped for a while and started again. One of the doctors though it was asthma and then another thought it was ulcer,” these were the words of Kumba Sarr from Ebo Town.
The 19- year-old is right now fighting for her life at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital in Banjul, after she was diagnosed with rheumatic mitral stenosis - one of the grave consequences of heart disease.
“The doctors said I can’t be cured in The Gambia unless overseas if not, I might lose my life,” she said while sobbing.
Kumbo wants to get treatment as soon as possible, so that she can return to school to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse.
“I love reading books, cooking and helping people out. But now I cannot because I am bedridden. It’s never easy to be ill. I can no longer do the things I used to do before. I can’t move my legs, I can’t sleep or visit friends or help my mom, I can’t also go to school which I love so much and the hardest part of it is seeing my parents suffering so much about me as they are always around by my side day and night. They can’t even go on with their social activities like before the illness started. With all these hardships, I just believe that it’s a test from God. However, I have a strong believe that I will be cured and resume to my normal life.”
Kumba’s family has now located a hospital in India that could treat her, but they need help to cover the medical expenses.
She told What’s On-Gambia: “I am appealing to all Gambians and friends of The Gambia to help save my life by contributing financially in order to fund my medical treatment and transportation cost to India where I am recommended by my doctor to be treated.”