In January 2006 our UK co-ordinator Jane Sullivan was in Uganda Kampala to photograph children for sponsorship. She went with the CRM team to Matugga village, which is about 20 miles north of Kampala. As she was walking back to the car after the days work a young girl came up to her crying and speaking the same thing over and over in Luganda. Jane called John over to translate and he said that she was saying, "Mummy died, mummy died". John asked where her father was and the girl told him that he now had another wife and had gone off somewhere. We found out later that Joweria's father was still about and also that he is the Muslim head man in the village.

During the conversation the girl kept pointing at her back and saying something. John lifted her clothes revealing a huge growth on her back about the size of a pineapple. A photograph and details were taken and a sponsor was found in England for the girl. Joweria is now in the CRM program and in school and being looked after as well as being educated.

The sight of the pain and sadness in Joweria's eyes together with the thought of the growth on her back stayed with Jane, and on her return to Uganda in January 2007 she knew that she had to do something else to help. Photographs were taken of the growth and these were sent to a paediatric surgeon at Manchester, England to see what could be done.

A sponsor was found in England who was prepared to pay for the operation and all the expenses including the flights for Joweria and her chaperone, accommodation was found for her, but there was still lots of problems; a passport, a visa, permission from the Uganda government and complying with social services regulations here in England.

In July 2007 Joweria was admitted to the National Hospital in Kampala for Doctors to recommend her for referral at hospital in England. After examination and tests there the Doctors decided that she could be treated successfully in Uganda. This was a great relief for us as it instantly removed all the problems and at the same time the cost to the sponsor was much reduced.

After receiving her fathers permission, Joweria was admitted to Mulago Hospital in September 2007 where the operation was carried out successfully.

Gone... is the pain and sadness, replaced by happiness; Joweria is a now a child again.

Thank you Lord for your provision.
Thank you to our sponsor, for your financial help and for listening to God.