OCTOBER 14, 2024 — 

Faith is very grateful to everyone who donated to help her with transportation costs to the nearest hospital for treatment for Sarah’s clubfoot.  She sent a video, but we opted not to show it because she was breastfeeding 🙂  In the video, Faith said: “I am appreciating everyone who has done anything to see that my young daughter gets well.  I am thanking you all and nothing I can offer you but only God to be with you.” 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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OCTOBER 8, 2024 — 

From Daniel: “I have managed to talk with Faith.  She has greeted you and appreciated you for everything. She told me that Sarah has gone through different treatments by changing different shoes she wears.  But right now, they are being needed in hospital every month until Sarah is one year old.  Then, they will change another treatment until two years old, then the final treatment will span up to when Sarah is three years old. About how she is surviving with her kids, Faith started purchasing dried coffee and is selling them.  She is also still cultivating maize and beans.  She and her kids are ok but the extra money needed to get Sarah to the hospital every month is too much.  She told me that any help from you will be a blessing.”  We later calculated with Daniel that $150 will help ensure Faith can get Sarah to the hospital regularly for the next year.

JUNE 18, 2024 — 

Watch the video with Sarah

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MARCH 1, 2024 — 

Rough translation from Daniel: “I am greeting you Ssalongo (Daniel), Mama Angie and Ellen. The situation right now is not good. I came at my sister’s place because I had no one to take care of me. But am very grateful with the help you sent me when I was in hospital (RISE sent Faith money to help her with medical issues she was having, around which time they decided to do a C-section) but am not doing well right now. (Don’t worry!  RISE sent her some additional money since seeing this video, money to purchase medication to recover from her C-section and money for food, as she is not able to work right now.)  

In terms of getting a law in Uganda, we really need it seriously because the one month I have been in Kagadi Referral Hospital, they brought in two people who I heard were attacked with acid. So we need the support from our everyone to make this possible to stop acid violence which will help our young ones to grow with no fear. I had few things to say but am very grateful with everyone who has supported me. Thank you so much.”

We are very grateful to Faith for continuing to share her story.  At RISE, we believe that one of the reasons a law against acid attacks has not been passed in Uganda is because survivors often live in isolation and hiding.  People like Faith who share their story help bring the reality of acid violence to light and help lawmakers understand the devastating consequences associated with not having a specific law against acid violence.  PLEASE LEAVE FAITH A MESSAGE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION THANKING HER FOR SHARING HER STORY.

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FEBRUARY 29, 2024 — 

This is the best screen shot we could get from the video.  We hope to send you more photos of Sarah soon!

Faith is experiencing pain related to her C-section so we have sent some money for her to purchase medication.  (She used all of her savings while at the hospital.)  We will keep you updated!  Please keep Faith and Sarah in your thoughts and prayers!

 

 

 

 

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JANUARY 8, 2024 — 

“My names are Faith Kunihira from Uganda in Kagadi District.  I wish to thank and appreaciate all the support being given to me and my fellow survivors from you, our donors,  Mrs Angie, Ellen and everyone in your capacity, I urge everyone to keep signing our petition since in Uganda we don’t have a clear law to stop acid violence. Since am a mother, I know if we don’t fight it now, more of our children might go through the same we have suffered. Please keep signing and sharing until we get a law in place in Uganda. Thank you so much. Am Faith Kunihira from Kagadi, Uganda.”  SHARE THE PETITION USING THIS LINK: https://chng.it/cT84Swz6ZS

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DECEMBER 26, 2023 — 

Here’s an update about Faith from Julie:

Faith stayed with me at my home. She stayed with me for a few days while I taught her how to make paper beads. She has gone back to her home village until February when she will come back to Kampala when the specialized eye doctors are available. Faith will practice making beads at home and we hope she will have some products to sell when she comes back in February.

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DECEMBER 12, 2023 — 

Faith traveled to Kampala on Sunday and went to the hospital on Monday with Daniel.  Unfortunately, the doctors there told her to come back the next day (today.)  When she and Daniel went today, they were told that she could not have the surgery done today either.  According to Daniel, “We have gone in Kiruddu again and we have managed to see the doctor.  Unfortunately, she won’t be worked on as the specialized doctors are not there by now.  We have been told to come back on January 15th as the white doctors will be coming to do such surgeries in February.  Kiruddu has no eye surgeon right now.”

This is of course frustrating for Faith, Daniel, and the entire RISE team.  The scarcity of highly trained medical professionals in Uganda creates difficulties for many patients, including acid attack survivors, who tend to need specialized surgical interventions.  It’s one of the things we will address in the medical section of our situational analysis (more on that soon!)

Faith is of course disappointed but is planning to stay in Kampala and meet up with Julie, who will take her to purchase materials to make bracelets.  We will keep you updated on this!

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DECEMBER 5, 2023 — 

Faith is planning to return to Kampala on Sunday, December 10.  Thanks to your donations, we have sent her money to travel.  In this video, she is saying thank you for the money donated to help her start making bracelets!  From Daniel: “That is Faith greeting everyone in the name of our Lord.  She is doing fine and appreciating everyone who have donated towards her for the materials so that she can start producing crafts.  She is so happy and and amazed about the kind of love all American people you have showed her since you knew her. Thank you all. Next Sunday, she will be traveling to Kampala to meet Daniel to see how surgery will be but am so happy to start selling you my crafts. Thank you so much.”

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NOVEMBER 14, 2023 — 

From Daniel: “In that video she is showing how her maize plantation is looking like. She had cultivated cassava.  She sold it and got 600,000 in which she added on 1,000,000 which she borrowed in village savings and bought a quarter of an acre of land where she will be gardening instead of borrowing a garden. Though the land was at 2 million which means that they are still demanding her 1,400,000. Rain is too much in her village and many crops has been destroyed. She harvested her beans but the price is not favorite to sell them right now. It seems the harvests were too much which has lead the prices to fall down. So she is hoping to keep them until prices will increase. She is looking forward to her surgery later this month. She has sent you greetings and she loves you so much, says may God continue blessing you.”

Watch a short video of Faith’s crops

 

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SEPTEMBER 25, 2023 — 

Faith was seen by doctors today and unfortunately, will have to wait until November for further surgeries.  Doctors want to perform a surgery on her eye, because “there is some white thing that developed on her pupil which will prevent her from seeing.” She will be applying tetracycline until November.  It’s a discouraging update because Faith was looking forward to receiving her third round of surgeries.  However, she is in good spirits and will spend the night at Daniel’s home before returning to her village.

Hear from Faith & Daniel:

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SEPTEMBER 24, 2023 — 

Faith is planning to come to Kampala tomorrow for surgery!  Thanks to your donations, we were able to send money for her to travel.  When Daniel asked her to send a video update, this is what we received 🙂

According to Daniel, “In that video, she has been appreciating you and all of us for what we did to change her life.  Her mother and sister also have done the same of appreciating you and they are confident that everything will turn out good.  She has said that she is ready for the next surgery and praising God for the love you have shown her.  They have sent regards to the people you’re working with and called God to continue blessing you all.”

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SEPTEMBER 13, 2023 — 

Faith is planning to return to Kampala for a third round of surgeries on September 24!  Thanks to your donations, she has been able to hire someone to tend to her crops while she is in Kampala for surgery and recovery.  This is a huge relief to her, knowing that her fields will still generate income even though she is not able to tend to them herself.

The third round of surgeries will be on her mouth and her right hand, where they will release scar tissue so she has improved mobility in that hand.  We will update you when we have more information!  Thank you to everyone who has supported Faith in her journey.

In the photo, Faith is holding a savings book from her local savings association.  This is how she was able to acquire her first plot of land, receiving a loan through that organization.  Her second, larger plot of land that is generating more income was a gift from RISE donors!

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AUGUST 21, 2023 — 

From Daniel: “In this video she is explaining how much she got from her harvest. She got 2 bags from beans in which she sold and got 350,000 ugx. With maize they stole most of it but she managed to sell the remaining one and she got 180,000 ugx. So in full harvest got 530,000. She managed to pay school fees for one of her children of 100,000.  She had previous debt from her local association of 500,000 but she managed to pay 300,000. She remained with 130,000 which she has using in her home needs. Right now the money has got finished while they are just clearing land for new planting.  What is disturbing her right now is where the surgery took place most especially in chest and shoulders. The scars are paining her so much.  September, we were told to come back in hospital but she hasn’t yet planted anything since the season is just starting and going through another surgery while the recent one is still paining her frightens her. But she believes and has faith that everything will be ok.  She is wishing to take this opportunity to thank you all and for everything you have done to her. Indeed her life has changed in so many ways. May God bless you and grant you more.”

 

JUNE 6, 2023 — 

Faith is feeling better and ready to return to her village for the rest of her recovery.  She will have the remainder of the stitches removed from her neck from a doctor closer to her home town.  The plan is to return in September for additional surgeries.  Watch her video- she is in great spirits!

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JUNE 5, 2023 — 

Here’s the latest update from Daniel: “Today we visited the hospital and the doctors removed stitches from her eyes but they left those in her neck and chest for one more week.  We were instructed to buy a cervical collar to make her neck remain stiff.  She is going to wear it for three months.  She is still having pain.  Removing the stitches was so painful.  But she has endured it all for her betterment.”  Faith will stay with Daniel for one more week, after which time doctors are planning to remove the stitches in her neck and chest.

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MAY 30, 2023 — 

We were so happy to receive the news from Daniel this morning that Faith was discharged from the hospital!  She and Daniel are making their way back to his home in Kampala, where she will stay for one week as she continues her recovery.

After one week, doctors want to see Faith back at the hospital, where they will remove the stitches around her eyes.  According to Daniel, “The new flesh on both eyes is still attached with stitches. Doctors advised to first leave it like that for more one week.”

 

 

 

 

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MAY 29, 2023 — 

Here’s the latest update on Faith!

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MAY 28, 2023 — 

Faith is feeling better!  Thanks to your donations, Daniel has been able to purchase oral pain medications for her.  In the photograph, Faith is sitting up and in good spirits, talking to a fellow patient who is waiting to receive surgery next week.

Thank you to everyone who has left such beautiful messages of support.  They are so meaningful to Faith, Daniel, and the entire RISE team.

 

 

 

 

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MAY 26, 2023 — 

Faith is feeling better!  Thanks to your donations, Daniel was able to purchase some oral pain medication for Faith, which he has been giving her.  Daniel has continued to stay at the hospital with Faith as she recovers.  We are so grateful for his commitment to her recovery and for the prayers and words of encouragement you have left for Faith.  Please keep it up!  It’s a great source of encouragement to them both as they move through this difficult recovery process.

 

MAY 24, 2023 — 

Faith’s surgery on Monday went well and she is slowly recovering.  Daniel told us that she was in “deep pain” yesterday, telling us, “The pain lead her to lose her senses in the morning.”  Daniel bought her the medications needed and nurses administered the morphine last night. Daniel’s report today was, “Today it’s bit ok.  Pain is still there but the doctors has responded.  They dressed her and they were happy with the healing process.  Please pray for her quick recovery.  Thank you our donors for everything.”  Daniel is sleeping in the hospital so that he can be with Faith throughout her recovery.

 

 

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MAY 22, 2023 — 

Faith is receiving surgery as we write this.  Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers!  And here’s a video from Daniel taken this morning as Faith prepared for surgery.

Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who donated and has left messages for Faith.  The support is beautiful.  We are very grateful.

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MAY 17, 2023 — 

Here’s the latest update from Daniel: “Doctors visited with Faith today (5/17) and evaluated her but they have not yet told us when the surgery will take place.  But Faith is doing ok and I will go there tomorrow.”  We are hoping that Faith will be able to receive surgery soon!  It’s very difficult to wait, but the fact she has a bed in the hospital is encouraging.  We will update you with more information as we have it.

Faith’s surgeries will be free of charge because she is being treated at a government hospital.  However, there will be expenses for food, pain medication, and other medical supplies.  Our best estimate at this time is that she will require $300 for this second phase of surgeries.  PLEASE DONATE to help Faith get the care she needs. Thank you so much to everyone who has already donated!

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MAY 16, 2023 — 

Daniel and Faith kept calling in to the hospital asking whether a bed was available and this morning, we woke up to the news that they got a bed!  This is great news, as it means that Faith will be admitted for surgery soon.  According to Daniel, Faith is very happy to have gotten a bed.

Faith’s surgeries will be free of charge because she is being treated at a government hospital.  However, there will be expenses for food, pain medication, and other medical supplies.  Our best estimate at this time is that she will require $300 for this second phase of surgeries.  PLEASE DONATE to help Faith get the care she needs.  We will update you as things proceed!

MAY 12, 2023 — 

It’s been a rough few days for Faith but we are doing our best to keep Faith’s spirits up and keep her busy so the waiting is not so difficult.

Aside from the legal work we do, RISE supports survivors by training them in craft making.  Learning new skills provides a boost in confidence and helps survivors earn money to support themselves and their families.  We are very grateful to Julie for sharing her expertise with Faith and helping encourage her in this journey.

Shop the RISE Artisan Marketplace

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MAY 9, 2023 — 

Faith and Daniel went to the hospital where Faith was planning to receive surgery.  However, after checking in and having blood work and other pre-surgical steps completed, they were told that there were not enough beds in the hospital and to come back in approximately three weeks.  This is very disappointing for us all, especially Faith, who has been eagerly awaiting the next phase of surgeries on her neck, eye, and mouth.  According to Daniel, Faith was “really frustrated and heartbroken.  She was really ready for this.  When we were told that there weren’t any beds, she didn’t say a single word.”  (and this is unusual given that according to Daniel, Faith talks a lot ;))  Please leave her a message of support below.

Daniel and his wife have once again opened their home to Faith and Scovia.  They will continue checking in with doctors at the hospital to see if there is an opening before the three week wait period. In the meantime, Julie and Daniel will be keeping Faith entertained by involving her in the set-up of their new craft store!  (See right sidebar for information on a sale we are having, where proceeds benefit the set-up of the new store).  Julie has been busy purchasing some furniture for the store and getting it ready for business!

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MAY 3, 2023 — 

MAY 1, 2023 —

Faith traveled from her home village in western Uganda and arrived at Daniel’s home in Kampala this morning.  Daniel will take her to the hospital tomorrow to be admitted for surgery.  They have been told that Faith will receive additional surgeries on her left eye, left side of her neck, and possibly her mouth.

Thanks to your donations, we were also able to give Faith money to rent a larger plot of land to grow crops. She planted maize and beans, which are growing well due to the rainy season in Uganda.

 

Leave a message of support for Faith