Help Muleba Get Surgery

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I am raising money for a dear friend of mine in Zambia, Africa. Her name is Muleba Nyangu. She has been battling Sickle Cell Anaemia all her life. She is now 26 years old.

Sickle cell anaemia is a serious inherited blood disorder where the red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body, develop abnormally. Normal red blood cells are flexible and disc-shaped, but in sickle cell anaemia they can can become rigid and shaped like a crescent (or sickle).

The sickle-shaped cells contain defective haemoglobin, the iron-rich protein that enables red blood cells to carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of the body.The abnormal cells are also unable to move around as easily as normal shaped cells and can block blood vessels, resulting in tissue and organ damage and episodes of severe pain.

Such episodes are known as a sickle cell crisis or a vaso-occlusive crisis. They can last from a few minutes to several months.The abnormal blood cells also have a shorter lifespan and aren't replaced as quickly as normal blood cells. This leads to a shortage of red blood cells, known as anaemia.Sickle cell anaemia is caused by a mutation (an abnormal change) in the gene that instructs the body to produce haemoglobin.

If someone in the UK is diagnosed with sickle cell anaemia, they'll be referred to a specialist sickle cell centre. Sickle cell centres are specialist units usually based in large hospitals. The staff at these units have a high level of expertise in treating people with sickle cell anaemia. A detailed plan outlining future medical care will be drawn up and they will be given information and support to help manage this condition.

Muleba does not have this option. She is living in a third world country where the medical facilities are basic at best. Any specialist care she requires has to be self-funded.

Muleba's situation is extremely serious. She suffers from severe body pain, and continues to experience pain despite taking all the preventative measures she can. She has been on very strong pain medication for years, but this has not helped. The symptoms of sickle cell anaemia can have had a very significant impact on Muleba's quality of life. they have interrupted her education, put her out of work, to name a few. But she has continued to fight and refuses to be a victim.

Muleba has a strong network of friends and family who have supported her in her journey. Her biggest support has been her mother, Emelda, who has been there by her bedside everytime she has been too ill to do anything. Emelda has been a single mother, as Muleba lost her father at a very young age. Emelda has worked hard to ensure that she continues to pay for the medical treatment Muleba needs. Unfortunately, in the last few months, Muleba has lost her mother Emelda to illness. She now faces her journey without her best friend's support, physically, emotionally and financially.

Since her mother's passing, Muleba's symptoms have worsened. Her current situation is now so severe that she is unable to walk on her own, and her whole hip needs replacement. This surgery will require her to pay a minimum of K29, 000.00 (Zambian Kwacha), which amounts to just under £2,600.00 (GBP).

In addition K10,800 is required for her specialist Physiotherapy This amounts to £930 which we have already raised and paid in full.

I am committing to helping Muleba raise the money required for her surgery. I am going to take part in the Bristol 10k race on 31 May 2015, and the Bristol Half Marathon on 13 September 2015 fundraising for this cause. In addition, I am making a personal pledge to match any donations I receive towards this cause, up to £500.00.

Please join me in showing Muleba that there is hope! She has remained strong minded in this tragedy, and all she needs now is a helping hand. Whatever you can give, please donate. LET'S GET HER THIS SURGERY THIS YEAR! How about a birthday present for her by 11 November?

Thank you so much!

Luwi Henderson