[By John Okot and Okot Lil Romeo]: One morning in February last year, Everline Apio woke up with pale, yellowish eyes.
When she stepped out of her house for work that day, her neighbours noticed something unusual about her face.
Speaking to tndNews, Apio said her neighbour noticed her eyes were also “puffy.” But Apio brushed it off, thinking that it was “her usual allergies”.
Then the following week her situation worsened when she began coughing blood.
“That’s when I rushed to the hospital for help,” Apio, aged 39, said.
Initially, she went to Gulu Regional Referral Hospital for her first medical examination, where she was diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease (RHD).
From there, she was referred to St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor, Gulu, and finally to Mulago National Referral Hospital for heart surgery.
“I couldn’t undergo surgery right away,” she reveals. “I am still looking for money.”
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), rheumatic heart disease is as a results of the damage to heart valves and is caused by one or several episodes of rheumatic fever— an autoimmune inflammatory reaction to throat infection caused by “group A” streptococci (streptococcal pharyngitis or strep throat).
The disease, which affects an estimated 55 million people worldwide, claims 360,000 lives each year, mostly in low-income nations.
Its signs and symptoms include: fever, painful joints (knees, elbows and wrists) and heart murmur.
“Patients also get fatigue, chest pains, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat and swelling of the stomach, hands and feet,” adds Dr. Desmond Drale, medical doctor and lecturer at Gulu University.
Breathing though the tube
At Mulago National Referral Hospital, Apio underwent a “minor” palliative surgery to alleviate her pain. A catheter tube was inserted through her nose to ease her breathing.
But she has to limit her movement as she waits for her major surgery, which was due last month: “If I walk for a long, I feel a lot of pain,” she says in a faint voice, gasping for air.
“Sometimes I faint,” Apio adds.
Since last year, Apio has been raising funds for her heart surgery. She needs shs11,800,000 (3,300 USD) for the medical procedure.
But she has so far collected shs 9,500,000 (2,660 USD). She is left with shs2.3 (645 USD).
Apio, who used to sell second-hand clothes, is unable to look after her two kids due to her medical condition. Since last year, Apio’s uncle has been looking after her kids.
“I am left with little time. I plead to anyone to support with anything so that I can save my life,” she says.
At the time of filing this story on August 25, 2025, Apio’s condition had worsened. An ambulance had rushed her from Soroti district, where she had gone to visit her relative, to Mulago National Referral Hospital.
For any well-wishers who would like to extend financial support, kindly contact Apio or send your support on her telephone number: +256772000196.
The number is registered to this MTN “mobile money” name: Everlyn Letrecia Apio.
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