My name is Jemila. I was born and raised in Getu in Southern Ethiopia, an 8-hour drive from the capital. I am #3 of 8 kids in my family.
I grew up as a normal girl in the countryside. But when I was 5, my mother saw a hump in my back and they all got worried. She took me to a traditional healer in our town and I tried his medicine. For years, nothing changed - my spine kept bending. At age 10, my family brought me to Black Lion University Hospital in Addis Ababa for treatment. The doctors there decided that I have TB so they put me on TB medicines for six-months. After I completed the TB treatment, they examined my spine and told me that there is nothing to do and that I should just go home and live as long as I can.
It was the most devastating news for my family, and it broke me to pieces. With this in mind, I was so shy and embarrassed to hang out in my Moslem community and school. I got so depressed and lost all possible hope in life. I didn’t have any friends - people don’t want to come near me and be seen with me. While I walk on the streets and in my community, people would call me “gobata” (hunch back). Even when my relatives would visit, they’d look at me differently and make me feel like trash.
I continued my school until 9th grade but couldn’t take it any further, so I quit. My father had a “suq” kiosk in Addis Ababa. I convinced my family to move with him and help him in his business, instead of living in my town where there was no life. I started assisting my father, but still people would tease me.
One day, I think it was on Jumu‘ah (Friday afternoon in Arabic), a customer came in and asked for coffee beans. When I went to get his coffee, he noticed my back and told me that he has a relative that has similar issue and got treated by a white doctor. I didn’t believe to hear that there could be treatment for my spine, so excitement, doubt, hope and fear came to me, all at once. He gave me the doctor’s address and left.
Early next morning, I went to this doctor. When I get to the hospital, there were multitude of patients with spine deformities. I registered and waited for my turn to see the doctor. Looking at the other patients in the waiting room, I got so much hope that I might be treated. My turn came and I went in. Dr. Rick welcomed me with “tena yistilinge” – the Ethiopian way of greeting. It literally means “May God give you health.”
He heard my story, took photos and sent me for x-rays. I came back with my results and he was amazed to see my x-ray – I learned that I had congenital disease (not TB) and that it curved 246 degrees! They told me to come back in few weeks when Dr Boachie-Adjei, the spine surgeon, comes from Ghana to visit patients. I showed up on my appointment. Dr. Boachie put me on the top priority list for surgery. Dr. Rick’s team started getting me ready for surgery with passport, MRI, CT, visa and tickets. In few months, I flew to Accra, Ghana for life-changing surgery along with other patients.
After 6 months of traction, I had surgery. When they showed me my back right after I got out of the ICU, I got into tears. I have never been that happy. I feel myself being filled with all positive things in the world. I was truly happy! I always had insecurity that I will never get married, but that day, I knew I will get married and have my own life. I recovered and returned home.
Since then, my family were officially asked of me as a wife several times, but it was my time to choose now. I felt confident in myself and body. I found my man, Tofiq, a loving kind man who works in Mercato. We got married 2 years ago and I am now a mother to Ahlam, an 11-month-old angel.
These people gave me a new life. I am always so grateful. I always pray for Dr Rick for long life and more success.
Thank you so much!
Jemila